If you’re daydreaming about changing your career, why only let it be a dream? There are plenty of reasons to consider breaking into a new career field. Maybe you are looking for more money. Maybe your life has changed from when you first started working and your job doesn’t feel right anymore. So what do you do? Consider breaking into a new career field! It may seem intimidating at first, but it is absolutely achievable. Here’s how:
Understand why you want to make a change
The first step in the process is to know the “why” behind your desire to change careers. Ask yourself the following questions: Is there something missing from your current job or industry? Could you be more creative in a different field? Would your work-life balance be better in a different industry? Would changing careers really help me feel more fulfilled?
Take the time to pinpoint the why of your desire to change fields. It will guide you in your search for a new career and you’ll be more confident about what you want. Then you can strategically search for jobs that fit your day-to-day interests and needs.
Discover where your skills translate
Think of your experience. What skills have you learned from previous positions that you can apply to the workplace? We’re not necessarily only talking about your hard skills such as your typing speed or ability to analyze data. We’re also talking about your soft skills, like communicating with people and solving problems. Now, take your time to sit down and come up with a list of both before you begin your job search.
Next, determine how to translate these skills into a new field. If you’ve worked in hospitality, it’s likely you have a solid background in dealing with different personalities and navigating tricky situations. Even better, you do it all with a smile. Don’t forget your ability to work with numbers, work quickly, and measure your service.
Make the connections and write them out. This will help you be able to explain why your skills translate! These are just the skills that make be a great fit for a customer care agent at Advance Financial.
Gain new experience by volunteering
Volunteering in your community gives is a great way to develop new skills that you may not have had the chance to learn or use in your current job. Not everyone can go back to school when they want to change careers. A great way to gain real-world experience instead is by volunteering! Volunteer Match is a great resource to help you find the perfect place to help in your community if you aren’t sure where to start!
Volunteering is also a great way to network outside of your usual circles. You may make a valuable new connection that could point you in the direction of an interesting job opportunity – or even serve as a reference for you. You might even find a job that will easily allow you to keep volunteering – such as at Advance Financial where we offer our employees 40 extra hours of paid time off to volunteer in their communities.
Finally, get to it! Apply to jobs where your skills are needed and at companies that have similar values to your own. Once you land an interview, ask questions about the company culture, including growth opportunities within, and decide if it’s right for you. The best advice we can give is to make the jump, and don’t be afraid. You never know what you could be until you try!
