Sunday, February 12, 2012
Retiring? Hate your job? Thinking of Changing Careers?
Career change can be very scary which is why people often talk about it and never do anything about it. Be realistic about it. Change seldom happens overnight. If you are planning to build a house, you don’t order the building materials and start building right away. You do find a site, do research, draw up plans, compare prices of materials, all of which could take years. Changing careers calls for being methodical and strategic. You can do it if you have support along the way, a good plan, and patience.
Here are a couple tips once you know what you want to do:
1: Visualize your job in concrete terms
If you can visualize and articulate the terms of what you are looking for, it’s easier to find people who can help you. Having an “elevator pitch” that can tell others succinctly what you are about will help.
2: Seek relevant work experience
Chances are you would bring a lot of knowledge and experience to your chosen field but you may lack direct experience. Find it! Volunteer or find a position that will help you fill in the gaps. It might be a low paid job but one that leads where you want to go.
3: Find a Mentor – Support Network
Chances are good that you will find someone who has jumped through the hoops and is willing to help you, especially if you offer them something in return. If they don’t want anything in return, you can return the favour by mentoring someone junior. What goes around, comes around. Know that you will need a support network. Find those who will support and encourage you. Consider whether your support network might include a career coach who has had the experience of guiding people through changes.
4: Supress your fears and don’t listen to the nay-sayers
Change is difficult enough without having to listen to hecklers, including your own. You have to stay focused on your plans. Don’t let your fears or other’s fears derail your goal or you will be like all the other people who talk about changing careers and never do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)