How to Transition into a New Career Effectively

You may have been pondering about transitioning into a new career for a long time now, whether you should do it or not. Should you take that leap into something new, or should you stay with what you know?

If you’ve decided that it’s time to mix-up things, then good for you; however, if you’ve decided to stick with your current career, we totally understand – it’s a whole different world out there. It’s not just a new job, but it’s a different career entirely.

Now that you’ve finally decided and may have found the role right for you, you may begin to wonder- how do you make the switch without starting from scratch? How do you market or position yourself for prospective employers to understand that you have what it takes to function effectively in your new role and that you are capable of succeeding in your new field when you have no experience at all?

Today, we’ll be providing some vital information on what you can do to make your transition as effective as possible.

Start with the Why

So many people have grown to hate their jobs but are not aware of things beyond that. However, before you even begin to take the leap, ask yourself first; why? When you fail to answer that question, you might end up in a similar scenario. You may end up in a different career, but it may be a career that you will still hate. All the effort would become meaningless.

So, it is essential to ask yourself: Why do I want to switch careers? Does this path make my life better? What kind of risks am I taking here?

Who knows, perhaps, when you get through this exercise, you might discover that it isn’t as great as you imagined it to be. Sometimes, you might even find more of a reason to make the switch.

Have a Clear Answer on the What

What does your new career involve? What are its downsides?

It doesn’t hurt to continually evaluate and question yourself because you’re making a huge leap. Are you able to use your skills and experience as leverage in your new field? Your contacts? As well as your brand to ensure that the transition is successful? These are questions to consider.

So many take the saying of “follow your passion, and everything will fall into place” seriously. Yet studies have shown that most people who statistically do that have a lower chance of finding a fulfilling career compared to those who continue to leverage what they already have. Experts have advised that if you decide to pivot your career, choose a path where you can leverage what you already have to new heights.

Create a Plan

Now that you’ve answered the why’s and what’s, your next course of action is to create a plan on how to get that job. You need to consider your real-world obligations such as monthly bills, kid’s school, etc., You’ll also need to evaluate your skill set, what you can carry over to your new career, and what skills you need to add.

Identify Your Current Skills – Make a list of all your abilities and skills, and what carries over to your new field. If you’re a seasoned worker already, most of your skills probably are carried over as supposed to entry-level employees where you’re starting from scratch.
Identify Skills That You Need – Examine the job description that you are aiming for. What are its requirements? You probably know this already, but it’s not required that you check all the conditions; however, some may be deal-breakers.

It is important to note that it is advisable that you get an experienced career coach, who can help you come up with an effective plan that makes the transition less stressful. For example, at Global Career Advisors, we help various individuals effectively transition into new jobs with the help of well-laid out plans.

Transition Tactics

Once you’ve done some serious evaluation and still want to push through, here are more tactics that would make your search for that illustrious new career a success.

Update Your Resume – Focus on the summary statement, state that your skills can be transferred. Write an excellent cover letter to fit the job that you’re applying to in any organization.
Utilize Your Existing Network – Starting a new career doesn’t mean shunning your existing network and building it from scratch. In fact, you can utilize your existing network, which could be very helpful. Inform your closest friends, family, and colleagues that you are planning to switch. Who knows, they might have something to offer you.
Search Within Your Current Employer – There’s no one who knows your capabilities better than your current company. Even if you’re planning on switching careers, your current company may be willing to help make your transition as seamless as possible. Since the company knows you well, there might be a chance that they’ll be ready to try you out in a different position.
Look out for Informational Interviews – An informational interview can be a great way to expand your network further, as well as learn the ropes of the new career you’ve chosen.

Final Tip – Take everything slowly. Most times, nothing good comes out from rushing. Especially when you’re dealing with something as drastic as a career change, continue working on it daily until you have a clear understanding of whether the move makes sense or not.