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Five Keys For Making A Career Change

Forbes Coaches Council
POST WRITTEN BY
Chelsea Krost

While going through school and anticipating your future, you may have had a notion of a career that went a little something like this: (1) pick a field to work in and (2) continue to work your way up in that field until you’re ready to retire. Maybe you watched your parents and grandparents follow this path or read about it in career advice books written by the authors of yesteryear.

But the truth is that younger generations aren’t dedicating themselves to 20 or 30 years in a single job or field anymore. Instead, the average time spent at a job has been drastically slashed to three years, and individuals are doing more career pivots and job hops.

Needless to say, career pivots are ideal for those who aren’t quite ready to settle down into one role or aren’t even sure what they want to do just yet. Still, the idea of drastically shifting your career can be a bit daunting.

Luckily, I have five tips to ensure you make the transition with ease.

1. Know (or figure out) what you want.

This tip often falls into the category of “easier said than done.” If you knew what you wanted, why would you be switching careers in the first place? But remember, you don’t have to have the next 10 years figured out.

Take account of your interests and ask yourself what activities you would engage in if you didn’t have to work at all. You might even consider taking a few personality or career aptitude tests to spark some new ideas and get you thinking about what field you’d like to work in.

Next, write out the pros and cons of your current job. What aspects of it do you find fulfilling and would like to take with you to your next job? What do you feel hinders your productivity and happiness? Keep these in mind while exploring new job opportunities.

2. Recognize your skills.

Switching career paths doesn’t mean throwing out everything you know and starting from scratch. Rather, it’s an opportunity to apply the strengths you’ve been refining to a new and more fulfilling field. It’s all about getting clear on the skill you want to use versus the industry you want to be in.

Consider what skills of yours would be transferable to a new field and begin researching jobs that require them. This will give you a realistic picture of what opportunities are open to you.

From there, you can build a list of companies that have jobs that hone that beloved skill you want to put to work.

3. Study up.

Of course, you’re going to have to learn a few new things at your next job, so get ahead and do a little research into what those might be. Depending on what field you’re considering, you may have to learn new software, verse yourself in a new vocabulary, or strengthen your communication skills.

Then, get learning! Take a few classes or read a few books. This way, you’ll be able to confidently flaunt your skillset to possible new bosses. A big bonus here is that you can put those new skills or courses on your resume.

4. Test the waters.

Perhaps you’ve been entertaining the idea of a certain role, but aren’t quite sure if it’s really the right fit. First, start by trying to incorporate certain aspects of your desired position into your current job or play around with it in your free time.

For example, if you’re considering a role that would require more writing, take the initiative and offer to write a few articles for your current company’s website. If the position requires significant coordinating, offer yourself out as a party planner to friends and family.

5. Remain realistic.

Remember, pivoting your career is not the same as moving up the ladder (though a pivot can also mean a jump upwards in salary and responsibility). You may not find yourself gaining a higher salary or more benefits from your new job right away. Heck, you may even have to make some compromises in that regard.

What you are getting is new experience, responsibility, skills and connections. Keep this in mind as you pivot your way into a new and fulfilling career.

I’m excited for you.