An article published on www.huffingtonpost.com on Jul 1, 2013, based on a survey, stated that almost 80 percent of employees in their 20s want to change their careers, and the percentage is less than that of workers in their 30s and 40s. That read it could be guessed that a very small percentage of the younger lot were firm in their career plans while others were not aware of what they wanted to be and thus ended up changing their careers.
Shoot up to the present, the situation is not so different. With day-to-day technology up-gradation and the increase in required skills to cope with industry downturn, employees feel the same insecurity to continue with their current career. Without focusing much on their freedom to think so, what we advise them to follow is a constructive approach while planning for a career change to avoid future job inconsistencies. Our career change advice:
Assess
The reasons could be many while opting for a career change. Nevertheless, assessing all of them with a keen eye for practicality and possibility would be viable.
No promotions, insufficient income, no recognition, peer pressure, irregular work timings, current profession drawing a blank future, competition from just pass-outs; any of these could be worrisome and might force one to plan for an immediate career change. But let us question, how sure that the same will not happen in your next endeavor?
Have you assessed the reason behind career dissatisfaction? Assess the reason behind your resignation. Then it will be a cakewalk to go forth and accomplish the best suitable career that always dreamed of or at least which won’t challenge you as same as the current one.
Assure
Now that you have assessed why you need a career change and got to find out the best alternative career, try to gain some confidence to reach your goals that pique your aspirations. Try analyzing the skillset you possess and the expertise you have gained in the previous job and compare that with the requirements of your chosen career. Learn some insights. Assure yourself with a well-analysed career shift. E.g., a candidate having solid expertise in sales and marketing might fly high added he gets a good hold in SAP training.
Once the skillset assurance is done, later comes the money assurance. With a plan to career change, you might have to go through rigorous training to attain a competitive hand over required skills.
As you may have to leave the current job to master the required skills, give assurance to yourself, if not your family, at least. See that your pocket is enough stuffed and can promise your financial independence all through even if you are out of work for three consecutive months. In simple terms, brim up your bank account with funds that are sufficient for three months as a precaution. Doing that you could come of financial worries temporarily and can put your heart and soul into setting your next career track intact.
Beware
If you need wealth while out of a job, the situation may force you to choose short-term money gainers; or part-time jobs not related to your chosen field. Beware of such attractions, which may again leave you helpless in the future. Consider taking up part-time in the chosen field itself. An aspiring lawyer may join a well-settled advocate for practice, irrespective of remuneration, initially.
However, to go for part-time, one should say no to full-time vocational courses. Especially in countries like India, a part-time job during the night is still a taboo, and working in the daytime may lead one to end up less concentrating on knowledge improvement. So keep your pocket stuffed before you opt for a career change.
Overall, career change is the best option to go forth when nothing is working in your way in the current career, but to make sure you will not end up at the foot of problems, assess what you need and assure yourself of what to do and beware that you won’t get caught up with short term attractions.
If at all, you are planning for your start-up kind of setup, you may wish to have a start-up must-have list. Our opinion may differ from yours. If yes, let us learn how it differs. Good luck with a career change.