Figure Out Career Change Tips : What's Exactly, Why People Do and What's Perfect Strategies to Land in a New Position ?

Abstract:

A career change is when someone leaves their current position to take on a new role, either within the same organization or in a different one. It can involve periods of growth and transition, where people must let go of old ways of working and embrace new ones. 

Some common reasons for changing careers include: 

• Salary: Switching to a new career can lead to a higher salary. 
• Career benefit: Some professionals change careers to attain greater career satisfaction. 
• Leadership: Employees may be unhappy with their current leadership. 
• Gaining experience: People often make a shift in their careers to gain experience in a certain area or industry. They often want to learn new skills or broaden their knowledge base. 
• Values: Your values may have changed since you first started working, and it's important to be honest with yourself about what makes you feel alive. 
• But, Make an action plan and
• Create a step-by-step outline of what you need to do to change careers. This can help you stay motivated. 

Keywords:

Career change, Resume, Research, Opportunities, Experience Transfer, Career Goals 

Learning Outcomes:

After undergoing this article you will be able to understand the following :

1. What's exactly the career change?

2. Why people do change their career?

3. Steps to change careers

4. How to develop a career change resume?

5. Risks in career change 

6. Strategies for career changers

7. Conclusions

8. FAQs

1. What's exactly the career change?

A career change is when someone leaves their current job or industry to pursue a different role or career path. It can involve taking on a new occupation within the same or a different organization, or applying skills from one profession to a new career. For example, someone who worked in accounting might transition to providing financial services for nonprofits, or an accountant might become a pastry chef. 

People may consider a career change for a number of reasons, including: 

Pursuing passions: They may realize they're not in the right career field and want to do something that brings them fulfillment. 

Job security: They may be looking for more long-term job security after a layoff. 

To make a successful career change, you can: 

• Assess your current career 
• Clarify your career goals 
• Research potential careers 
• Read job descriptions 
• Define your course of action 

Consider working with a career coach for support 

Follow a structured learning path: Depending on the industry you're going into, this may take the form of a traditional college or university degree, an online course or bootcamp, or a vocational training program.

 

Highlight your skills: You can use “Negotiation Skills,” “Research & Analysis,” or “Data Analytics” to highlight the skills you possess. Under each of the skills, you can include your experience as well as achievements, even if they're from a former stage of your work history. 

2. Why do people change their career?

People change careers for many reasons, including: 

• Better pay
• When the cost of living and inflation increase, people may look for jobs that offer higher salaries. 
• Career advancement
• People may change jobs to advance their careers and reach their goals. Research shows that more than 80% of people need to leave one company for another to advance their careers. 
• Flexibility
• People may change careers to improve their work-life balance and find more flexibility in their schedules. 
• New challenges
• People may change careers to take on new challenges or because of lifestyle changes. 
• Toxic leadership
• Employees may want to quit their jobs due to stress and pressure caused by toxic leadership. 
• Lack of recognition
• People may change careers if they feel they no longer receive the recognition they deserve. 
• Undervalued skills

If people feel their skills and experience are undervalued in their current position, they may explore other opportunities. 

Other reasons people may change careers include: 

Experiencing burnout, Starting over, Training, Location, Financial impacts, and Family repercussions. 

3. Steps to change careers

Here are some steps you can take to change careers: 

• Determine your career goal
• Consider what you want to achieve and set goals to help guide your focus. 
• Research available jobs
• Make a list of organizations and positions that interest you, and identify any gaps in your experience that might need to be addressed. 
• Update your resume
• Tailor your resume to the industry you want to transition into so you can apply for jobs quickly. 
• Grow your skills
• Learning new skills can help you change careers, get a promotion, or build a more fulfilling life. 
• Prepare for interviews
• Interview preparation can help you feel more confident and put in the work. 
• Consider entry-level positions
• Even if it's not your ideal role or salary, entry-level positions can help you gain experience and make connections in your new field. 
• Make an action plan
• Create a step-by-step outline of what you need to do to change careers. This can help you stay motivated. 
• Here are some other tips that might help: 
• Consider a lateral move at your current company 
• Test the waters with a side project 
• Build out your LinkedIn and portfolio 
• Tap your network before applying for jobs 
• Ask for feedback during interviews 
• Take your time 

4. How to develop a career change resume?

When writing a resume for a career change, you can consider including sections that highlight your skills, relevant experience, and how your background aligns with the role you're applying for: 

Summary

• Explain why your previous experience makes you a good fit for the new role. 
• Skills
• Showcase your capabilities and proficiencies that are relevant to your new career path. You can also include a section for "Relevant Skills & Experience" that highlights specific skills and achievements that relate to the job. 
• Relevant experience
• Highlight past experiences that apply to the new role, such as projects where you demonstrated leadership or accomplished something significant. Be specific and quantitative when describing these projects. 
• Training and certifications
• List any training you've taken or certifications you've earned that show you're acquiring the skills needed for the job. 
• You can also consider using a resume format that's well-suited for career changes, such as a functional or hybrid resume: 

Functional resume

This format works well for job seekers changing careers, those with gaps in employment, and entry-level applicants without much work experience. 

Hybrid resume

Also known as a combination or chrono-functional resume, this format focuses equally on skills and experience, and is good for people changing careers, seasoned professionals, and those with employment gaps. 

Other tips for writing a resume for a career change include: 

• Using keywords to show recruiters that you have what it takes to succeed in the role 
• Communicating using new career language by learning and mimicking the keywords and jargon used in the industry 
• Convincing recruiters that your transition will be smooth by highlighting your adaptability and transferable skills 

5. Risks in career change 

Changing careers can involve a number of risks, including: 

• Unknown
• There are no guarantees in life, and changing careers can involve some risk. 
• Benefits
• You may lose out on benefits like seniority, retirement contributions, and vested equity. 
• Financial
• You may have trouble paying your bills while you're transitioning jobs. 
• Pension
• If you've been increasing your salary over your career, switching jobs could cause you to lose some of your pension benefits. 

However, taking calculated risks can also help you advance your career. You can learn new skills, gain new experiences, and develop resilience. You can also create a new image of yourself and prove to yourself that you're brave enough to change. 

Here are some ways you can mitigate the risk of changing careers: 

• Embrace uncertainty: Look at it as a learning experience. 
• Take small steps: Instead of making big leaps, take small steps. 
• Develop new skills: Try developing new skills outside of your comfort zone. 
• Avoid dwelling on things you can't control: Try not to focus on things you can't control. 
• Seek support: Ask a small group of people you trust for support. 

6. Strategies for career changers

Here are some strategies for changing careers: 

• Identify your goals
• Consider your values, interests, and skills, and what type of work you enjoy. Think about why you want to change careers, and what you want to achieve. 
• Make a plan
• Research your career options, and create a plan that starts with the career you want. You can consider a lateral move, or changing to a similar level in a new field. 
• Update your resume
• Highlight your transferable skills, and update your resume for the industry you want to transition into. You can also include your passion for the new field, and reassure the employer of your commitment. 
• Learn new skills
• Take courses, get qualifications, or work with a mentor or advisor to learn new skills and build your skills. 
• Network
• Connect with others in your sector to learn about trends, open positions, and other possibilities. You can also build out your LinkedIn and portfolio. 
• Test the waters
• Start small with a side project, or consider taking a break from your current job. 
• Apply for jobs
• When you're ready to apply for jobs, ask for feedback during interviews, and negotiate hard. 

7. Conclusions

So how you can address your career change motive in interview. 

Here is the strategic answer to be given considering 

1. Discuss your long-term goals. 

2. Explain how your decision to change careers relates to your long-term career goals. 

3. Be positive and honest. 

4. Highlight your unique perspective. 

5. Emphasize your skills. 

6. Research the company. 

7. Bring tangible evidence.

8. FAQs

Q. How to answer why change job?

Ans. 

How do you explain why you want to change your job? I've gained valuable experience in my current role, but I'm now ready to take on new responsibilities and challenges that will allow me to further develop my expertise. This position seems like an excellent next step that aligns with my career goals and interests.

Q. What's documents can be a valid evidence for justifying career change?

Ans.

When changing careers, you can get references to support your qualifications, skills, and qualities. 

These references can include: 

• Former or current managers 
• Former or current employees 
• Company reports on your successes 
• Mentors, advisors, or former teachers 

People who have worked with you in a similar or related context: For example, if you're changing from marketing to web design, you could ask a former client who hired you to create a website for their business. 

References

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2022: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success

Authors: Richard Nelson Bolles, Katharine Brooks

Designing Your Life

Authors: Bill Burnett, Dave Evans

Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

Authors: Jenny Blake

Happen to Your Career: An Unconventional Approach to Career Change and Meaningful Work

Authors: Scott Anthony Barlow

The Career Playbook

Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type

Authors: Paul D. Tieger

Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers--And Seize Success

Authors: Dawn Graham

Career advice

Do What you Are?

Roadmap: The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do with Your Life

Authors: Nathan Gebhard, Mike Marriner, Brian McAllister