Contributed by Tory J.
Staying in the same job for your entire career was the norm 40 years ago. Now changing jobs (even careers) is standard, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Here are some mistakes you can avoid:
Thinking that wholesale change is necessary. Sometimes you might not like your job or the place you work but this doesn’t mean that you can’t do the same job at another company. Examine other companies before you examine a new line of work.
Over-reliance on one form of help. Headhunters are great but relying on them to find you your next or dream job is unreasonable. There are so many networking and job-hunting resources available that you can use to make a great deal of headway in your job search. Also, be sure to tap your network of friends and past associates.
Believing you don’t have relevant skill-set. You may have experience in a different field but that doesn’t mean that your skills will not apply to your new career path. What accomplishments did you achieve that are related to your new career? What skills (work and otherwise) do you possess? Reorganize your resume to highlight them.
Lack of experience. Before you make the shift get some experience in the field you want to move into; volunteer or get an adult internship. By gaining some experience in the field, not only will you be more confident, you will be bringing much-needed competence in your new work.
Lack of confidence. This can be the hardest one. How can you be confident doing something you never did before? Start by taking stock of your skills and accomplishments. Then create a small faux project in the field you are interested in. For example, let’s say you worked at a retail counter for years and now you are thinking of making the switch and become a personal shopper. Offer to do some personal shopping for a friend, design an approach to accomplish that task and remember to get lots of feedback. This will help you see that you know more than you think and go a long way to making you feel more confident as you make the move
Do you have any tips for switching careers?
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