Changing your career is tough at any stage, but especially when you are deciding to do so when you have already worked most of your life in the same type of job. Career changes are a great opportunity for anyone who is wanting to challenge themselves and discover other skills they didn’t know you had. We spoke to business professionals who shared with us the best tactics to ensure a successful career change!
Look for volunteering or internship opportunities
“If you know you want to change careers, but are unsure about how you might fit in it, it’s helpful to look for chances to try it out.” Says Alex Holliman the managing director of Climbing Trees. “A try before you buy approach is a good way to feel out this new path and understand its intricacies of it. Look for internship opportunities or offer to volunteer your services to get a good overview. Not only will this help you to make a more informed decision, but it also helps you to get a foot in the door if it turns out to be your dream job.”
When you offer your services, you make it easier for possible employers to see your potential.
Talk to people in this career
You always hear about networking when it comes to finding work opportunities, but according to Jonathan Marshall the owner at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, it really is an effective strategy. “Who better to talk with when you’re interested in a new career than someone who is already in it? Get to know people from places like LinkedIn who are in the current job you are interested in as a way to pick their brain about what it’s like. It takes a lot of courage to leave your job and pursue something new, so talking with other people can help to ease a lot of your concerns.”
Marshall also says that dropping into businesses can be helpful too. “If there is a place you have had your eye on to work at, it can be a good idea to drop in and make a meeting with an executive to talk to them about that particular career. It might not always work out, but it doesn’t hurt to try!”
Get help with your resume
If you have been out of the recruitment process for some time, your resume is probably a little out of date. Aaron Winston the strategy director for Express Legal Funding suggests getting some help with its revision. “Your resume is a really important part of being able to get your dream job. If it’s not done well, employers are much more likely to not even bother reading through it. It helps to connect with a career counselor to help you with your resume and ensure it’s up-to-date and follows the most recent guidelines.”
It can also help to figure out what skills are preferred for this new career and highlight any you may have. “Try to highlight specific skills and accomplishments that might help you have a better chance of finding a job in a new career. Even if your older career was completely different, you can always find some correlation between them to give you more of a leg up.”
Look before you leap
If you are nervous to look into a new career while being unemployed, then simply stay in your current position until you have solidified something. There is nothing wrong with taking your time and waiting until you know you have secured a position or are ready to take on your own business. If this new path follows through, you at least have something to fall back on until you start looking again.
