It is that time of the year; and many employees battle with the idea of to whether change their careers or hang on to their old job. It’s normal to have such thoughts and want more out of life. However, some people just go through the motions of life without radar, without control, more of a runaway train; and the results are chaotic. You can’t gamble with life, its only one you’ve got. So, if you are considering a career pivot, I am going to appeal to you to do things differently. Here are some key steps that can make your transition fruitful.
- Begin with the WHY?
There are so many people who hate or have outgrown their jobs but are not aware beyond that. You have to be clear on why before you start heading towards something new. Otherwise you will find yourself in a different spot, but one that you still ultimately hate.
Consideration these questions:
- Why do I want this?
- Why do I think this new career will make my life better?
- What might be the downsides or risks?
In asking these questions, you will realize that things actually might not be as rosy as you’d fantasized about at all. And sometimes the path will become clearer and appealing and more sensible.
- Be clear on the WHAT?
What is it you want? What does this new job or career look like? What does it not look like? What is it called? The other question worthy consideration is, do you have the career capital on this? In other words are you going to be able to leverage your skills, your contacts and your professional brand to make a successful transition?
At times it’s more that a passion: you are better off considering roles that leverage the career capital you’ve built up over time and drawing upon these areas of expertise in new and creative ways.
- Have an understanding of what is going to take.
Figure out what the new career change demands of you. Do you have some certain skills that are needed for the new role? Do you need certifications? Or classes? Or licenses? At times, these things are a matter of taking an online course and gaining some basic proficiency so that you can confidently say, yes I know this and that.
Other times you need more extensive training, education and licensure. This trickles down to you, are you willing to make the sacrifices.
- Prepare an Action Plan
Start with the end in mind with your action plan. What are your primary goals and the ideal timeline? Once you have all these figured out, then go ahead and break it down into major milestones: skills that you need to acquire, people you need to meet, things you need to wrap up in your current job, personal things that need your attention, before making any shift.
- Track your efforts/ progress
It is wise to gauge how far you’ve come and the steps you have made so far. Monitor how you are doing and what you need to be doing next. You can set reminders so that you can follow up on things that you need to. Remember you are investing time and energy to make this happen, hence the need to gauge your progress. As simple excel spreadsheet can do you wonders. If you are not an excel person, use the tool that makes the most sense to you don’t abandon ship on it.
- Involve “your” people
Get your people on board, especially the ones you know will always have your back. You don’t have to come so openly about your intentions if you are still employed elsewhere. Pick your most entrusted contacts and let them know what you are planning. Their input and thoughts will help shape your decision.
- Network with the right people
It is absolutely necessary to get to know passionate and successful people working within that new field of interest. Don’t stress about this. People are more generous with their time and input than you think, especially when you show interest in them and acknowledge or validate something they’re doing professionally. Always remember that no one wants to be ambushed. The best way to approach is by paying a compliment or noting something that they’re doing that seems interesting or impressive. After you build a bit of rapport, then you can ask for a favor or a bit of their time. And without a doubt, thank everyone who gives you input and advice along the way. Better yet, implement their input. This is the best thank you that you can give.
The reason so many people stop short of ever making career changes is because they’re scared, terrified. Change is terrifying and so is the fear of the unknown.
So what is the secret of those who make it to the other side? In many cases it’s quite simple: They took one small, deliberate, and brave step toward the goal every single day, even when it was inconvenient; even when it was terrifying. They weighed things out and decided to take a full-on run at it. Now it’s your turn.
Source : Ethiojobs
