25 top tips to kick-start your career change · 2019-10-27 · your career change...
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25Careershifters’
Stuck in a job you don’t like? Want to leap out
of bed looking forward to work? Feel it’s time for a change? Not sure
what to do next?
Top Tips
to kick-start your career change
Careershifters.org , the UK’s leading dedicated online career change guide, has compiled practical advice from some of the country’s top career change experts to help you make a successful shift. Whether you’re just thinking about a change or you’ve already started the process, these nuggets of expert wisdom will help you create a career that really gets you going
25Top Tips
to kick-start your career change
2 of 8 Find this article on the web: www.careershifters.org/toptips v2 February 3, 2008
© Careershifters Limited 2008
Assess your current positionIf you’re unhappy in your career, it’s sometimes tempting to think that moving into a completely new arena could be the answer. However, don’t discount a less dramatic shift. You could move jobs within your company, you could find a similar role but in a different industry, or you could move to a different city or different country. Ask yourself what is it that you like and
dislike about what you do. Do you just want to do anything as long as it’s new, or is there a burning desire to follow a specific career path? What do your answers tell you?
1 Stay and negotiate
Assess your current position
and what it is about your job
that you are unhappy about. You
may realise that the job itself
isn’t the problem, but that some
things need to change for you to
start enjoying it again. Work out
what these changes are and see
what can be done. For example,
voice the issues that have been
concerning you or ask your boss if
you can work from home one day
per week.
2 Leave for a new, but similar job
You may actually enjoy the
activities and tasks involved in
your job, but find that the people
you work with, the company
culture, or the objectives of your
work don’t fit with who you feel
you are and what’s important to
you. Consider moving to a similar
job but one that feels more in line
with your values. If for example
you are a frustrated PR in a large
law firm you might find that a
new but similar role working in a
different industry brings all the
fulfilment you were looking for.
3 Leave for something completely
different... ≥
ILLUSTRATION: NEIL COLLMAN
25Top Tips
to kick-start your career change
3 of 8 Find this article on the web: www.careershifters.org/toptips v2 February 3, 2008
© Careershifters Limited 2008
So you want to change career, but to do what?
4 Get to know yourself What makes you come
alive? What really motivates you?
Start by thinking outside the box.
You’ve probably only looked at
yourself from one perspective.
Step back and look from another.
Look at your interests outside
of work. What makes you feel
excited, what are you passionate
about? Listen to your heart. What
does your inner voice keep telling
you?
5 What do other people say about
you? Sometimes the work you
were born to do is so easy and
natural to you that you miss it
completely, either not seeing it
or not valuing it. Notice and listen
to what other people see as your
strengths and natural abilities.
What do people compliment you
on? What have people said about
you that you’ve dismissed in the
past, but actually may have an
element of truth?
6 Focus on your strengths
It’s a good thing to be aware
of where our performance is
less strong, but to make a real
success of your career, the most
important thing to focus on is
your strengths. What do you
find easy that other people find
hard? Understand your unique
package of skills and abilities.
Forcing yourself to “overcome”
your “weaknesses” is a drain on
your energy. Instead, concentrate
on making use of your real talents
and leave the stuff you’re not so
good at to the people who are!
7 Who are your heroes and heroines?
Think of someone whose job
you are envious of. It could be
someone you know or someone
famous. What is it about these
people’s careers or lifestyles that
appeals to you? Talk to people
with jobs you think you’d love to
have to find out what it is really
like. Too often we choose a job
that looks good on paper but
don’t think about what it will be
like day to day.
8 Believe in yourself
You may have been
conditioned not to think too
highly of yourself, think small or
even belittle yourself. You may
have thought “who am I to…?”
Your new career may be found
by recognising that you are more
significant, valuable, worthy or
important than you have believed.
9 It could be right under your nose
Have you ever said “if only I could
find someone to pay me to do
…“ Often you know what you
love to do, but you don’t know
how you could ever do it and get
paid. Or it is the thing you keep
avoiding, making excuses about,
and rationalising away. It almost
seems too good. So don’t confuse
‘I don’t know’ with ‘I don’t know
how’. Acknowledge the what, and
then figure out the how.
10 Have fun!
Change happens best
when we’re enjoying ourselves.
You can’t make a career decision
from a depressed state – which
is where we can end up when we
feel stuck in our work. Go out and
do what you enjoy, even if you
don’t think you could ever make
a living out of it. Often a crea- tive hobby you love but haven’t
touched for months can light
your creative spark for thinking
of career options. When we feel
happy and positive, we usually
attract happy and positive events.
So give attention to making your
life fun, and let that spill over into
your quest for career change. ≥
Need more help with getting started?
Try the “Get Started” section on our website: www.careershifters.org/getstarted
25Top Tips
to kick-start your career change
4 of 8 Find this article on the web: www.careershifters.org/toptips v2 February 3, 2008
© Careershifters Limited 2008
I know what I want, but how can I get there?
11 Positive thinking Instead of thinking
about what you are trying to get
away from, think about what you
want to move towards. If you’ve
ever said something along the
lines of “I really can’t stand this
job / role / project / my boss”
you’ll know what this one means.
You are more interested in how
to escape from the present than
where you’ll be escaping to. Try
changing your thought process to
‘I’m looking for a job/role/project/
relationship with my boss that
has/is X, Y, Z’. This helps you avoid
going from a bad situation to an
equally bad one. It also gives you
positive motivation and energy
for change and a far better
chance of looking in the right
places for the right opportunity
for you, then recognising it when
you see it.
12 Build your confidence
When we want to change our line
of work, we can sometimes be
overcome by inadequacy that we
don’t have the right experience.
Nurture your confidence by
focusing on what experience
you do have. What are your
strengths? What skills do you
have that would be relevant to
your new career?
13 Do your homework
To make any change as smooth as
possible do your homework about
your new chosen career. Research
what it entails and what training
you may need. Identify any
shortfall you may have skills-wise
and how you might fill in the gaps.
14 Instead of saying “I can’t have what
I want” ask “What do I need to do to get what I want”
It’s very easy to get stuck in this
belief. Yes, occasionally it’s true,
but often it’s just a convenient
excuse for not taking the actions
and risks required to get what
you want. When you look at things
more positively, you can see the
path you need to take and the
real obstacles in your way. Then
you can decide whether you are
willing to take the action you need
to get there.
15 Create a realistic time plan
It is tempting to want to rush in
once you know what you want,
but take some time to look at
the timing of the shift. What do
you need to sort out, complete
or make arrangements for in
your life to give yourself the best
chance of success? How long
does it take to gain the skills that
are necessary to make the move?
What would be the best time plan
for this move, both for you and
for those around you? Once you
begin to see the plausibility, the
more real it becomes. ≥ ILLUSTRATION: NEIL COLLMAN
25Top Tips
to kick-start your career change
5 of 8 Find this article on the web: www.careershifters.org/toptips v2 February 3, 2008
© Careershifters Limited 2008
experience for when you come to
apply for a position. All of these
options will allow you to get a
much better idea of what you are
letting yourself in for – and might
also lead to job opportunities.
19 B uild your profile
Imagine telling someone (who
you don’t know) what you do.
Respond as though you have
already career shifted. Write
out a new CV. Imagine being
interviewed: develop a bank
of thoughtful, well-researched
answers. Now build a profile in
others’ eyes. Go to events where
you’ll learn and meet interesting
people. Contribute. Get involved.
It’s you as a person, as much as
you as a collection of skills and
knowledge, that’s important. Get
“you” on the radar.
20 Don’t do it alone
The idea that success is
a solo activity is one of the most
damaging myths ever created.
If you’re going for a big change,
you’re going to need a lot of
support. Get a coach, come ≥
16 Be honest around finances
Not only is a realistic time plan
necessary but so is a realistic
financial plan. Do you need to put
savings aside before you make
the move? Are extra costs going
to be incurred by this new career?
If you need extra finances for
training where can that come
from, what can you cut from your
budget, what are you prepared to
do financially to make it happen?
Do a money diary for a month and
see where your current earnings
go. Are there some cuts that can
be made? Make a solid financial
plan for the move. 17 Get out there and talk to as many
people as possible
Talk to as many people already
in the industry you want to move
into about how they got into it
and what would have made their
way easier.
18 Volunteer or try an internship
There are many ways to try a new
career. Consider a sabbatical
or internship, volunteer, go
freelance or go part time as you
make the change. If possible
volunteer in the area to gain good
ILLUSTRATION: NEIL COLLMAN
Need more help with finances?
Try the “Finances” section on our website: www.careershifters.org/ tag/finances
25Top Tips
to kick-start your career change
6 of 8 Find this article on the web: www.careershifters.org/toptips v2 February 3, 2008
© Careershifters Limited 2008
without experiencing rejection
itself. Rejection actually shows
progress. You know you’ve really
started your job hunt when you
get your first “no”. There will
be a certain number of “nos” to
experience before you get to
the “yes”, so chart each rejection
as one less “no” you’ll need to
find. Learn what you can from
the feedback you’re getting, and
move on.
25 Focus on the progress you
have made so far instead of what you haven’t achieved There are many things you can’t
control in a job search or in career
development. Don’t waste your
time, energy or motivation levels
worrying about them. Make the
best use of your time and keep
your energy and motivation up
by tracking what you can do and
have done. When job searching
this might include contacts or
applications made, interview
practice time or completing a new
draft of your CV (not job offers
or interview offers – that’s an
external factor you can’t control).
to a Careershifters workshop
or find a friend who also wants
to make a career change. Meet
regularly with this person to get
encouragement and to make
commitments about what steps
you are going to take next.
21 Speak only to the cheerleaders
When you are in the process
of making changes in your life
only share your dreams, ideas
and plans with those who truly
support you. These are the ones
who will encourage you even if
things get tough, they will keep
you going and remind you always
of your end goal. We sometimes
have people in our lives who
outwardly look like they support
us, but in fact do not actually want
us to change. When we change
they have to change in relation to
us and that can be uncomfortable.
Identify a few true cheerleaders
and stick with them.
22 Do something today
Making a career change isn’t easy.
It can seem an overwhelming task
at times and is often a reason for
people putting it off or giving up
when they get stuck. So make
sure you do something today
and continue to take one action
towards your career change every
day, no matter how small. Put the
actions down in your diary, set
daily alarms on your mobile to
remind you to take those actions.
And step by step you’ll get there.
Overcoming common hurdles
23 What if I make the wrong
decision?
This is often the root cause of
“paralysis by analysis”. A certain
amount of thinking is valuable,
but if your decisions are slow or
nonexistent, your progress will
be too. You’ll find life much easier
and more fun if you start moving
in the right sort of direction and
enjoy the journey.
24 Don’t fear rejection
No job has ever been found, or
glittering career developed,
without overcoming this fear.
And very, very, VERY few
Need more help getting there?
Try the “Make the Change” section on our website: http://www.careershifters.org/makethechange
25Top Tips
to kick-start your career change
7 of 8 Find this article on the web: www.careershifters.org/toptips v2 February 3, 2008
© Careershifters Limited 2008
About CareershiftersCareershifters.org is a groundbreaking service for anyone considering or going through a career change. Through a unique mix of free and affordable online resources, regular workshops and an online community of thousands of fellow career shifters, it helps people who are unfulfilled or at critical transition points in their careers make a successful shift.
Careershifters offers:
Inspiration from people who’ve •
successfully made changes in their own
careers
Confidence by sharing other people’s •
experiences and offering access to no-
nonsense advice from some of the best
career experts in the business
Connections, by providing links with •
professionals, with relevant institutions
and fellow career shifters
Find out more on our website:
www.careershifters.org
You can find a whole raft of useful advice and inspiring stories on our website
25Top Tips
to kick-start your career change
8 of 8 Find this article on the web: www.careershifters.org/toptips v2 February 3, 2008
© Careershifters Limited 2008
Communication, is a graduate of Coach
University (one of the world’s oldest
coaching schools) and an accredited
member of the International Coach
Federation.
www.escape-club.org
John Lees is one of the UK’s best known
career coaches. He is also the author of the
best-selling How To Get A Job You’ll Love
(McGraw-Hill), now available in its 2007/08
edition, plus a range of other career books.
www.johnleescareers.com
Carmel McConnell is author of the
Happiness Plan and founder of children’s
charity Magic Breakfast and social
enterprise Magic Outcomes.
www.magicbreakfast.com
www.magicoutcomes.com
Jessica McGregor Johnson lives in
southern Spain and works internationally
as a life coach enabling people to follow
their dream and gain fulfillment in every
area of life.
www.jessicamcgregorjohnson.com
Jenny Ungless is the director of City Life
Coaching (www.citylifecoaching.com), a
leading provider of career coaching to
young professionals. Jenny is also the
official career coach for Monster, the
online recruitment agency.
www.citylifecoaching.com
John Williams helps people escape
conventional full-time work to create a
“Freestyle Career” - work that fits you like a
glove. It’s doing what you enjoy as much as
possible, it engages your creativity and it
pays you what you’re worth.
www.freestylesuccess.com
Nick Williams is the author of the best
selling The Work We Were Born To Do and
has helped thousands of people find and
live the work they were born for.
www.nick-williams.com
Sonia Lakshman is a career transition
coach, who helps people discover the
work they truly enjoy. Her career coaching
consultancy, One Smart Step, has great
success with clients navigating career
changes, from starting their own
businesses to nailing an interview for a
dream job.
www.onesmartstep.co.uk
Contributing coachesSue Clarke is a life, career and business
coach for the Fiona Harrold Consultancy.
Sue specialises in career management and
change, motivation, confidence building
and coaching entrepreneurs.
www.fionaharrold.com
Holly Crane is a career and business
coach. She works primarily with people
passionate about making a difference and
those wanting to find, and excel at, their
ideal work.
www.hollycrane.com
Nina Grunfeld is the founder of Life Clubs.
Life Clubs are weekly workshops around
the country where you go to make a good
life better.
www.lifeclubs.co.uk
Satu Kreula is an executive and personal
career coach. She has a Masters degree in
Organisational Behaviour and Intercultural
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