Finding a fulfilling career may not always happen on your first try, perhaps not even your second or third. There are several reasons you may want to make a switch, such as pursuing a passion, exploring a more challenging industry, or seeking greater fulfilment or satisfaction from your work.
At WISE, we understand that navigating a career change for the first time can be daunting and, at times, even overwhelming. If you’re considering a career change for the first time, we recommend working through these six tips to help you plan your next career move.
1. Perform a self-assessment
If you’re considering a career change, it’s likely that your current role is not satisfying a need of yours. It may be that it doesn’t align with your values, you no longer feel challenged or accomplished by the work you’re doing, you’re feeling burnout, or other reasons.
When you believe it’s time to make the change, we suggest taking the time to reflect on why you want to leave and what it is you’re looking for in a new role. Performing a self-assessment is a crucial step when considering a career change. It helps provide a clear structure and encourages you to ask yourself some questions that may help steer you in the right direction. Some questions to ask yourself include:
- Why do I want to leave my current role or industry?
- What are my personal goals? What do I want to achieve, personally?
- What are my professional goals? What do I want to achieve, professionally?
- What am I passionate about?
- What are my current skillsets?
- What are my current qualifications?
- What am I naturally good at?
- What type of environment do I work well in? Independently, in a team, or both?
- What are my non-negotiables in my new role?
2. Seek advice
When considering a career change, it can be beneficial to seek guidance and support from your community and loved ones. Sometimes, those closest to you can help identify strengths and interests you may not have considered. Getting an outside opinion from someone you trust can be an invaluable resource.
Another option is speaking to someone with experience in career change, whether it’s someone that you know who has switched careers or awho will be able to offer advice and assist you in identifying potential pathways. Bouncing ideas off someone else may provide you with new ideas and insights on career paths in industries different to the ones you’ve had experience in.
3. Research and identify potential career options
After completing your self-assessment, you should have a better idea of your interests and professional goals. With this information, it’s time to research potential career options!
Researching potential career options is essential. With countless jobs and industries available, narrowing down a few potential job types can prevent feeling overwhelmed and allow you to complete extensive research on ones that interest you.
When it comes to researching jobs, this can be done through speaking to people who currently work within the industry you want to explore, searching job titles on online job sites such as Seek.com.au, or Indeed.com.au, or talking to an employment agency.
4. Research relevant qualifications or experience
Although in some cases your skills may be transferable, it’s important to consider that you may be required to have a certain degree, certification, or qualification in addition to work experience. If this is the case, upskilling is something that you might also need to look into.
In Australia, there are many institutions, online and in-person, that offer flexible study options to accommodate work and life commitments. When considering upskilling, we suggest looking into accredited courses, government-funded training programs or speaking with a career counsellor to discuss which resources you may require to thrive in your new career.
5. Make an action plan
Once you think you’ve figured out which career path you’d like to take, it’s time to create an action plan.
When creating an action plan, be sure to include specific steps you need to take to achieve your goals. This may include setting clear objectives, outlining plans for upskilling, consulting with a career counsellor if necessary, and general job-seeking preparation (i.e. updating your resume, interview prep, etc.).
6. Be realistic and believe in your abilities!
Finally, take a moment to assess your current situation and consider the feasibility of a career change right now. Navigating a career change can be challenging, so be sure to assess your mental wellbeing in addition to the points above.
If you’re still uncertain, we encourage you to seek advice from a career counsellor to ensure you’re set up for success.
If you do believe it’s time to make the switch, trust the process and believe in your abilities. You’ve got this!
How WISE helps customers navigate a career change
WISE Employment offers valuable support to numerous individuals as they navigate their career change. Our team focus on your interests, abilities and goals to identify potential pathways or assist you in your job search. Support is provided through training, gaining certifications, resume preparation, and general interview readiness. Our holistic approach to helping you achieve your employment goals ensures that you are set up for success every step of the way.
We work with employers from different industries that are able to cater to individual needs. If you are looking for work, please get in touch with your local WISE office to discuss further. Find your local WISE Employment office or call our team during business hours for free on 1800 685 105.
You can also explore the success stories of some wonderful customers who’ve decided to make the switch.