If you’re unhappy at work despite being productive, you should probably consider a career change. Your job must be monetarily rewarding and emotionally fulfilling for you. So, when you start feeling dissatisfied with your profession, there’s always the option of transitioning. There’s nothing wrong with going after your passion, either. Are you feeling stagnant in your current role? It seems you’re developing a taste for a different vocation. Sometimes, it takes a person multiple career moves to find the occupation of his/her dreams. But if you’re hesitating about finding alternative professions, here are some suggestions that might assist you. Follow these tips for a successful career change in the year 2021.
Making the right career choice
Some professions have a larger turnover rate as compared to other vocations. For instance, the field of dentistry can proudly present the lowest rate of workers changing their profession. On the other hand, desk clerks, bartenders, bank tellers have the highest tendency to switch careers. Your education can also predict the likelihood of you transitioning to another occupation. Workers who have no degree tend to switch more often, while holding a doctorate doesn’t change careers.
Moreover, one-fifth of millennials move about jobs, while workers older than 65 have the most considerable retention rate. That’s why our younger generation has gotten itself a reputation as a generation of “job-hoppers.” A Gallup survey found that millennial turnover costs the American economy $30 billion every year. People in their 20s/30s can show an unwillingness to retain a disagreeable position. So, if you’re contemplating a career switch, here’s how you can make the right decision:
Look for your passion:
You need to analyze what sort of working environment you love the most. Which job are you passionate about the most? Review your skills by making a list of all the occupations you want to explore. Now you need to find the methods to acquire a position in your desired industry. Then you can continue narrowing down this catalog. Let’s say you’re zealous about helping society. You discover that bachelor of social work online degree programs allow students to make a career in this field. Now you know your way inside the sphere of humanitarian services. Similarly, keep gathering more information about your dream jobs until making a final choice regarding your career.
Why do you hate your job?
Ask yourself this question to find out why you’ve decided to switch your career. Find the reasons you’re dissatisfied with your current employment situation. You can’t steamroll towards another job without learning the reasons for leaving the previous one. There are many reasons why a person decides to switch careers. Feeling underpaid or dislike of your manager can be some of these reasons. Now you’re ready to ask yourself the second question, i.e., can you afford a career change?
Assess the risks involved:
The next step is to analyze what it will take to leave your current job and follow your dreams. Essentially, it means what sort of degrees/licenses/certificates you will require for the intended profession. Do you possess the skills your future employers need in a candidate? If your passion lies in the field of accountancy, you should be capable of handling Excel or QuickBooks. But there are other risks you need to take into account too. How will your career switch affect your relationships? What does your family think about your plans? You can’t decide your future without counseling with your relatives and friends or calculating the financial risks involved.
Start with baby steps:
Don’t rush into anything because a career change requires extensive research and prolonged contemplation. Talk to a career counselor and find yourself a mentor who can advise you. You’re investing your time in your research, so don’t forget to volunteer, moonlight, and gain new experiences. Altering your life overnight isn’t possible here. So, spend some time studying about your intended career, explore online courses, and find someone to shadow for a while.
Find a job shadow:
It’s important to tag along with a professional whose associated with your dream job. You can ask a friend to allow you to shadow him/her for a while. So, you can gain an insight into the industry you’re considering joining. You also acquire some second-hand experience of what’s it like to be, say, a financial analyst for some days. That’s why college students seek internships, so they learn if they’re suitable for a particular profession or not. Shadowing will make you realize the level of skills and competence you need for that position. Now you need to find some alumni volunteers eager to coach shadowers. Now you’ve concluded your investigation without investing much money.
Make some new connections:
And shadowing isn’t enough. It would help if you created new associations and network with people who work in your desired industry. Get them interested in your passion, so they give you some professional suggestions about your intended job. Do you have eyes for a particular company? Talk to its current employees to learn how that company treats everyone. It will help if you spread your web far and wide to collect meaningful pieces of information about your future career.
Keep a short CV:
Candidates often prepare lengthy CVs to impress their potential employers. There’s no single principle regarding your resume’s valid length, but it shouldn’t exceed three pages. However, even if your application covers two pages, it should be concise and to-the-point. Also, keep your CV relevant to the job you’re applying for and don’t include unnecessary details. For instance, you’ve earned an online MSN to doctor of nursing practice from a reputable institute. Now that’s a degree you want to mention in your resume to catch the interviewer’s attention. Try making your worthwhile academic and professional qualifications more prominent to leave a good mark.
You don’t have just one chance:
Don’t think you have this once chance to find your true calling. People change careers several times. An average individual switches professions 3-7 times in his/her entire lifetime. One wrong decision won’t make you attached to a disliked career for eternity. You can always transition to another employment opportunity. However, several instances of turnover may diminish your financial resources. So, be careful about where you wish to land a job in the future.
Conclusion
Seeking a career change isn’t uncommon among college students. A person’s interests and ambitions may change during his/her lifetime. So, there shouldn’t be a stigma associated with adults endeavoring to find better employment options. The majority of adults change careers for a higher salary, lack of stress, or attaining work-life balance. Some employees lose passion for their field while others wish to challenge their skills. Transitioning to a more fulfilling career makes a person happier and mentally relaxed. And people also make more money doing something they love and cherish. So, it would help if you re-evaluated your satisfaction level, consider different options, and reach a well-thought decision.