Whether you”™ve recently or not so recently been laid off, are burnt out from your current job or just have passions that lie elsewhere, it takes guts to change careers.
Most of us know someone who has taken that tremendous leap and launched a career in something wildly different: from web developer to real estate developer, publicist to social worker, chemical engineer to high school teacher.
A recent poll conducted by Monster indicated 49 percent of job seekers surveyed across Europe, the U.S. and Canada are actively seeking a change of career direction, while 11 percent would consider a job change due to lack of jobs in their current industry.
The transition is not without careful planning and unwavering determination. The passion seekers know right away what they want to do. Others just know it”™s time for something different. Either way, whether you”™re turning a hobby into a business or transferring your current skills to a whole new industry, consider these steps for a successful career change.
Craft strategy and game plan. Before you take one step, set yourself a timeline and review your financial situation. Changing careers isn”™t an overnight process and financial matters must be taken into consideration as there is the likelihood you will be making less money for a period of time or will have to invest in training and/or schooling.
Review your current job. Be honest with yourself about likes and dislikes, achievements and shortcomings. Are you better working in a team or solo? Do you love an environment where you socialize with co-workers after work, or do you prefer to separate your personal life from your professional one? Company culture, work flexibility and both personal and professional satisfactions are critical components in determining your next career.
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Assess your interests, skills and education. Don”™t just think about what you”™re doing currently, but look back in your career history to evaluate successful projects, commendations from peers and responsibilities. Literally make a list of your skills and interests and see how they match up. Pay close attention to those transferable skills. The skills you”™ve earned in previous careers will help you progress faster and may allow you to earn better pay more quickly.
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There are individuals and companies like The Entrepreneurial Source in Bedford and Second Wind Advisory Group in Mount Kisco that you can use to help assess what your strengths and weaknesses are as well as the different types of career paths you can take.
In terms of additional training and education, consider this scenario: If you”™ve been tutoring your friends”™ children for the last year and would like to open a tutoring center for ask-risk teens, your 12-year marketing career and previous experience running summer camps could be just the means to set you apart from your competitors. But, what kind of training, education and licensure might you need to work with at-risk children?
You”™ll really want to determine your commitment to further training and education if your new career demands it. You won”™t be alone. Community colleges and specialized training centers nationwide are reporting record enrollments.
Research and identify targets. Conduct a preliminary evaluation of a few fields to identify careers and target them for more in-depth research on the employment market, training, education and salary. Also, research how professionals in your prospective new career make it work. For example, does the writer need to supplement his or her income with teaching at a college?
Build networks. According to Harry Horowitz, director of the Professional Development Center at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, one of the most important things a career transitioner can do is to reactivate his or her extended network well before making the leap. Don”™t just think about your current network, but look back into your history and reactivate some of those old connections. LinkedIn makes this easier. Start setting up informal meetings.
Get involved. Once you”™ve chosen your next career, join a professional industry organization to help you shadow someone in the profession or identify volunteer and freelance opportunities. You”™ll want to develop contacts and keep up with industry news to help you land that dream job.
Rich Greenwald, a careers and staffing consultant, is the owner of The Concorde Group in White Plains, N.Y. Have a careers question? Contact rgreenwald@concordepersonnel.com or follow him on Twitter @ConcordeJobs.
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