Do you fancy a career change but you’re not sure where to start or what you want to do?
Spring is a time of rejuvenation and therefore a good time of the year to find the inspiration and motivation to move on and find something new that makes you happy.
If you are unhappy in your current job but just don’t know what to do next or how to make that all important change, then read on for our top tips to making a successful career change.
- Think about your current job satisfaction (or lack of it!)
Keep a diary of your daily thoughts to your current job – what parts of your job do you like and what parts are you dissatisfied with? This will help you identify what aspects of the job you do and don’t enjoy. Are the negatives to do with the actual work content of your job or with the people with whom you work or the overall company culture? It may not be your actual work that is getting you down, just the environment. This is an important thing to work out. - Assess your skills and interests
Are your core skills and interests utilised and met in your current job? Maybe you are being under utilised by your boss or perhaps you are just not interested enough in what you’re doing. Think about other jobs or volunteering roles that you have enjoyed and look at the differences – were your skills more pertinent to those roles? - Make time to go over your options
Don’t rush into any change, it is important to take your time. Once you have worked out what it is that is prompting a change, dedicate some time to research possible new fields or companies. This doesn’t need to be overwhelming – break it down into small tasks and set yourself achievable targets – these might be emailing a contact or friend who works in a field of interest, booking yourself onto a short course in an area you are considering or making time to research companies who’s culture appeals to you. - Do your research
The more information you arm yourself with, the better. Write a list of what you do and don’t want to help you stick to what you actually want by changing jobs. It may be that you discover it isn’t the company that you don’t like but that you’re in the wrong job within that company – maybe there is an opportunity to move to a new department or get onto a training scheme? Explore all opportunities and if moving company or industry is the answer, then find out as much as you can about where you want to go. - Talk about it!
Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, family and past colleagues or class mates – it really is good to talk about your options. Make the most of your social networks and look for people who can make introductions to contacts who may be able to help. - Upgrade your skills
It may be necessary to learn something new or upgrade your current skills in order to move into the field you want to be in. Well take your time and enrol onto a course that can give you those skills. It will be worth the time and financial investment now if it helps you land a job you are truly happy in.
Once you are ready to find your new job, please do contact Better Prospects and let us know what you are looking for. We place many candidates in jobs before those jobs are advertised so it pays to be registered with us. Please also take a look at our blog where you will find articles to help with your CV, writing a covering letter and getting ready for interview.
https://betterprospects.com/blog/
Good luck!
