Do you Jump Out of Bed to go to work? Most people don’t. Although this may not be a realistic scenario every day, it’s fair to expect a sense of fulfillment and purpose from your career. You may have noticed that when you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, completing a task can feel onerous. Conversely, when you’re doing what you love, you might notice a feeling of lightness and ease when taking on a project.
If you work full time, a huge chunk of your day is taken up by work five days a week – if not more. If you work a forty hour work week, that’s roughly 1,850 hours a year. You’re likely to live a happier life if you’re spending most of your time doing something that makes you happy. It’s easy to get complacent in a less than satisfactory career. Making the change isn’t always so simple, but it is possible.
Read our eight tips below to learn how to facilitate a successful career change:
Figure out your why. Spend time thinking about what’s prompting your desire for a career change. Are you truly feeling unfulfilled in your career, or is there another underlying reason that you can change?
Identify your passions. Spend time brainstorming. Make a list of all the things you enjoy doing – even if they seem trivial. Are there commonalities?
Assess your strengths. Take a look at your career history. Which jobs or projects did you enjoy the most or have the greatest success? What key strengths or transferrable skills can you attribute to this success? Ask friends and family what your key strengths are. They may come up with things you didn’t think of. Look at your list of strengths regularly. This will help keep things in perspective and build your confidence as you move forward in your pursuit of a new career.
Do your homework. You can use the government website Working In Canada to research careers based on occupation, wages, skills and knowledge, outlook, and education programs. You can also use networking to get deeper insight on the advantages and disadvantages of different careers and what it takes to break in. Use LinkedIn to find and connect with people in industries you’re interested in. You may have someone in your existing contacts that can help.
Once you identify good contacts, message them telling them that you’re considering pursuing a career in their industry. Ask if they wouldn’t mind answering some questions. Ask things like how they got into the industry, what strengths, skills or credentials they think are crucial, what challenges they face in their career, or what they love most about their career. Most people will be happy to help.
Create a list of companies you’re interested in. Think about the size and type of company you want to work for. Do you prefer a small business, a corporation or a non-profit? Think about the kind of company culture that would best suit your lifestyle. You can use a site like Glassdoor.com to read reviews for companies you’re considering.
Set job hunting goals. Establish how many jobs you’re going to look for each day. Think about your strategy. How will you look for jobs? Will you use ads, job boards or call companies you’re interested in directly? Do you need time for research each day? Break it all down into small, doable steps. Recruit a close friend or family member who can help hold you accountable. And remember, you don’t have quit your job right away.
Put together a killer resume and cover letter. You can include things like case studies for projects that might relate to the industry or show your ability to solve problems. You can also create a personal brand statement to set yourself apart. Make sure to proofread your resume and cover letter several times.
Utilize your network to find jobs. You never know who your contacts are connected to. Let your contacts know you’re making a career change and ask them if they know anyone that might be helpful for you to connect with.
Making a career change can feel like a herculean task, which is why many decide to just stay put. But once you get clear on your tools, resources and goals, you should be able to move through the process with ease. And when you’re doing what you love, success and enjoyment are highly likely to follow, making it all entirely worth it.
We would love to hear from you. Are you in the process of a career change? What tricks or tools have been the most helpful to you? Please comment below.