We spend most of our days at work which makes it important to find your job fulfilling. Unfortunately, that is not easy however it is definitely possible. Deciding you need a career shift is common.

Anyone can reach a point where your current career is no longer satisfying. And, in fact, job unhappiness is at a staggering all-time high, according to Gallup.

You might have been promoted several times, or enjoyed the privileges offered by the job like travelling or a high salary. You may still find yourself working without passion, or perhaps your current job is not mentally stimulating enough.

This often leaves you with a tough decision where you may choose to keep your current job fearing for a lifestyle or financial disruption, or you may choose to take the risk and follow your passion.

Despite this being a huge risk, it’s well known that there is no gain without risk. If you look at others, you’ll find that some of the most successful people have had to go through a career shift in order to remain passionate about work.

Career Shift featured image

Career transition, also known as career change or career shift, refers to the process of moving from one occupational field or career path to another. It involves a significant shift in one’s professional identity, skills, and work environment. Career transitions are becoming increasingly common in today’s dynamic and rapidly evolving job market, particularly amongst Gen Z and millennial job seekers.

Prevalence of Career Transitions

Career transitions are prevalent across all industries and age groups. A study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly one-third of American adults have changed their occupation at some point in their careers. Meanwhile, 47% of the 1,000 individuals surveyed by London Business School wanted to change their careers. This trend is driven by various factors, including:

  • Technological advancements: The rapid pace of technological change is disrupting traditional industries and creating new job opportunities, leading individuals to seek out new skills and career paths to stay relevant.
  • Economic fluctuations: Economic downturns and recessions often lead to job losses and industry shifts, prompting individuals to explore new career options.
  • Personal aspirations: Individuals may seek career changes out of a desire for greater personal fulfilment, work-life balance, or to pursue a passion or interest.

Redefining Professional Ambitions: The Journey of Embracing Career Shifts

A career shift is when an individual chooses to leave their current job in order to seek employment in a new field of work. This decision is often fuelled by a desire to seek a more fulfilling job, where the individual may find satisfaction.

This is often in an attempt to reignite an interest in work, which can never be too late as long as the decision is well thought out and planned.

A career shift is considered to be a drastic change in the field of work that will require the individual to learn new skills but that should not be taken as a negative since it will provide an opportunity for growth both personally and professionally that would otherwise be unavailable to individuals who choose to remain in the safety of habits.

Infographic explaining the number of job changes based on demographic (18-24 have most jobs changes)
From this infographic, it is clear that younger generations are less loyal to their employers and are more likely to switch jobs.

Motivations for Career Transitions

Individuals pursue career transitions for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Career dissatisfaction: Feeling unfulfilled, disengaged, or lacking opportunities for growth in their current career can lead individuals to seek a change. Perhaps there is a dissatisfaction with leadership/management in current role.
  • Desire for new challenges: Individuals may seek career transitions to pursue new challenges, manage and expand their skill sets, and take on greater responsibilities.
  • Changing personal interests: Evolving personal interests, values, and lifestyle priorities may motivate individuals to explore new career paths that align with their current aspirations. For example, having greater flexibility with working hours or having the ability to work from home.
  • Career advancement: Career transitions can be driven by a desire for higher earning potential, greater job security, a more senior role or a higher-level position within a different field.

Challenges of Career Transitions

While career transitions can lead to personal and professional growth, they also present certain challenges, including:

  • Self-assessment and decision-making: Identifying the right career path and making an informed decision requires self-reflection, exploration, and careful consideration of one’s skills, interests, and values.
  • Skill development and knowledge acquisition: Transitioning to a new field may require acquiring new skills, certifications, or training to meet the requirements of the new career.
  • Networking and building relationships: Establishing new connections and building a professional network in a new field can be challenging, especially for those entering a competitive or unfamiliar industry.
  • Overcoming ageism or lack of experience: Individuals transitioning later in their careers may face ageism or challenges in overcoming a perceived lack of experience in their new field.
  • Navigating financial implications: Career transitions may involve changes in income, benefits, or job security, requiring careful financial planning and consideration of potential costs.

Recognising the Signs: Identifying When It’s Time for a Career Change

There are many reasons for choosing to undergo a career shift. These reasons are all equally viable and will often depend on your personality and preferences.

Here are some of the professional reasons that may cause you to consider a career shift:

  • When there is no more progress in your career you have no need to learn any new skills. You begin seeking a change which can be a new branch of your career, an old hobby, or something completely different.
  • When you are being underappreciated in your current job. This can often be observed in the form of being promised promotions but never getting any. At that point, it is often a good idea to consider a career shift. Make sure to check out our guide about how to ask for promotions before you give up on your job!
  • When your career is related to a declining industry. Perhaps one of the most common reasons for this is the introduction of technology which has replaced many human jobs since robots are now able to replace humans in many labour-intensive tasks.

Finally, you may find that your decision to undergo a career shift is based on personal reasons that may contradict with your current job. Here are some of the most common reasons for shifting careers:

  1. When you’re not financially satisfied with your current position.
  2. When you are overloaded with additional work because the business is understaffed.
  3. When you feel like you are being pushed beyond your moral boundaries.
  4. When you have to endure any type of harassment either psychological or physical creating a toxic environment for you.
  5. The company culture is not a good fit for you.

It is very important for your career to involve doing what you love despite the difficulties of achieving that.

Despite constantly being told to fulfil our familial or societal expectations, you need to follow your own calling in order to avoid being professionally successful yet remain unhappy.

Unveiling Your Hidden Potential: Uncovering Potential Career Paths

When you have taken the decision to undergo, a career shift it is extremely important to carefully plan out your next steps since they will dictate how easy your job search will be.

First, you’ll need to identify which career path suits you the most.

Image of cartoons laying out the key steps to choosing a career
When you shift careers, it’s crucial to have a clear path in mind. Image credit: TheBalance

Finding the Path that Suits You Best

When you’ve decided you need a career shift, the next thing to decide is where you’d like to end up. Here are some of the key things to keep in mind:

Identifying your True Potential

Everyone is good at something, some are good with tools, and others are good with technology. You should be aware of your talents in order to be able to begin your career. You can then use this as a target to figure out where you’ll thrive.

Follow your Passion

While it is important to be passionate about your dreams, it is equally important to keep your dreams realistic and achievable. You should evaluate and select the career you choose in terms of employment.

You should also ask others about their experiences. You should seek professional coaching on writing CV, interview success, dealing with your colleagues and boss to ensure being effective.

Put in the Effort

Once you have taken the decision of making a career shift, you should be aware that this is a process that will require a lot of time and effort.

Not only will you be dealing with the stress of leaving your existing job, but you will also have to deal with finding employment opportunities, and pitching yourself to these employers.

Naturally, since your decision to switch was based on passion, it should be no problem trying to convince your new employer of your willingness to learn and work hard which should help a lot.

Generally, you should make your goal to become one of the best in what you do.

That is why you should bear in mind that working hard alone is not enough to make you one of the best in your career instead, you must work smart while making sure to show your unique aspects in order to become an essential part of your new professional home.

The Five Key Steps For a Successful Career Shift

Navigating a successful career transition requires careful planning, self-reflection, and a strategic approach. Here are the five key steps for a successful career shift:

1. Self-Assessment: Understanding Your Strengths, Interests, and Values

Before embarking on a career shift, it’s crucial to conduct a thorough self-assessment to gain a deeper understanding of your aspirations, skills, values, and motivations. This introspective process will serve as the foundation for identifying suitable career paths and making informed decisions. Take time to reflect on your current career, identifying what you enjoy, what you find challenging, and what aspects of your work align with your personal values and interests.

Reflect on your core values and the aspects of work that are most important to you. Consider your preferences for autonomy, structure, collaboration, challenges, and growth opportunities. Understanding your values will steer you towards roles that align with your beliefs and work style.

Consider your skills, strengths, and areas for development. Compile a comprehensive list of your skills, both hard and soft. Hard skills are technical competencies or abilities acquired through education, training, or experience, such as programming, writing, or data analysis. Soft skills, often overlooked but equally important, encompass personal qualities and interpersonal abilities such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability. Assess your personality traits, work preferences, and overall career aspirations.

Leverage online career assessment tools and personality tests to gain a deeper understanding of your preferences, skills, and work style. These tools can provide valuable insights and help you narrow down potential career paths.

2. Exploration: Discovering Potential Career Paths

With a deeper understanding of yourself, begin exploring potential career paths that align with your strengths, interests, and values. Research different industries, occupations, and job roles that match your skills and experience. Browse online resources, such as job boards, industry reports, and career websites, to gain insights into various fields and job descriptions. Read career articles, watch industry videos, and listen to podcasts to understand the day-to-day responsibilities, skills required, and career trajectories for different roles.

Utilise online resources, attend career fairs, and network with professionals in your desired field to gain insights into the reality of different career options. Attend industry events, conferences, and workshops to meet and interact and get in contact with people working in your area of interest.

Gain practical experience to enhance your understanding of potential career paths and assess your suitability for different roles. Volunteer, take up an internship, or take on freelance projects in your areas of interest to develop skills, build your portfolio, and network with professionals. Shadow professionals in your desired fields to observe their work and gain a deeper understanding of their responsibilities and day-to-day challenges.

3. Planning: Creating a Roadmap for Your Career Transition

Once you’ve identified potential career paths, develop a comprehensive plan for your career transition. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals to guide your transition. For instance, you could aim to complete a specific training course, acquire a certain level of proficiency in a particular skill, or network with a certain number of professionals in your desired field.

Research the education, training, or certifications required for your new career path. Assess the skills, knowledge, and experience required for your desired career path.

4. Skill Development: Enhancing Your Capabilities

Address any skill gaps or knowledge deficits that may hinder your transition to your desired career path. Enrol in relevant courses, workshops, career services, or training programs. Consider pursuing certifications or professional development opportunities to enhance your credentials and expertise in your chosen field. Seek mentorship or guidance from experienced professionals in your desired industry (tip: share your contact information such as email address or phone number with these professionals to maintain connection).

5. Execution: Putting Your Plan into Action

With a well-defined plan and the necessary skills in place, it’s time to execute your career transition. Update your resume and cover letter and LinkedIn profile, highlighting your transferable skills, relevant experiences, and newly acquired qualifications. Start networking with professionals in your desired field, attend informational industry events, and actively seek out job opportunities that align with your career goals.

Practice answering common interview questions and prepare examples of your accomplishments and skills. Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to refine your communication and presentation skills.

Remember, career transitions are a journey, not a race. Be patient, persistent, and open to learning throughout the process. Embrace the challenges and opportunities that come along the way, and celebrate your progress and achievements.

As you gain experience and insights, be prepared to adapt and refine your career transition plan. Adjust your goals, strategies, and timelines based on your progress, learnings, and changing market conditions.

How to Get a Better Job? Career Coaching, CV Writing & Business Startup Advice With Mark McCracken

Unlocking New Job Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide to Job Hunting

Now that you’ve made a general outline of where you’d like to work. It is now time to put yourself out there and seize the opportunities that life throws at you.

Of course, if you’ve been in your current role for a long time, there’s a good chance that things have changed since you were last on the job hunt. Finding a job in the digital ages is a very different experience.

Let’s look at some tips to help you set up a professional persona which is sure to attract amazing opportunities.

Setting up an Online Profile

The first step you need to do when you re-join the employment pool is to create an online professional profile. This will help you find relevant job positions while also connecting with the leaders of your desired field.

You should set up an account on LinkedIn where you will be able to showcase your skills and experience while also allowing you to know when job opportunities arise.

Additionally, employers looking to hire will be able to find your profile more easily which gives you even more hiring opportunities.

Infographic showing 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to check candidates
These days, recruiters typically expect candidates to be on LinkedIn. Image credit: Zety

Obtaining New Skills

After you have chosen a specific field of work, you might find that there are some new skills that you’ll need to learn. This might seem like a daunting process at first but fear not because the internet has made it incredibly easy to learn new skills at your own leisure.

For example, if you’d like to get into marketing, check out our guide on online marketing courses which will not only introduce you to helpful online resources but will also familiarise you with the many benefits of getting into such a field.

Similarly, you might find our article about leadership training programs helpful in acquiring the crucial skill of leadership which not only helps you become more efficient at group projects, but it also allows you to stand out further improving your progress in your career shift.

Going Freelance

According to your own personal priorities, working as a freelancer might be the best path for you. Being a freelancer means that you can work from your home, with flexible working hours and a lot more room for innovation.

Freelancers often work for several companies at once which gives you a larger perspective of the industry which allows you to have more options for when you decide to settle down with a single company.

This type of employment might seem like it’s far-fetched but it really isn’t. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered with our “How to Become a Freelancer in 5 Steps” guide.

Infographic showing that freelancing has become more popular, particularly amongst the millennial generation
Freelancing has never been more popular. Image credit: Cognology.co.uk

Starting Your Own Business

If you’re obviously passionate about your new field of work, you should consider starting your own business. Your passion will attract like-minded individuals while also motivating your employees to do their best.

When it comes to entrepreneurship, your biggest ally is networking.

By knowing the right people, you can achieve anything. Check out our article about networks for teaching entrepreneurship which will not only help you find the motivation to start your own business but will also help you meet the right people that will guide you through your path of becoming an entrepreneur.

If this seems like your type of venture, make sure to also check out our list of 10 entrepreneurship ideas to kickstart your brainstorming.

Essential Toolkit for Career Shifts: Equipping Yourself for a Successful Transition

You’ll need all the help you can get when a career shift is due. You can use a job search tool which will help you streamline the process of finding a new job to minimise the stress and time needed.

The Muse

The Muse will allow you to search for jobs by exploring companies, browsing available jobs and even providing you with valuable career advice.

By browsing this site, you are guaranteed to find fields of work that interest you which will help you narrow down your options allowing you to have a much clearer vision of what you need to do.

Additionally, they offer their career coaching services in the form of 30-minute sessions, reviewing your resume and teaching you about the various strategies that will help you land your dream job.

In addition to their coaching services, they also offer to write your cover letter in order to create you with a professional resume that is sure to attract employers.

LinkUp is a free job-search engine. It will help you find job listings according to a keyword, position, and location. This is also available as a free app for most mobile systems which allows you to take your job hunting on the go so you never miss a great listing.

These listings are curated by the LinkUp team to ensure that there are no fake or outdated listings to save you the frustration.

MyPlan’s Career Assessment Tests

MyPlan offers Career Assessment tests which will help you understand what you value the most in your job. This will help you identify which jobs will be more satisfying to you which will lead to an overall happiness in your professional life.

By choosing the most accurate answer to each statement, the test will provide you with a report that contains the work values that mean the most to you. Then, their career matching algorithm will list all the jobs according to how well they match your personality.

Finally, it will suggest your #1 job that suits you the most while also listing its requirements to give you a general idea of where you need to start.

From Ambition to Achievement: A Proven Approach to Securing a Successful Career Shift

Career shifts are drastic changes in your professional life. However, they may sometimes prove to be necessary. You must remain passionate about your work because financial gains are simply not enough of a motivation to keep you going.

This is why it is often a good idea to expand your horizon by trying out new jobs that might interest you more.

Passion should not be taken lightly as it fuels innovation which eventually leads outstanding performance in your job leading to acknowledgment, promotion, and satisfaction.

The associated difficulties of a career shift should not be taken lightly however, we hope that this article will help you streamline the process in order to minimize the trouble.

After you have observed your skills and decided on your most suitable fields of work, you’ll have to start looking for these jobs.

This is where the various online tools come to help since they will help you construct a professional resume, find jobs and even network to reach those relevant professionals.

FAQ

To comprehensively address the questions and concerns that arise during career transitions, we’ve included an FAQ section. This section provides valuable insights and guidance on topics such as resources for finding new career paths, skill development strategies, and dealing with uncertainty.

Q: How do I identify my strengths, interests, and values for career exploration?

Self-assessment tools, such as career inventories, personality assessments, and values clarification exercises, can help you identify your core strengths, interests, and values. Additionally, reflecting on your past experiences, both positive and negative, can provide valuable insights into your career preferences and motivations.

Q: What resources can I use to research potential career paths?

Online resources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*NET OnLine, and career websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and CareerBuilder offer comprehensive information on various occupations, job requirements, salary ranges, and employment trends. Additionally, attending career fairs and networking with professionals in your desired field can provide firsthand insights into the realities of different career paths.

Q: How do I create a roadmap for my career transition?

Start by defining your long-term career goals and objectives. Then, break down your goals into smaller, actionable steps and set realistic timelines for each step. Identify the resources, skills, and experiences you need to achieve your goals, and research educational opportunities, training programs, or certifications that can help you bridge any gaps.

Q: What are some effective strategies for skill development during a career transition?

Enrol in relevant courses, workshops, or training programs offered by educational institutions, professional organisations, or online platforms. Consider pursuing certifications or credentials that are valued in your desired field. Seek mentorship from experienced professionals who can provide guidance and support throughout your skill development journey.

Q: How can I effectively utilize networking opportunities to facilitate my career transition?

Attend industry events, conferences, and workshops to connect with professionals in your desired field. Engage in online networking platforms like LinkedIn to expand your professional network. Actively participate in professional organisations or associations related to your career interests.

Q: What role does mentorship play in a successful career transition?

A mentor can provide invaluable guidance, support, and advice throughout your career transition journey. They can help you navigate the challenges, identify opportunities, and develop your career strategy. Seek out mentors who have experience in your desired field or career stage and who share your values and professional goals.

Q: How can I identify and utilise professional development opportunities?

Stay informed about upcoming professional development opportunities through your company’s intranet, industry newsletters, and professional organisations. Attend workshops, seminars, and conferences related to your career interests. Consider pursuing professional certifications or designations that can enhance your credentials and expertise.

Key Takeaways

Navigating a successful career transition requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses self-assessment, exploration, planning, skill development, and execution. Networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities play crucial roles in facilitating this process by providing valuable resources, support, and guidance. By actively engaging in these elements, individuals can gain the necessary insights, skills, and connections to make a smooth and fulfilling career shift.

For more help regarding Business networking, check out our list of the various business networking sites.

Watch our video on the importance of organisational culture:

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