Whether the COVID-19 pandemic has left you without a job for the first time in years, you’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 18 years and now you’re ready for a fresh start, or you just want to make a change in your career, there is no wrong time to find a new job path.
The average person changes careers anywhere from 5-7 times throughout their lifetime. Even if you’ve only had one or two careers throughout your life, now is the perfect time to go after any dreams you may have had to put on hold in the past.
So, whether you want to be a freelance writer, a tattoo artist (don’t forget the tattoo gloves!), a nurse, or a business owner, don’t hold yourself back. Let’s look at 4 quick tips you can use to make your next big career change an easy transition.
Think about your interests
A career change is a big step, no matter why you’re choosing to take it. If you don’t have a specific job in mind, consider your interests, passions, and values.
Write them down, as well as a few specific jobs that you think might relate to those interests. It can help you to narrow down your search quickly to find something you’ll enjoy.
Get personal with people
Once you’ve narrowed down a few industries or even specific careers, don’t be afraid to reach out to people in those positions. Ask them questions about their job. What do they like about it?
What would they change? Some people might even let you “shadow” them for a few hours while they’re at work, which can give you an interesting perspective of what you could expect on the job.
Seek the proper education
One mistake many people make when switching careers is diving right into something headfirst without actually learning the ins and outs of how to do it. Even if the job you’re interested in doesn’t require a degree, it can be helpful to take classes or get training on what you might be doing.
The more educated you are about a particular career, the less stressful it will be for you. As a result, you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
Additionally, you’ll make changes in your lifestyle when you want to switch to particular fields. For example, some industries require constant drug testing, and you don’t want all your hard work to go down the drain because you were unprepared. You can remedy this through detoxification programs to get rid of any harmful toxins, drugs, and other foreign elements.
Consider a different position in a familiar industry
Were you once a nurse and you’d like to get back into the healthcare field, but you don’t want to do nursing anymore?
Many people find success when they look for jobs in a familiar industry that are different from what they used to do. If you used to be a digital marketer, maybe you could become a freelance blog writer. If you once were a vet tech, you might be able to find satisfaction working in an animal shelter.
Working in the same industry gives you a sense of familiarity and security that can make the transition easier and more comfortable.
Remember, it’s never too late for a career change – especially when it’s something you’re passionate about. Keep these tips in mind to help the transition go smoothly.
Good information Christy, especially on the familiar industry, because a lot of people view going to a new industry as having to take a step down, but often times it can be a step up…by simply leveraging required similar key tasks you was already doing in your old job.
Great information, Christy! Thank you, and i am sure it will be useful for many readers. Best wishes, be well and stay save. Michael
Yes, unfortunately a lot of people may need these tips during these uncertain times. Well done, Christy. 🙂
Great tips, Christy. I can’t believe people change their career 5 to 7 times during their lives. I have been in the same sort of job all my working life.
Thank you for the tips….