Making a career change is a big decision. It takes a lot of fortitude to find your path forward especially if it’s in a new arena. Many people have different jobs on the same career path, or have second or third careers that are all entirely different. A lot of times, skills learned in or outside of work help to inform the second or third career choice. It is certainly easier to make the transition if you have transferable skills or at least a deep passion or interest in the new direction you want to take. When making a game changing career move, usually there are training or knowledge gaps that need to be filled. It helps to seek out education or volunteer opportunities to fill those areas.

If you think you're ready to rethink your career and take the leap, spend some time soul searching, take stock of your skills, talents, and interests and explore new possibilities by completing research. You can do this by talking to other professionals in the area of work you are interested in. You can ask them questions about how they got their first job in that field, what expertise and knowledge they have, and how they gained their expertise. 

If you need to do some additional training for a particular job, look into the education providers, see how much the programs cost, and how long they take to complete. There are some career options which require little to no new training. If school or training is a barrier for you, you may want to explore some of these options. Also, research typical salaries for the jobs you're interested in and see if those options are viable for you and match up with your lifestyle. It can help to narrow down your career options with a Life and Career Coach by being guided through some decision making techniques.

Once you have completed your research and made your decision about what career choice to pursue, you can start researching companies that employ people in your area. When researching companies, you can see if your values align, if they provide a good work-life balance and culture, if there are opportunities for growth, and what they pay and benefits are for that given position. You can also request information interviews with people in the companies to get a better idea if you're a fit. You can sign up to receive job postings for the companies you're interested in.

When applying for a job there are some things you can do to improve your chances of landing the job. If it's your dream job, it will be worth the extra work and money if you can afford it. Something that really helped me move from an operations-oriented role to a project management role was getting extra support. I wanted a game changer and a 100K plus professional resume. I worked with a resume writing services company that created a portfolio resume package for me. I loved the final product, was proud to show it off and it gave me more confidence as I walked into interviews. I also worked with a professional to practice my interview skills. I spent about 5K getting ready to land my dream job and it worked; I got my dream job at the time and doubled my income.

It’s also a good option to practice with a family member or friend, but a professional is nice because they can give you more objective and professional feedback. It also can help to prep answers to commonly answered interview questions so you have an idea of what to say and have stories ready for behavioral type questions. Just make sure you don’t sound too canned in the interview. After you have an interview, be sure to send a thank you letter or email to the interviewees.

If you are not successful in your first interview or next few in a new field, don’t fret. Take these experiences as learning opportunities. You can always ask for feedback on your interview which can be invaluable. Job searching usually takes 3 months or so (varies depending on the year) and this is often the case even when you stay in the same field. Be prepared that it may take 3 months or longer to make the transition to a new field. You can keep the job you currently have in the interim if you have one or find something to tie you over until you land your dream job.

If you need help exploring your career options, making and implementing a decision, and holding accountability, then consider working with a Life and Career Coach that can help guide you to not only making your next career move but choosing a path that is going to be fulfilling, exciting, and rewarding. 

If you're ready to get your dream career off the ground and design your ideal life, then send me a message to inquire about private 1-on-1 coaching.

Farewell, I look forward to hearing from you.
Ash Enns