There’s nothing fun about doing a job you hate, or slowly realising that your career leaves you without interest and bored to the core. Being unhappy at work can also have long-term consequences for your well-being. As if that wasn’t enough, being unhappy in your career can also affect your personal life and, worst of all, your confidence and self-worth. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already thinking about changing careers. However, maybe you’re still not sure, or just don’t know how to go about it. Perhaps you’re scared of failure, or just don’t know if it’s financially viable. Here’s how to prepare for a major career change.
Identify the skills you need to master
If you really want to make a career change happen, you’ll most likely need to master some new skills. The more drastic the career change, the steeper the learning curve, so make sure you know exactly what you’re in for before you quit your job. identify where your skills gaps lie. Job descriptions are a great place to start. Browse your desired job title on sites such as Indeed and Glassdoor, and make a list of all the skills, qualifications and qualities that frequently come up. Depending on the area, you might need to study for a whole new qualification. This can open up a fresh can of worms in terms of finance and time which is why it’s so important to have a plan in place. If you do need to take a course and you’re still working, you’ll need to explore your options in order to find something that’s both flexible and affordable.
Set goals and deadlines
One of the trickiest things about voluntary career change is that it’s voluntary. While the idea of leaving your old job behind for something more fulfilling is highly attractive, it’s easy to lose motivation when faced with the reality of going back to school as an adult learner or swapping your senior job title for an entry-level role. This is why it’s so important to set goals and deadlines. You need to keep sight of the bigger picture at all times. Changing careers can be a long process, it’s not going to happen overnight. Once you’ve made up your mind to take action, set yourself a career-change deadline based on the hours you can commit to learning new skills and how long it will take you to finance any courses or qualifications. By breaking the journey down into short term goals, the whole task seems much more manageable and much more achievable. This will keep you on track and help to make sure that you actually see it through.
Overcome self-doubt
Career change is tough. The key is to anticipate moments of uncertainty and be ready to confront them as soon as they happen. One of the most common career-change doubts is based on age. It’s never too late to seek happiness and fulfillment, so why put an age limit on a career change? Delving into a brand new field can be daunting, and you might struggle to believe that it’s possible or that you’re really good enough to make it work. If you’re scared of failure, there are many strategies you can use to redefine failure and overcome this fear.
Here at Dublin CODING School, we provide a range of courses for those looking to change their career. To find out more click HERE!
