Steps for a smooth career change
Every job will eventually feel mundane after a while and after you have thoroughly mastered the skill sets required to get the job done. While changing jobs can be quite a stressful ordeal, having to choose a suitable company and to go through all the required assessments, changing careers is a life-changing decision that can either propel you further or do the opposite. Here are some steps you can take for a smooth career change in order to get the best new careers ahead of time:
Relevant skill sets
Before jumping in, be sure that you have all the required skill sets needed for the job. For example, if you are transitioning from a technical role into a managerial role, be sure that you have obtained the right paper qualifications, attended the right management courses and have gone through sufficient people management classes to at least prepare you for what is to come. Apart from that, changing careers requires a change in mindset knowing that you will have an ultra-steep learning curve and things will be tough at the start.
Gaining prior experiences
Before you even jump out from your current career into a new one, consider gaining some relevant experience first. For example, if you are thinking of transitioning from a technical engineering role into a sales role, try direct selling jobs or selling mutual funds as a part-time job. By doing so, you will know if sales is a right move for you and if it is, then you will gain some experience before making a full-time career out of it.
Expand your network
After you have covered the required technical competencies and experiences, you will now need to expand your network with people in the new field you intend to join. Go into LinkedIn for a start and get connected with relevant people. In addition to that, attend conferences and seminars to get to know relevant industry professionals. Who knows, you might cross paths with them someday.
Get a mentor
Once you are well acquainted with people in the new industry, try asking around if anyone could be your mentor. The role of the mentor is not entirely to teach you the ins and outs of the industry, but rather to show you the likely path of success in your new field of vocation.
Adapt well
Finally, when changing careers, the game will change and so will the rules. You will need to be flexible enough to accommodate those new rules and to abide by it. Chances are, your working style will change, your working hours will change and even your working location might change. Embrace those changes with an open mind and keep your eye on the prize.
