5 successful steps to follow when changing your profession

Different are the reasons people seek to change their career. To point out a particular reason is to limit the scope. Nevertheless, there are three major factors that seem always to be present when people are pressed with the thoughts of change in the world of career. Money, freedom, and passion.

However, you should understand that it is important to take the time to evaluate your present situation, to explore career options and to choose a career that will be more satisfying for you before making your decision. Because, if the impulse is let to rule over reasoning, another mistake might well be repeated.

Here are steps to follow if you desire a successful career change.

1. Be explicit on the 'why' and 'what'

It is true that most people are aware they don’t like their jobs, also, some others believe they've long outgrown theirs; but what is also true is that not everyone of them has come to realize the reason beneath their reasons. You've got to have a clear on the why, and ‘what’ before you begin your steamrolling toward something new. This is important because you could as well end up in a different scene that you might eventually dislike and also feel like you don’t fit in.

Question yourself: why do I think a new career will make better the activities of my life? What does it not look like?

Be sure to reach a rational conclusion. Or keep trying till you do.

2. Review your interests, values, and skills

Try to go back in time and access your past successful roles, volunteer work, projects and jobs in other to identify preferred activities and skills. Determine whether your core values and skills are being utilized in your present career. There are free online tools you can use to help assess career alternatives if your answer is negative.

3. Find out what is in for it, and start doing what it takes to get it

You must try to find out what it takes to be an attractive candidate for your new intended role. Perhaps the prerequisite is certain skills, certifications might also be needed as well. Be sure in the knowledge of these possibilities. And endeavour to do what it takes to obtain it. Because most times it is entirely within reach. A simple matter of taking an online course and gaining some baseline proficiency would do.

However, extensive education or certification are sometimes needed. And when this happens, additional resources and trade-offs may be required.

It is here that you will have to decide if you are willing to invest and sacrifice for the actualization of the change.

4. Check out job options and shadow the ones that interest you

Do not relent in the effort of running a preliminary evaluation of several fields of interest in other to identify a few targets for in-depth research. You can find a wealth of information online simply by Googling the jobs that interest you.

Also, get to know the work first hand with the aid of job shadowing in the field of personal interest. Make friends with two-- three passionate and successful people working within that new field of interest. Worry less about the how. People are more generous with their time and input than you think, most especially when you show interest in them and acknowledge or validate something they’re doing professionally. Doing this will gain you some level of awareness.

What is job shadowing?

Job shadowing can be simply said to be an effective way of learning about a particular job of interest. It involves spending a couple of hours or few days as the case may be following around a professional in that job. By so doing, the person shadowing learns what that job is really like upon observing both the lifestyle and activities of the professional.

Job shadowing is a great way to learn whether or not a job of interest is right for you.

5. Creatively create a career change resume

When the time is right, and you believe you’re ready to start applying for jobs in your new industry, be sure that you have created for yourself a resume that is refocus based on your new goals. Try to figure out the linkage between the two careers and highlight them.

Let us with an example, assume you're moving from sales to teaching. What things do these fields have in common? Well, both jobs require the ability to hold the attention of the room, give a strong presentation, and relay knowledge in a much easier and understanding language.

In conclusion, you should be reminded that there should be no room for emotionally driven impulse. Unguided emotions usually call forth regrettable mistakes.

And, know also that in the pursuit of passion's call, undreamed difficulties are always met. However, it becomes consoling to know that the reward for courage cannot be separated from fulfilment and satisfaction.

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