Sometimes, it takes us a little while to find our dream job. Whether we work part-time whilst studying or decide to work in a new industry after decades of working in a particular field, the average person will have 12 jobs in their lifetime. Therefore, you may currently be looking to change careers.
However, leaving a job is often met with uncertainty. What if you do not have enough money to support yourself? What if you don’t have the right training or qualifications to work in your chosen industry? What if you don’t like it after all? However, that does not mean it is not worth the risk. Sometimes taking a leap and trying something new can change your entire life for the better.
With that in mind, here’s how you can prepare yourself for a career change.
Do your research.
Sometimes, a certain job title sounds appealing, and we can latch onto it. However, before you move into that role, you should ensure you know everything there is to know about the job. Speak to others in similar positions and read everything you can about the position and the industry. This will help you make an informed decision.
Then, you need to ensure you are suitably prepared to take on the new role. Many of the skills you acquire in the workplace are transferable – such as communication, teamwork and tenacity. However, certain roles require additional training and preparation – so you have to be prepared to do this. For example, if you wish to become a management account, you need to ensure you know exactly How to Become a Successful Management Accountant – this can include starting in a similar role and working your way up, taking part in an internship or gaining academic qualifications. No matter how prepared you may feel, you have to understand that you will likely have to spend time climbing up the ladder at work until you reach your goals.
Give yourself time.
You should not rush the process of starting a new job. To begin with, you will likely need to provide your current employer with notice, so they can prepare for you to leave. You also need to ensure you are making the right decision, which can take a lot of thought. Although it can be tempting to quit on the spot and set off on your next adventure – you need to ensure you have all of the preparations in place to support yourself during the move. This is especially true if you are set to take a pay cut in the new role, as you don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you are struggling for money.
Take a break.
Moving from one role into another can be stressful, especially if you move from one to the other without a little downtime. Therefore, if possible, you should give yourself a few days rest in between the positions. This is a great way for you to unwind and say goodbye to your current position, and ensure you enter your new workplace ready and raring to go.
