Are you thinking about changing careers? Why not? If in the past jobs were “for life”, nowadays, due to the most diverse factors, we are looking for something different. Whether for family reasons, better salary, stress reduction or other reasons, the search for a better balance between personal and professional life is increasing, which consequently leads to increased demand for new careers.In this article, we address the issues inherent to this change and the steps you can take if you are thinking about change area or job.
What can drive you to change careers?
What drives people to change careers? Have you ever found yourself dreading Monday? Come Sunday and feel anxious? Do you spend the day waiting for it to be time to leave work? If you answered yes to these questions, then perhaps it is time to rethink your professional situation. Is it important to understand why you are doing things? Do you do it for taste? Just for money? You should try to understand the motives that guide you. Working is part of our life and otherwise (except in the case of inheritance) we would have no income. However, you should get some satisfaction from what you do. Working “unwillingly” can lead to another type of problems that are not easy to solve, namely in terms of mental health.There are several indicators in everyday life that show that it may be time to change careers or jobs. Being without energy, unmotivated daily; envy your friends’ jobs; desire to quit the job “on the spot”, are, among many others, signs that you may be in need of a change. Often, due to job dissatisfaction, our attitudes change and other people begin to notice it. We get sadder, out of patience, depressed and it is at this point that we must act. Also read: Youth Guarantee: What it is and how it can be useful for your career
Rate your current satisfaction
Firstly, it must assess your job satisfaction. You can do this in a number of ways, including keeping a journal where you write down everything, particularly the situations you didn’t like. Recurrent arguments in the workplace, incompatibility with the company’s culture, poor relations with colleagues, these are some of the reasons that may be associated with your discontent and, therefore, you should write them down in your diary. After some time, analyze the pros and cons taking into account everything you have written. You must then understand where the problem is and consider whether it will be enough to change and in what aspects you want to do so.Also read: Want to change careers? 6 books that can help you make a decision
Changing jobs within the same area
After analyzing it, you can come to the conclusion that just need to change jobs. He likes the area he is in, however, the place where he works has become a problem. Thus, the situation is relatively simpler, as the first step is to look for a job within your area. Among the different situations of change, this is perhaps the simplest, since it may not need acquire new skills or specializations. Also, since you already have experience, it will be easier to be hired by a competing company. Currently, the search for a job is facilitated by the growth of online platforms. So, you just need to do a search among the various employers, see feedback from current employees, analyze offers and apply for interviews. Prepare as best you can to make a good impression. Also read: Moving city for a new job? Prepare change in detail
Analyze your interests and abilities
The next step is decide in which direction you want to take the change. Start by analyzing your interests and abilities. What do you like to do; what field do you see yourself working in or what your dream job would be. You should try to answer these questions, as are important for decision making.. Start by finding out if in any of your previous jobs you played a role you would like to revisit. Volunteering experiences or past projects you’ve enjoyed. You can also use professional search platforms such as Linkedin to see what other people are doing and if any of these positions would be of interest to you. Seeing what other people are doing, whether family, friends, or even strangers is a great way to open your horizons to new areas. Including, you can contact these people through the platforms and express your doubts or ask for advice. Also Read: Career Progression: 10 Steps to Success
Look for job options
You should also try to understand what kind of jobs are there associated with your interests. Once again, online platforms are the fastest and most efficient way to do this. Do your research, see what other people are doing and even get in touch with them. Doubt. NoDon’t be afraid to talk to strangers, because sometimes that’s where the best opportunities can come from. Also read: Do you have questions about the profession you should follow? Discover 10 tips for choosing the right career for you
Invest in your professional training
A very common situation that can arise when you decide to change careers is realizing that you need enrich your professional training. Sometimes we want to move to an area in which we do not have the necessary training or experience. In that sense, you should try to do it as soon as possible. Look for online training: there are several free platforms and others with affordable prices. However, if it is a practical area, you should seek training or face-to-face certifications that in addition to a curriculum, they also give you more experience. Thus, not only will you acquire new skills, but you will also enrich your CV and make it more attractive to employers. Read also: How a career coach can change your professional life
Try new roles before making up your mind
Another way to ensure that your “new area” is exactly what you want it to do is through a trial period. That is, consider making a request to someone who works in the area you want, in order to try it out for a short time. In these situations, his role would be more of an observer than a performer.. However, it can be a great way to understand what a typical day-to-day would be like for this professional and if, in fact, this area would be of interest to you. But it is important to realize that not in all areas this is possible. There are situations where higher authorizations are required and this trial period is not always achieved. However, when possible, you should make the most of this opportunity, as there is nothing better than direct contact to see if you like something or not. Also read: Searching for a job on Linkedin: 14 mistakes you should avoid
A professional writer by day, a tech-nerd by night, with a love for all things money.