Are You Considering a Career Change?
According to recent research, around 35% of people are unhappy in their careers and would like to do something different.
However, changing career requires careful consideration and prudent planning.
Examine your current situation
The first step is to establish whether you actually need a new career. It may be that you simply need a new job. Work out what you want to change in your existing career. Do you want:
- A new challenge
- More money
- More free time
- To be your own boss
- Less stress and improved health
- A job in an area in which you have an interest.
Assess skills and interests
If you are certain that you need a new career, you must now establish your key strengths and interests. This self-assessment phase is particularly important. You need to focus on:
- What skills you have - it may be that your ultimate career requires a lot of the skills you already have, these are called transferable skills and you can use them to your advantage; common skills useful in a variety of jobs include leadership, communicative, problem solving and organisational
- Your educational or vocational qualifications
- What your key values are, such as money, friends, happiness and honesty
- What really interests you.
Explore career options
Based upon the results of the self-assessment, you should now explore career options. You must gather as much information as possible. When researching new careers, look at:
- Employment outlook - is there an opening in this industry or is it very competitive?
- Salary
- Educational/ training requirements
- Job duties
- career progression.
At this stage, it is wise to get professional advice from a careers counsellor. Check out your public library or university, many offer free career-planning help.
Investigate how to get into the field
After the research stage, you must decide upon a career and then work out how to get into it.
- Do you need to go to university or college to improve your skills? If a local university does not offer the course you want to take, look at the Open University.
- Consider doing voluntary work or an internship to improve your skills and gain experience.
Financial implications
- If embarking on a university course, how will you afford it? A loan or grant might be an option.
- If starting on the bottom rung of your new career ladder, you may have to accept a drop in wages. Can you afford this? Can a partner or family provide support?
- Consider taking a loan, cutting back on spending or even taking a second job.
- Changing career will obviously come at a cost, but remember you are making a long-term investment in your future.
Relocation
If relocation is an option, consider:
- The emotional impact, you will be leaving friends and trading familiarity for the unknown
- Tthe effect on your family, especially children who will need to change schools. What does your partner think?
Finally, remain flexible, you are embarking on a new career and this may require concessions over issues such as salary, job title or location.
