If you ever find yourself questioning the career you have chosen, or daydreaming at work all the other goals and aspirations you would like to achieve, it may be time to seriously consider a career change. Your career can determine your happiness and general outlook on life, so it’s important that you are working towards goals within a career you are truly passionate about.
It’s easy to feel lost in the process of trying to determine ‘what’s next’ but there are a few things you can do to determine that your next stepping stone in your career can set you up for success and put you on a path toward a happier place.
What excites you?
The first step is determining what really gets you excited and feeling ambitious. Is it writing/blogging? Cooking? Helping people get organized and make an idea clearer and thought out? These are the things that will help you determine where you are a good fit. If you were an executive assistant before, maybe you have an interest in project management or marketing. But you need to know that the things that make you excited can be part of your next career choice.
What you’re good at?
There is a relationship between what you are good at and what excites you. Take the points you wrote down from the first question and list skills you are good at that are closely related to the things you like. Hard skills will be needed on your resume to show your employer that you have potential or have a good foundation to get started with.
Speaking to experts in the industry or getting a mentor
This is an important one. If you have narrowed down your career choice to one or two options, it’s important to really explore them. Start with LinkedIn! Find an industry expert you can reach out to who can provide you with honest advice on the career. Ask questions, get expectations and learn as much about this career as possible. You may find that you’re not interested in it after all. If you do decide the career is a good fit for you, find a mentor who can help you work on your skill set or even give you practice tasks. If you have the flexibility, take on an internship for a test run.
Taking skill development courses
Taking courses related to the career you are interested in is another way to determine if you enjoy the work you would be doing in your new career and if you will be good at it. It will really put your new career choice in test drive, and also help you gain some experience and knowledge for your resume, which will be helpful when applying for a job. It’s recommended to check with someone in the industry to be sure that the course you are taking will be helpful for the career you are interested in.
Remember that developing a career takes time and there will be times where you question your path. Planning is key to a successful future – but also for a clear direction. These four tips can help you get started if you are considering a career change!