Friday, August 31, 2012

6 Tips for Changing Careers



Choosing a different career path is sometimes easier said than done, especially if you’re out of work and looking for a new job. In fact, the path can be a stressful and discouraging one. If you’re looking to change careers, we can help get you there with these 6 easy tips!

  1. Follow your passion: If you’re passionate about your career choice, you will be a happier person. That’s not saying that you will never have frustrating moments with work, but you will not want to quit your job when things become difficult.
  2. Start planning for the future: This may be difficult to do if you’re in a rush to find a job, but developing a plan will benefit you in the long run. If you have an idea for a new career, research the idea to discover the necessary requirements and preferred experience associated with the job and make a list. Once you’ve made a list, figure out any additional skills, training and education you will need to undergo. At that point, you can come up with a timeline of when things will get accomplished, like getting certified, for example.  
  3. Take a look at that resume and refresh it: Make sure to include new skills and/or education you’ve acquired since you last updated your resume. Even updating the format can do wonders for that first impression.
  4. Let people know what you’re doing: Form a support group, seek a mentor and network, network, network! There’s nothing wrong with asking a friend out for lunch so you can talk about possibilities that they may know to be available. If your friend is willing to vouch for you, don’t take it lightly. Do everything you can to live up to the recommendation and this will turn out to be a win-win situation!
  5. Prepare for the interview: Do your homework on the company! This could be as simple as browsing their website and taking a few key points with you to the interview. Companies want to hire someone that’s interested in what they’re doing. They know that if you find the work interesting and you enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll produce high-quality results.
  6. Stop making excuses: Start today! A baby starts walking by taking that first step and maybe falling a few times. Know that you may fall, too, but that it’s temporary and each fall is a new learning experience. Just get back up and start taking baby steps again - you’ll learn to stride in no time.
Now that you have some knowledge under your belt, go out there and find your dream job! It’s within your reach - you just need to reach for it.

For more information on changing careers, contact us today!

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