You've gotten bored of your current job, and you've
considered whether or not it's time to move on. You've
weighed the pros and cons. And, ultimately, you've decided
it's time to shift careers.
Now what?
Making a move to a new career can be incredibly exciting,
but it can also be frightening. That's understandable,
since you're leaving stability in order to make a move into
the unknown. But it may be helpful to know that there are
actually some solid steps you can take in order to make
this transition as smooth and as comfortable as possible.
Just follow this three-part formula:
1) Do your research.
Your new career is going to require new skills, new
knowledge, and a strong understanding of a new industry.
Prepare yourself by reading up and doing all the necessary
research on that industry. Read specialty or trade
publications, do some online surfing, contact friends or
colleagues in the field you'll be moving into, and so on.
Utilize all the resources at your disposal in order to
develop a solid base of knowledge for your new career.
2) Bring relevant skills with you.
Even though you're transitioning into a new field and a new
occupation, there is likely to be a lot of overlap. But
many people make the mistake of completely clearing the
slate and not recognizing the places where their old skills
can help them in their new jobs. For example, let's say
you've left your job at a bank to open up your own bakery.
Well, just because your new job is creative, don't let
yourself swing too far over to the artistic side without
bringing along some of your business savvy. Remember that
all jobs require a balance of creativity and
professionalism—you can use your head for numbers to
create a cost-saving budget and invest your profits in wise
ways.
Even if you're making a less dramatic shift—say, from
public relations to advertising—you will still need
to demonstrate to potential employers that being new to the
industry doesn't mean you're starting from scratch. This
idea that skill sets overlap from industry to industry is
an important one to keep in mind as you shift careers
because it will provide a sense of emotional continuity.
3) Don't change everything all at once.
If you quit your job, move to a new city, break up with
your boyfriend or girlfriend, buy a dog, start a new career
and purchase a new home all in the span of a month, you're
setting yourself up for emotional frenzy. Make life easier
for yourself, and make change more palatable, by taking
small steps, and take them one at a time. Try to maintain
as much continuity as you can while making the big change
of shifting careers.
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Ken Anczerewicz is an author and publisher devoted to
providing time & money saving resources designed to help
students of all ages achieve their financial goals. Learn
how to create your own income stream by clicking here now:
http://www.resourceriver.com
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