How to Know It’s Time to Make a Career Change
Are you wondering whether your current career is the right one for you? Are you thinking that you need to do something different with your life, tackling duties and tasks that feel much more purposeful than your current work?
You’re not alone. Many people go through phases in their professional lives when they ask themselves those types of questions and consider changing careers to a new industry.
So, how do you know if a career change is right for you, and what steps do you take if it is?
Signs It’s Time for a Career Change
Certain issues start to crop up when it's time for a career change, and they can be considered signs it's time to move on from your current role. Here are a few.
1. You Don’t Feel You’re Making a Difference
Some might find they're OK with their jobs even if they don't see any purpose to their work. They may find that purpose outside of their employment by devoting themselves to a cause, for example, raising a family.
For others, though, aligning their work with their life purpose and vice versa is essential. So if that describes you, and you don’t feel you can fulfill your purpose or be happy in your current career, then it can be a sign that you need to make a change.
2. You’re Miserable
If you’re having a hard time getting up and going to work every day, it’s probably because you're not enjoying the type of work you do. If that's the case, it might be time to consider changing the line of work you're in or consider a career industry change. Work takes up several hours of the week, so it’s important to find fulfillment in it.
3. You Continually Think About Another Career
If starting a new career in a different industry is a dream of yours or something you constantly think about, give yourself some time to truly consider it. Then, if you decide it’s worth it for you to make the switch, you can take action to make it happen.
How To Change Industry Careers
Whether you’re making a career change at 30, 40, 50, or beyond, here are some helpful steps you can take to make the transition go more smoothly and successfully.
1. Hire a Career Coach
Speaking with a career coach is a great way to help you determine if a professional change or a career industry change is truly the right move for you. They can help you identify your passion and the types of positions you might enjoy for the remainder of your career. They can also support you in updating your marketing materials and online presence.
2. Clarify the Type of Career You Want
Once you’re clear that a career change is a must, your next step is to identify what your new career will be. To help you decide:
- Consider the type of activities you enjoy and the type of work you feel passionate about
- Research on different career options
- Reach out to professionals and interview those in careers you’re considering
- Identify internship and volunteer opportunities to test out the possible career change
It’s also a good idea to complete career assessments to help you identify your interests and work values, as well as jobs that align with those interests and values. You can access several free career assessments on the North Carolina College Fund’s site.
3. Identify Transferable Skills
Once you know what career you want to go for, identify all your current skills that are transferable to the new career. Several skills, like leadership and communication, are easily transferable. Others might not be as obvious, but a case can also be made that they’re transferrable. For example, if you work closely with customers to resolve problems in a sales position, those problem-solving skills would be transferable to many other positions, such as an HR generalist that has to problem-solve employee issues and concerns.
4. Train and Upskill
There are many free and low-cost options where you can fill in skills gaps for your new career. Udemy, Coursera, Google, and LinkedIn Learning are examples of platforms where you can acquire new skills with several free and low-cost options.
Best Industries for Career Change
Several lucrative career options exist for career changers. Some common job options for career changers include:
- Software Developer
- Human Resources Specialist
- Social Media Specialist
- Network Administrator
- Web Designer
- Public Relations Specialist
- User Experience Researcher
- Data Science Specialist
How to Find Your Next Career
If you're experiencing any of the career change signs above, then changing industry careers may be the wisest option for you. If that’s the case, Advantis Global can help.
At Advantis Global, we help talent land jobs at their ideal company. We recruit for several industries, including creative, marketing, gaming, tech, IT, development, government, and cybersecurity, and we work with an extensive range of companies from start-ups to Fortune 500s that are looking for permanent and contract skilled tech talent.
We also work with individuals looking for an industry or position change to help them make their expertise shine so they can achieve the professional change they desire. Many times, the career change results in a higher-paying position. At Advantis, we also offer resume and interview coaching to help you get ahead.
To connect with one of our expert recruiters and get started on your career change today, submit your resume or apply for a job on our website. Good luck!
