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People change careers for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes, you may feel as though your current job isn’t giving you the challenges or opportunities you’ve been looking for. Other times, you may simply think you can get a better wage from a different path. While there’s nothing wrong with changing your industry or job title throughout the years, it’s important to remember this process can be a little complicated. Having the right plan in place should ensure you make the right decisions about what you need to change before you accept a new job. Today, we’re looking at some of the steps you can take to prepare yourself for an effective career change, and keep issues to a minimum.
Decide What You Want from Your New Career
The first step in choosing a new direction for your career, is figuring out what you want to change about your current employment situation. Assess the role you’re in now, and make a list of the things you do and don’t like about it. You might be happy with the industry and the kind of work you’re doing, but you don’t feel like you get enough growth or training opportunities. You may be happy with your earnings and learning potential, but you could find your current career doesn’t align with your interests and values as much as it used to. Highlighting what you like and dislike about your role today will give you an insight into the kind of features you should prioritize when selecting your new job.
Explore New Opportunities
Once you know what kind of things you’re looking for from a new job, you can begin to search for different opportunities. One option could be to stay within the industry you know already, but look for a different job title or business to work with. In some cases, you may decide you want to change everything about your current work life, explore non-traditional career choices, and start in a new industry from scratch. List the talents and skills you already have and look at the jobs you’re most interested in. You should be able to compare your current resume to the job descriptions of the jobs you’re interested in, for insights into where you might need additional training or experience.
Upgrade Your Education
If you’re moving into an entirely new role or industry, you may find you need additional training or certifications before you’re ready to take on the job of your dreams. If this is the case, you’ll need to determine both what kind of education you need, and how you’re going to pay for it. If you’re still paying a fortune for your first degree, it might be worth looking into NaviRefi student loan refinancing, to help reduce the costs so you can explore something new. It’s also a good idea to look for work-tudy programs and in-job training, to help reduce the costs associated with moving into a new position. Some new employers will even be able to help you get the skills you need according to your new schedule.
Create Your Step-by-Step Plan
Finally, with a clear knowledge of what you want to do, and where you need to expand your skills to apply for new roles, you can start to put your plan into practice. You might start with some education in your free time while you’re still in your existing role, so you can reduce the risk of losing out on income while you’re getting certified. Remember, when the time comes to leave your current workplace, it’s important to quit your job with grace and make sure you’re not burning any bridges with your existing employer. You’ll still need their recommendations to help boost your chances of getting a new role.
This story originally appeared on CareerAttraction
