Are you wondering how you can change careers but don’t know where to start? Here are the best ways to go about it successfully.
Photo credit: Jopwell
Some people are currently pleased with their careers and would not mind working there for a considerable amount of time. However, others may one day start to ask themselves, “Is this the job I really want to do for the rest of my life?” and it is not uncommon. Sometimes, circumstances can force a career change on you for necessity purposes, and it may end up being what you never knew you needed. Other times, it comes from feeling disappointed or unsatisfied at your current job.
One of my friends who worked in the hospitality industry was put on unpaid leave in 2020 when the pandemic first hit. She needed to pay the bills and put food on the table, so she decided to look into something she had always had a passion for - styling. With just KES 1000, she bought some clothes from Gikomba market and started selling them online while offering personal styling services. She received an excellent response online and things took off from there. Now she has a successful styling business with various departments including photoshoot styling and has amassed a significant customer base and social media following.
If you feel like your current job does not spark excitement in your life, you may be in the market for a career change.
Here are some steps you can take to make sure you go about it the right way for successful results.
Find out why
First, find out why you think you need a career change. Is it because you do not like your current job? Note down what you like about your current job or what you do not like. Maybe you want a role with flexible hours, a better salary or a position that offers career advancement opportunities. Think about why a new career will change your life for the better. As you do that, also consider the risks of making a career change at this time. Another thing to think about is whether you want:
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The exact role at a different company
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The same role in another industry
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A new position in the same organization/company
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A new role in a new industry
All these options are different, and narrowing down on what you want specifically might help you decide where you want to go next.
Where do you want to be?
Next, you have to determine which industry or career you want to go to next. Make a list of jobs or fields that interest you or might be a good fit for you. If you are having difficulty pinpointing a career suitable to your needs, you can inquire from professionals within your network. Seeking guidance from a career coach may also help you learn where you would be a good fit based on your current skills and personality. As you decide which career to switch to, consider your ideal company culture, teams, workplace environment, flexibility and salary. This may also help you narrow down the options. Conduct informational interviews in various companies within the industry you have picked to gauge all these factors and use your networks to find out more information about these organizations or industries.
Determine what is required
Some careers require specific training, education or certifications to increase your chances of employment. Based on the industry or profession you have chosen, find out if there is anything extra you can do to make you suitable for the job. Will you need to go back to school to train for it? Are there any online courses or workshops you need to take? Of course, any job requires a particular set of skills (even the kind Liam Neeson had in “Taken”). Over your career, you have acquired various skills; list them down and determine the skills that will apply in your new job, the transferable skills and the skills you lack. Find out how you can gain these skills, whether it is through training, online courses, or volunteer experience, and work towards getting them.
Make a career plan
Every plan has to have an end goal and milestones to achieve it. You cannot just switch careers the way you switch gears when driving. You have to set objectives and a timeline for when you want to have everything done. Break down your primary goal into smaller ones, all adding up to the main objective. Set up daily and weekly tasks to complete, whether it’s attending a networking event to meet relevant professionals, completing an online course, or even tying up loose ends at your current job before leaving. Even the most minor goals can help you build up momentum towards the endgame. Be relentless with your plan and have someone to keep you accountable for good measure. Sometimes a tiny nudge is all you need to get things started.
Revamp your professional brand
If you love a good rebrand as much as I do, then this part should be relatively enjoyable for you. As you work towards changing careers, you will also need to do a complete overhaul of your professional and personal brand to ensure it aligns with your new career goals and new target audience. This includes updating your social media profiles, online appearance, personal websites, business cards etc. to something that appeals to potential employers.
Research roles in your new field of interest to see what an ideal job description looks like, then tailor yours to match it. You can also stalk some LinkedIn profiles for some inspiration. Make sure you also edit your resume accordingly to include relevant existing work experience transferable to your intended career of interest. This way, when potential employers look at your LinkedIn profile, they are not wondering why an accountant wants to work as an architect without any prior experience.
Network and look for career opportunities
It would be best if you now looked for some new job opportunities to get your feet wet. How can you do this? Through networking. Most of the people I talk to (or even you will talk to) will tell you that finding a job in most cases is rarely about your qualifications but about the quality of your network. Talk to your people and let them know you are looking to change careers so they can help. You may find that your dad or friend probably knows someone who knows another person that can help get your foot in the door through a referral. You can also be proactive about it by doing some of the networking yourself. Attend networking events with professionals in your career of interest to get to know them better and pick their brains. The key to effective networking is to approach people carefully. Pay a compliment first or note something impressive they have done in their field. Pick up the conversation from there. Once you establish a rapport, you can ask for some advice or even ask for a favour. Take any opportunity to get hands-on experience in your career of interest, be it through volunteering, interning, or job shadowing, to give you a competitive edge.
Conclusion
Change can be scary as you don’t always know what you are walking into careerwise. This does not mean you should not go for a career change because you are afraid of failing. You will never know until you try. The key is to make a small but brave step towards that career change and keep taking steps until you get to the destination.
