Most of us have had鈥痶he鈥痜eeling that it is time for a career change. Maybe you鈥檝e realized you aren鈥檛 following your鈥痯assion,鈥痑re dissatisfied with your profession, or鈥痟ave鈥痩ost鈥痑 job and鈥痭eeded鈥痶o reevaluate鈥痽our professional life. The thought of a career change can be exciting,鈥痓ut it can also lead to a lot of questions. How do you鈥痵witch鈥痜rom one career to another? How do you make sure your new career is fulfilling? How do you even know if a career change is the right choice?鈥
Ask Yourself Why You Want a New Career鈥
Before鈥痡umping鈥痠nto a new career, it is important to evaluate where you are and what kind of career鈥痬ight fit you better. Take the time to ask yourself鈥痶hese鈥痠mportant questions:鈥
What do I value most in life?鈥
What interests me?鈥
What kind of work environment fits my personality?鈥
What kind of people do I like to be around?鈥
What future am I trying to build?鈥
Are there needs that my current work isn鈥檛 fulfilling (these can be material, like higher salary,鈥痮r mental/emotional, like feeling capable and challenged)?鈥
Is it really a career change I need, or just a new role or different employer?鈥
Some of these questions can be hard.鈥疐ortunately,鈥 plenty鈥痮f鈥痵upport鈥痠s鈥痑vailable. You can read books like鈥淲hat Color Is Your Parachute鈥濃痓y Richard Nelson Bolles, which has helped generations of career-changers find their way. You can also take assessments that reveal your personality type and鈥痠ndicate鈥痺hich kinds of careers fit you best, such as鈥痶he Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or the Holland Code.鈥
Find Out What Your Preferred Career Is Really Like鈥
Once you have an鈥痠dea of the career you want and why, it鈥檚 time to do a little research. You want to make sure that dream job matches your real-life requirements. Consider the following:鈥
What are the qualifications for this job and can I acquire them?鈥
Do I already have some transferable skills?鈥
Do I have to start at the entry-level and am I prepared for that?鈥
What salary will I start at and how much can I ultimately make?鈥
Is the field growing or are jobs limited?鈥
Can I handle the typical work hours and demands?鈥
Will I have to relocate?鈥
Plenty of resources can help you answer these questions, such as鈥痶he .鈥疶his鈥痟andbook includes thousands of job titles and provides information on each field鈥檚 median level of pay, typical education for employees, number of jobs, rate of employment growth in the field, and more.鈥
You can also learn from a mentor or friend who is already in your dream field and from resources like webinars and online videos discussing the profession.鈥
Write a Career Change R茅sum茅 and Cover Letter鈥
Even if you have a foot in the door through a personal or professional connection, many employers decide who to interview鈥痓ased on鈥痑 cover letter and鈥痵trong r茅sum茅.鈥疎nsure that your鈥痳茅sum茅鈥痟ighlights鈥痶he following:鈥
Your education,鈥痠ncluding鈥痗areer-relevant certificates,鈥痙egrees,鈥痑nd鈥痵kills you鈥檝e acquired鈥
Transferable skills鈥痽ou learned in your prior career,鈥痵uch as adaptability and critical thinking鈥
Tasks鈥痜rom prior job experience鈥痶hat鈥痗omplement鈥痶he tasks associated with your preferred job鈥
Volunteer鈥痺ork you鈥檝e completed in your desired field鈥
The cover letter is your opportunity to not only demonstrate your written communication skills, but also to indicate you understand the career for which you are applying.鈥
Your cover letter should鈥痓e鈥痮ne side of one page and include鈥
How you learned about the opportunity鈥
What this career change means to you鈥
All relevant qualifications you have that make you the best candidate鈥
Examples of successful experiences you have had鈥痙emonstrating the鈥痵kills they are looking for鈥
Exact terminology that the potential employer has used in the job description. (This is important to not only address specifics they are looking for, but it is also vital to automated cover letter searches)鈥
How you provide added value鈥
Referrals or contacts that may give you an upper hand鈥
Your interest in their industry, the company, and its products and/or services鈥
If you are in the process of getting a degree, mention your field of study and projected graduation date. Let them know that what you are currently learning can help with their goals and mission. Make sure you mention if you have earned a certificate or certification while reaching for a higher degree, and how this鈥痟elps you qualify.鈥
Network鈥痺ith鈥疨eople in Your New鈥疨rofession鈥
While many organizations post job openings online, you can expand your search鈥攁nd your chances of landing a job鈥攖hrough networking.鈥
If a mentor provided guidance when you were researching a new career, they can often help you meet others in your new profession and discover the job opportunities that fit you best.鈥疘f you鈥痯ursue鈥痟igher education for your new career path, you鈥痗ould鈥痑lso take advantage of your school鈥檚 alumni network. You can also join and/or attend meetings of professional organizations in your new career, which鈥痑re a great way to network with others. Plus, many professional organizations have exclusive job boards that you can access.鈥
Consider Education Options
Most careers require some form of education or training, but not all jobs require years of schooling or even a degree. You may be able to gain the knowledge required through noncredit courses, certificates, or certifications. Certificates require鈥痜ewer鈥痗redits than degrees鈥痑nd thus typically take less time. Certifications are credentials that demonstrate training in a particular occupation or industry. At 麻豆性爱电影 of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), you can choose from a variety of programs to best fit your career goals. You can also take advantage of鈥痜ree,鈥 lifetime鈥痗areer services鈥痶o support students and alumni in making career changes with tools such as resume writing support and job fairs.
You also need to consider鈥痟ow much education do you need to enter your new career at the level you want.鈥疐or instance, a鈥Master鈥痮f鈥疊usiness Administration鈥痗ould help you earn a managerial job, but a鈥bachelor鈥檚鈥痙egree in鈥痓usiness鈥痑dministration鈥痗ould allow you to enter鈥痶he field鈥痑t a lower level and work your way up.鈥
Another thing to consider is鈥痟ow much鈥痜lexibility you鈥痭eed鈥痑s you make the career change.鈥疘f you need to continue working in your current field while you train for your new one, you鈥檒l want to consider鈥蝉迟耻诲测颈苍驳鈥痮苍濒颈苍别聽or in a聽hybrid environment聽to fit your work and personal schedule.鈥疕ow much time do you want to spend learning? Some people have no problem being in school for years while others want to get started on a new career quickly. Pick the career and education that works with your timetable.鈥
Whether you need or want a change, or a change has been forced upon you, a new career could offer many opportunities. Knowing the resources available to you and ensuring you are well-informed can make all the difference. If you set yourself on the right path today, you can transform your future.鈥
鈥Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
Share This