How to Make a Career Change

If you are feeling unfulfilled at your current job, you might start finding your day to day work life becomes boredom and taking coffee and even more boredom, and this leaves you exhausted. The desire of being part of a great thing is natural, and your career doesn’t mean a fixed path.

Here are some tips that will help you if you want to change your career. You need to start making the changes and wisely using your time so you can find a job with the skills you currently have.

Is it time to change your career?

If you don’t feel like you love the work you are doing, it could be a sign that you need to change your career. You should take time to make this decision and see how it is going to affect you and your family, and preparing to make the transition smooth. Some of the questions to ask yourself include:

• Does the company I currently work for have other positions that I would enjoy working in? Is the position obtainable?
• Do I stand to lose more than I gain if I decide to stay or leave? Is my family able to hand the changes?
• What job do I really want? (There is no need to quit your job before you have an idea of what next in your career)
• What are some of the jobs in the market? And can I access them?

Do I have the skills needed to switch careers?

It is hard to switch careers, but the main question is usually “Do I have the ability to perform the job?” You might notice that the skills needed for the new job are different from the ones in your current job. Both office managers and receptionists share the same traits and skills. Some of the tasks they do include coordinating office affairs, optimizing work schedules, and communicating with clients. If they want to switch to executive assistance, they will need to have more operational skills. Some indications are going to help you in determining whether the skills fit the career change you are planning to do in the future;

• Are the skills soft or hard?
• Can the skill be used in another job?
• What is the difference between my current position and the new position?

Look for a career coach

Career coaches have trained and are experts in almost all career choices. They will help in guiding job seekers with career information that will help in choosing a new career path, understanding the change, and some good alternatives. A career coach can see things in a way that you might not see. Career coaches have insider knowledge on the skills needed, the credentials companies are looking for, and the etiquette when quitting the job. If you are considering getting a career coach, then the three recommendations are;

Choose a career coach who has four or more years of experience in the industry you are looking to get into.

Ask people around you the experience they have had with career coaches and also their recommendation.

Asking the local employment agency or college for advice. There is a good chance they have worked with many career coaches over the years and can provide some recommendations.

Using online career tools when figuring out your interests

You have decided to change your career, but you are still having a hard time finding a solution. Online tools can help because they will help you determine your likes, dislikes, pros, and cons. There are career inventory tests you can take either with a local job agency or online. The tests are going to use your interests, hobbies, and skills to find a good match. Other tests that you can take include practice scenarios and skills assessments. Depending on your situation, you can use Google to determine the bet test for you. Exploring job opportunities on platforms like Afni Careers can also help you match your skills with roles that suit your goals.

The final decision

Even if you had a thousand tools, they are not going to help you in making the final decision on whether to leave or stay. This is one of those decisions you have to make for yourself. When you have made the decision, make your CV stand out, this document can make or break your career. Take time and have a look at the pros and cons of staying and comparing them to the pros and cons of leaving. Below is a career change advice exercise that will go a long way in helping you determine the best option for you:

• Get a piece of paper
• Have four vertical sections on the paper
• The first two sections will be for the pros and cons of staying, label them
• Do the same thing for the remaining two sections so they become the pros and cons of staying
• Fill the list then go through it with a career counsellor or friend.