A career switch may seem daunting if you have worked in the same industry for years and years. Change can be scary. Often self-doubt creeps in: “What if I am no good at...?”. It requires a lot of energy, time and perhaps even a financial commitment as well. So, how can you make this whole process a little easier and less stressful? Here are a few tips!
The first thing you should do is to write down all the things you have accomplished during your current career. What are the things you are proud of? Also, write down everything you have done on the job. Once you have written down all of your accomplishments and tasks, you will have a clear overview of what you have done and what you are good at. This is especially helpful when you are composing a new CV or a cover letter. Moreover, if you want to switch careers, but you are not sure of the direction you want to go in, you can use this list of accomplishments and tasks to guide you towards your new path.
If you have done the above, it’s time to look at your list and see which of your skills are job-specific and which ones will be useful for other positions as well. We call these transferable skills. Perhaps you were a team leader, or maybe you have a great eye for detail. Both of these things can come in handy in many a career. For example, if you were a (good) team leader, you should have good communication skills, relationship-building skills, and the know-how to solve a problem or two. All of these skills are sought after in other careers.
Transferable skills are great, but sometimes you will need some extra job-specific skills. And perhaps the new career you are eyeing requires you to have certain skills you do not possess - yet! Once you have identified which skills you are lacking, it’s time to invest some time (and perhaps money) into acquiring said skills. Follow a course, look for an opportunity to learn on the job, get a mentor and / or watch video tutorials. There are ways to learn new skills for every budget.
Now, networking might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is no denying it works well when it comes to your career. Meeting the right people can make all the difference! Start by connecting with like-minded people and industry leaders on platforms such as LinkedIn. Ask them if they are willing to share some advice on the industry you are looking to break into. Do some research and find out if there are any important industry events you should attend to make some valuable new contacts.
And don’t forget about your “old” network! Let them know you are looking for a career change. They might know some key people in the industry.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but don’t slack off on the job you have, even if you've lost interest in your current career. You will want to make a good first impression on your next boss or clients, and positive references could help with that. Besides, your old network may be able to help you out with your new career trajectory, so you don’t want there to be any bad blood.