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How to Switch Careers

Making a big career change is never easy, especially if you’ve got kids to support, a mortgage to pay, and a car to worry about. But if you’ve got the motivation, you can do it. Here’s how.

If you had all the money in the world, what would you be doing with yourself? Don’t hold back. This is brainstorming time. Make a list of all the things you’d rather be doing with your time. Your first few answers will probably be something like: Take a tropical vacation, spend more time with the kids, etc. But push your thinking beyond that. Ask yourself if you are content with stringent working hours, accounting to higher authorities etc. If this is what you don’t like, then strive for a self actualizing job that gives you exactly what you desire or hope to achieve.

Evaluate your skills and talents. Ask yourself: What am I good at? What do I most enjoy doing? Write down every skill you’re capable of. Don’t be shy. check to see if your current job gives you satisfaction and utilizes all your potential.

Identify transferable skills. After deciding what career best suits you, and have listed all known skills and talents, identify what skills will best transfer over into your new line of work. The longer the list the easier the transition. If you have only a few or no transferable skills, do not be discouraged. Pursue your passion to find happiness. Always remember that new skills can be easily learned. Other life experiences can also make this transition easy. Some basic life skills have already been acquired. Give yourself a boost and some credit.

Think of jobs that allow you to do what you really want to do, at least in some form, and apply your skills and talents every day. Be creative and open-minded. Focus on what your inner feelings guide you to do.

Conduct informational interviews. Informational interviews are a gem twofold: you get straight talk about your considered profession from actual professionals, and you achieve face time with individuals that possibly have the power to hire you later down the line.

Consider your financial situation. How much does it cost, on a monthly and annual basis, to support your current standard of living? Are you willing to lower your standard so that you can take a job that pays less? Try to supplement your income in other ways. Small investments or a part time business can financially make up for the deficit, should your new career pay less. It takes a great deal of courage to do something your heart desires at the cost of some financial loss. Go for it if this will make you happy.

Make a list of everything you want in your new job, and one of everything you don’t. Work gradually towards your needs and wants.Stay focused and do not allow yourself to be distracted along the way.

Browse job descriptions in your desired field. Visit a site like Salary.com to find out how much you can expect to earn in your new career. (However, do realize that Salary.com is NOT the source businesses use to set salaries- they use services that survey other businesses. Salary.com just shows a possible average of salaries and is a decent general place to start for career info.) Also refer to the Occupational Outlook Handbookto see how competitive the job market may be.

Check local schools for courses and programs that may give you an edge. Start taking night classes while you’re still at your current job. Establish rapport with your teacher – he or she will prove to be a valuable reference when you’re applying for a new job. Manage your time effectively.

Volunteer for organizations related to your desired career. For example, if you want to work in architecture, volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, which builds houses for disadvantaged families. You get experience, and they get a helping hand!

etwork. Talk to people in your desired field. Explain your situation. Ask them for advice. Give them your contact information. If what they say is true – "It’s not what you know, it’s who you know" – then cover all your bases in this department.

• Networking Rules are no more than the strongest possible guidelines for your effective use of this most important of all job searching skills. In just a few lines I’m going to give you the basic Networking Rules:
• Recognize your very own individual value, contribution and power. If you can’t, or won’t, nobody else will either.
• Get to know at least three people more senior than you within your profession who will be able to give you advice and professional input.
• One of the most fundamental networking rules is to keep in contact with people regularly rather than only when you want something.
• Make the effort to meet people in person rather than just talking to them on the phone, or e-mailing them.
• Show you are interested in them as a person, rather than just an opportunity for you to advance yourself.
• When you hear about a contact’s accomplishments write to formally congratulate them.
• When networking make sure you ‘bring something to the party’ rather than expecting one-way traffic.
• Never expect anything other than information and advice, or new contacts to meet.
• After meeting each new contact, ask for feedback on their first impression of you.
• Be generous in your thanks to people who do help you, this is one of the most important networking rules.
• Do your best to develop a good memory for people’s names and conversations you have with them.
• Don’t only bother with those senior to you, other people have unique knowledge and their own contacts.
• Build a long-list of all your contacts.
• Make sure you respond with information and advice when others contact you.
• Networking is for life not just for a new job. Keep working on it and it will work for you.

Save enough money to support yourself for 3-6 months, or however long you think it’ll take to find a job in your new career that will support you adequately. Once again, stay focused.

Write a new resume.

Apply for the jobs that you might not have all the qualifications for. If there is a position that seems too good to be true and above and beyond what you are qualified for, apply anyway. There is little to lose with the exception of time and chances are, you might be exactly what the firm is looking for.

Start your job search and good luck!

Other Related Posts You Might Be Interested In

• Midlife Career Change Advice
• Changing career in middle age or later in life
• How To Succeed In Career
• Salary Negotiation The Basics
• Dealing with difficult bosses
• Career Counselling : How to prepare for it?
• Professional References On A Resume
• Managing Your Career

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