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If you’ve been worrying about your career, thinking about how you’re stuck in a rut, or just generally not happy in your current job, then it may be time to consider a new job or career. If you’re between jobs or working reduced hours due to the pandemic, you can utilize the extra down time to start planning your next career move. It might be switching to a different position at your current place of employment. It might be looking for another job altogether. Or it might just be gathering some information about another industry. Regardless, you need to dedicate some time to yourself to help you better find the right path moving forward. The tips below can help you to prepare for a potential career change.
Consider Your Next Career
It’s important that if you want to move into a completely different industry, you do your research. You’ll want to research typical working hours, the terms and conditions of employment, the rate of staff turnover, etc. For example, if you wanted to help your community by working as a carer, you should fully understand caretaker duties. Or, if you’re interested in working in the financial world, take time to identify what sector you’d like to work in and what kinds of experience or qualifications you’d need to ensure you’re best prepared for the transition.
Take time to consider and look at all of your options. If you have friends or know people in the industry already, reach out to them for more perspective and advice on how to break into a new career field. Remember, this isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. You always need to do the proper research and take the right steps so that you end up doing something you really want to.
Have A Serious Talk With Your Boss
If you’re thinking of changing jobs or feel like your stuck in a rut in your current position, consider talking to your boss. They may be able to give you additional responsibilities or perhaps talk to you about promotion opportunities. They may also be able to do adjust your work schedule to give you a better work-life balance. Make sure you treat the conversation as a professional one. Don’t grab your boss in the hallway for a quick conversation. Instead, schedule a meeting time with them for a serious discussion. Have a plan about your desired growth or changes to prepare for the meeting. A good boss will take what you say seriously and will try to make the changes they can to keep a good employee. They’ll listen to you and want to help, and will likely be willing to talk about potential promotion prospects.
Study For Success
If you’re interested in changing careers, it’s important to know that some careers may require some additional education. Some may find studying for a new career easier than others. Fortunately, technology and the internet offer many ways you can study at your own pace. If you have extra down time in your schedule, now is a great time to start furthering your education and increasing your qualifications. This may including studying for an industry-specific qualification. It might be going back to school for training or it could be a skill like learning another language or getting a management qualification. Research what kinds of skills will benefit you and dedicate time to increase your skillset. While this might require a significant investment of your time, it’s needed if you’re serious about moving ahead in a new field.
See If You Can Get Some Experience
A good way to determine if a new career is a fit for you is through on-the-job or hands-on experience. Internships are a great way to do this. Internship positions aren’t only for young people either. And, they often give you a leg-up should you choose to pursue that career. See if you have any contacts in the industry and ask if you can do a day’s work, shadow an employee, or at least have a tour of the job site. This allows you to learn more about the type of work and environment you’d be working in. Looking at company reviews on sites like GlassDoor may shed some insight but remember you likely won’t get the full picture of the company or career path.
If you’re looking to challenge yourself more or in new ways and have some down time, we hope these tips will help you achieve your career goals.
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