STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL
CAREER CHANGE:
OUR 12 BEST

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREER CHANGE - NO. 1-6

Let’s get into the 12 strategies for successful career change that we feel everyone should take on their journey.

1. WHY CONSIDER CHANGING CAREERS

In the opening above, we talked about some of the reasons that individuals may desire a career shift. Now it is time to talk about YOU. You have been thinking about it in the back of your mind for a short or a long while. It is time to get it out in the open.

What is your reason for desiring a career change?

• Could it be the big guy — money?
• Perhaps it is that you just need to reduce the STRESS.
• It could be that you feel that your job is just taking you away from your family too much. Your life - work balance is our of wack.
• The fire has just burnt out and you are tired of your current role.
• You may need a new challenge to bring back a spark.

It is now time for you to think hard and determine which one or combinations are motivating you to consider a new career field. It is important for you to recognize your driver.

2. COME TO GRIPS WITH YOUR FEARS AND ACT NOW

Do you have the guts to do this? Are you ready for it. The truth is that if you are’t ready then it will never happen. So get yourself ready. 

If we are honest, staying in a career is easier that changing careers. Yes, it has all of the old problems, but you have been dealing with them this long, so why not longer. So, it is scary but you need to act and these strategies for successful career change are the way to do it.

3. ASSESS AND EVALUATE YOURSELF

Step back. Now take your time to write down each of the skills that you possess and utilize in your current role. Identify all of your accomplishments. That is a great start. Now, consider your social life, family life, any professional groups and outside activities you have. Examine the role you play in each of those and add other skill sets to your list.

In addition to these skills, what are your core values. There are a number of online tools to help in this process. Some are careerexplorer, skills matcher, and careeronestop interest assessment.

It is most common for individuals to shift into positions that leverage the skill sets that they have developed over the years. Be creative to utilize these areas of expertise in new ways.

4. DETERMINE WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY

In my view, this is a key element in the process. Even if your main goal is to make more money, you want to enjoy what you do. Taking the time to capture your feelings on all elements of your desired career field is important. Therefore, it is also important to fully learn what all of the elements elements are. This tells me that your research into your desired career is essential.

5. DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN

Write it down. Identify your goals and timeline. As you learn more, that plan may change, but that is alright. Set up milestones to help you work on and accomplish the task step by step. Your tasks may be daily or weekly as you see fit. Each accomplished step brings you that much closer to your goal.

6. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

Monitor your process and track accomplishments. This can help you in the follow-up process. Pick a tool that works best for your whether it is a spreadsheet or a spiral pad. Set reminders to help you tackle your tasks.

Get comfortable with it.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREER CHANGE - NO. 7-12

7. RESEARCH AND LEARN

Start digging into all of the sources you can find to identify what your potential new career field entails. Learn what tasks need to be performed, how often, how people succeed, why people fail, including what characteristics are important. Now, how does this information compare with you and your skills.

You can look on LinkedIn for individuals that are in the career field you would like to enter. Strike up a conversation and get to know them, if possible. You could ask them if they could provide feedback on their view of this career. It is a bit harder to locate the right person, but it can yield results.

There are several mentor sites you could search to see if any mentors are in the field you want to enter. Of course, CareerRedo.com does provide access to mentors in numerous career categories.

See if your mentor is waiting for you to reserve an hour phone call with them. One of the best reasons to use this approach is that the mentor is usually available fairly quickly. You can begin gaining insight soon which will help you in your decision process. Most of these mentors do charge a fee for their services, but in most cases, you will probably feel that it was well worth it to gain such information directly and quickly. One of the best strategies for successful career change is to talk with a career mentor.

8. CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE CAREER FIELDS

You could also evaluate talking with a career counselor or coach to help you understand yourself and for which fields you may be well suited.

Usually, such a counselor may not know all of the elements and details involved in a specific career field (which is why a mentor is so valuable) but they can help you in the matching of your skill set with career options.

9. LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE CAREER FIELD OF INTEREST

There are several ways to do this:

• Reach out - Do some digging to locate individuals in organizations or companies that are involved in that field. Cold calling can work, but it is better to find an associate of some person to assist in the introduction.  This could be time consuming but may work.

• Volunteer - Try to locate an organization that is involved in some way with the field of interest. Volunteer at an animal shelter if your interest is veterinary. Look for an industry organization in which you could offer your services to hope to get to know others for future access.

• Attend a class  - In your earlier analysis, you may have found an area in which you need basic or additional guidance to fully understand. Take classes to increase your knowledge and skill set.

• Find a Mentor - An experienced individual with a background in your field of interest is invaluable. They can help you almost immediately to help you focus and to provide insight. This is one of the most direct methods to aid you in your analysis. Look for your mentor in this list.
  

  

10. PREPARE FOR THE SHIFT

Prepare, prepare, prepare! That is the right approach. It is time to upgrade your skills and improve your knowledge of the desired career field. Use all of the sources available to you to increase your knowledge base. Learn and grow.

Develop yourself to the exact person that the new organization is looking for. And prepare yourself so you will not find any surprises when you land that new job.

11. ADJUST YOUR BRAND

Use social media and organizations to which you belong to show that you are knowledgeable and proficient in the field of your choice. This prepares others who are researching you to see that you fit the bill.

So in addition to the work you do on yourself, you should show others that you are in the right mindset and are ready for the shift.

12. ASSOCIATE WITH YOUR TARGET GROUP

You need to get to know people in the desired career field, especially those who are passionate about it.  Look for things in which these individuals have an interest. Use that as a means to complement them to develop a rapport.

Soon you could ask for some of their time to provide additional guidance and insight for you. When approached the right way most people would be glad to provide some assistance. Thank them for all that they do for you.

FIND YOUR MENTOR HERE

Find all of the career categories here.

You can find out more at our Client FAQ page. A mentor is the best person to help you gain insight into a new career field.  Use these strategies for successful career change. Please feel free to ask me any question on my contact page.

I look forward to helping you reach your goal.