Whether you’re coming off of a successful stint at a marketing agency and have big plans for the future of your career or simply wanting to pursue a new professional interest, there are some critical things to keep in mind when planning to make a career change. No matter what industry you are working in or what skills you bring to the table, the following article will detail five essential pieces of advice to consider for a seamless and fruitful career change. We will walk you through the best practices so that you are fully equipped to take the job search by storm and land that winning opportunity.
Research your desired position
A simple assessment of your current job may have revealed some areas of improvement or discomfort encouraging you to pursue a new position at a different company. Whether that position is similar to your current one or a completely uncharted venture for you, it would be wise to do holistic research into the specifications of the position to understand it in its entirety and be better prepared for securing the opportunity. With a keen understanding of your desired position, you will be ready to nail the application process and whizz through the interviews into a brand new desk in a new company. Furthermore, you will possess the knowledge to transition into this job seamlessly, requiring less attention from your mentors which would reflect positively on your production within the company.
Network with the right people
Beyond doing your research, it is essential that you are networking with the right people when opting to change career paths. There is a tremendous amount of valuable insight that can be gleaned from people working within your desired industry, those having fulfilled a position similar to the one you are looking at, and others who have successfully paved the way for their own career change. By attending galas, exhibitions, and industry events, you can start engaging with a community of people who have faced a similar challenge to yourself and learn things you may not be able to from basic internet research.
Conduct a job shadow
With the connections you have made through your networking efforts, you may be able to set up a job shadow opportunity or two to suss out whether or not you will easily fit into the position. Working alongside someone in your desired profession will show you the ins and outs of their work, allowing you to draw a clearer image of the roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, job shadowing is a great way to bolster your CV when applying for a new position and your potential employer may be very interested to see you taking a proactive approach to your career change.
Develop your skills further
With a deeper understanding of the jobs gleaned from your research, networking, and job shadowing, you may now develop your skills further to fit every requirement on the listing. Using tools like LinkedIn Learning or Udemy, you may acquire new marketable skills that will add value to the company you wish to work for and aid in your efforts to transition into a new position.
Acclimate to your new position
At this point, you will have all the necessary tools to land the job and you should soon find yourself settling into a new office space. When entering a new company during your career change, bear in mind that you are here to learn and do your best to be involved in as much as you possibly can. Be willing to listen to criticism and grow within the company, rather than rocking the boat from the moment you step through the doors.
