When you want to change your career, it's normal to feel worried or scared about having to adjust. But it's important to keep confident and feel sure of yourself. Here are a few tips that might help you to stay positive and reach your goal of a new career:
Tip 1 of 10
Take the time to think about the things you like about your current job and what you're good at. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Do you have any talents or hobbies? When you change career try and find a job which would allow you to use these skills to your advantage.
Tip 2 of 10
Make a list of 'action steps' that you can use to make sure you reach your goal of a new career. This could include a useful list of contacts, plans to update your CV and cover letter, or ways you might improve on and top up your skills.
Tip 3 of 10
Do you need to learn new skills to get the job of your choice? Think about taking a course and gaining a qualification to show a future employer that you're willing to learn new things to achieve your goals.
Tip 4 of 10
You could also think about doing some voluntary work to gain the work experience you need in a different sector. If possible, it's good to fit this in around your current job, maybe on weekends or evenings, so that you still have an income.
Tip 5 of 10
Have you looked at your CV for a while? It's going to need updating to reflect your change of career. Try and focus on the transferable skills you have from previous jobs and any work experience or extra qualifications you have that are relevant to your new career.
Tip 6 of 10
Find someone who's supportive of your career change - perhaps a family member or friend. Changing you career could get a bit stressful. Having someone there to support you through this time could be really useful.
Tip 7 of 10
When looking to change your career, expect to be flexible. You might have to start out at the bottom of the career ladder and work your way up. This could mean a lower salary or longer hours, but ultimately it will get you to where you want to be.
Tip 8 of 10
If you're changing career, it's sometimes worth thinking about change of location. Some jobs may be more commonly found in city centres. Are you willing to make a long drive to your new job?
Tip 9 of 10
Don't fear rejection. As with any job hunt, you’re bound to hear a few 'no's before you get your 'yes'. If you do get rejected, ask for feedback on why they thought you weren’t suitable, then try to learn from this for next time.
Tip 10 of 10
Finally, try to make the change as smooth as possible. Don't just quit your current job and expect to find another one soon, it might not work out that way. Try to hold on to your current job until you've found another one - often, someone who’s already in work looks far more attractive to an employer than someone who's unemployed.
If you feel ready to start looking for your new career now, why not use our job search?
