If you’re considering changing your career in 2020, you aren’t the only one. On average, a person will change their careers five to seven times throughout their lifetime. It’s something that happens often yet not many people know how to go about doing so effectively.
It’s important to build a career that makes you feel fulfilled and that you don’t loathe. It can be challenging to find the perfect balance between doing work that you love that also pays the bills. But with enough preparation and introspection, you can find the career that’s right for you.
Let’s look at four tips that will help you switch careers in the upcoming year.
Decide if it’s the right choice
Switching careers is a huge decision to make, so it’s important you’re making the right one. If there’s a standstill in your life or you feel bored, it’s easier to jump ship on your current situation. It may make you feel like you need a big change to break the monotony, but changing your career path may not be the right answer.
Take time to perform deep self-reflection. If you come to the conclusion that a switch is right for you, and it sits well with your gut instinct, then prepare for the changes ahead. You might want to talk to people you trust about the leap to see what they think and give you tips. They may end up giving you valuable advice that makes your transition smoother.
Assess your skills
If you have yet to decide the new direction you’re headed in, then you need to take the time to figure it out. Everyone’s life path is different and none look the same. It’s up to you to perform the necessary reflection to understand what career path is best for you.
Take self-assessment tests to better understand what field you’d perform best in and where your interests lie. Sometimes it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what you want to do, but these online quizzes can help you gain a clearer perspective.
Think about your personality, values, interests, passions, and qualifications. What do you enjoy? What kind of work will motivate you day after day? How much money are you looking to make? Are you willing to go back to school or take courses if necessary?
There’s a lot to consider before changing your career path, which is why it’s essential to study yourself inside and out first. It’ll help you feel more confident about your decision to leave your current situation and begin a new one.
Refine your resume
When you fill out job applications, you need to have a solid resume to show recruiters that makes them eager to bring you in for an interview. But what do you do when you have little to no experience in the field you want to get into?
If you don’t have any industry experience to fall back on, you can use your resume to highlight your transferable skills instead. Although experience comes in handy and shows that you’ve worked hands-on for a position, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re the best person for the job. Recruiters also look at behavioral skills that make you a good fit for the company where you provide value.
Some examples of behavioral skills to list on your resume include:
- Leadership
- Complex problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Decision-making
Decide which skills are the most needed for your desired field and pick those to use on your resume. Employers want people working for their company who are able to work efficiently regardless of what the work is.
Stay realistic
Although nothing is impossible when it comes to what you can do, it’s important to keep a realistic frame of mind. It may take you a while to figure out what you want to do or how you should go about doing it, and that’s okay. What’s important is that you create an actionable plan to get where you want to be.
It’s important to practice patience with your dreams to turn them into reality. Overnight success is nearly unheard of and you have to work hard for what you want. Remember to stay consistent, set up routines, and take small, manageable steps to move forward in the right direction.
Conclusion
If you’re ready for an exciting change in 2020, then it’s best to prepare yourself for what’s to come. Switching up your career path is both thrilling and terrifying, but with enough preparation and positivity, you can do anything you set your mind to.