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A
career is not only your livelihood but must also
satisfy a person's emotional and intellectual wants
and needs. Very often, people cannot take up a
career of their choice due to financial problems or
other constraints. However, after a point of time,
it becomes difficult to continue working on a job
that you do not enjoy. A job change in the same
career stream might not be the right solution.
Hence, a change in career may be your only
alternative.
People tend to change their career when they are
bored, fed up, or unhappy with their current one.
They prefer looking for a more rewarding profession,
one that aligns better with their skills, interests
and values.
As
changing careers is a major decision, one has to
seriously look at the possibilities and
opportunities ahead before making a change. A smooth
transition between careers is essential or else it
can become traumatic. Keeping in mind a few tips
will make the transition simpler and lead you in the
right direction.
Make a Self-Assessment
This is the most important step to establish a
workable career plan. Evaluate your experience,
skills and interests in reference to work history,
hobbies and volunteer experiences. Examine your
likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, and
areas of interest. This will help you to discover
the direction you want to move in the future. Take
online career assessment tests that help you
discover the area of interests that you might not
have been considered before.
Reason for the Change
After assessing yourself, try to find out why you
need the change. There could be various reasons such
as dislike for the employer or supervisor, limited
growth opportunities, or just boredom of the job. If
the problem is rectifiable, then the necessary
measures should be taken; otherwise, a career change
is necessary.
Create an Action Plan
Carefully map out a detailed action plan. Do not
rush into a career change without giving proper
thought and due consideration to aspects such as:
-
Do you need more
education?
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Do you need additional
financial resources?
-
Would an intermediate
job or part-time job be necessary?
A
successful career change requires patience, as it
sometimes takes a great deal of time to switch from
one career to another.
Set Goals and
Objectives
Discover your goals and objectives for the future
and set a positive goal for your new field. Consider
the possibilities for advancement in achieving your
goal.
Make a List of
Possibilities
List careers based on your desires and skills. Seek
advice from family, friends, colleagues, and career
management professionals. Narrow the list down to a
few and begin research on them, as this can give you
a better perspective and understanding. Consider the
pros and cons of each career type to get a specific
choice to pursue. Examine your qualifications to see
if you fit into the career you have decided upon.
Learn about the
Desired Field
Learn more about the field that interests you. Read
magazines, attend conferences and talk to people in
the desired field. Find out whether the desired
industry has growth potential.
Influence
Do
not let others influence you to change your career.
Take the advice of other people, but make your own
decision if you are choosing a new career.
Choose somebody to help you with the process of
changing your career so that you have help when you
get discouraged or confused. Preferably, look for a
professional who can keep you focused and upbeat.
These professionals can help you in identifying new
fields and applying for new jobs.
You
should keep in mind that you might have to
compromise on your salary or job title. Hence, you
should be flexible about employment status,
relocation and salary.
Changing your career can be an exciting and
self-awakening experience, and can help you realize
your true potential.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA
Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers
online six sigma training and certification classes
for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and
yellow belts.
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