Career change
Today, few people work in one company for the entire life. Sooner or later people will switch job or even consider a career change. Changing job means you are doing the same job in different company. For example, a software worker continue to develop software but in different company. Changing careers means you are doing different work in different company. For example an accountant want switch career to develop software. Many people make mistakes when changing career especially if they:
1) Chasing after the money: Some people change careers simply to make more money. There are jobs that attract people because of high salary but it may not be a good idea to chase after money alone. There is a phrase, “Money cannot buy happiness”. Most people who make a career change with the sole purpose of making more money typically find they are not happier with their new career than they were with their previous career.
2) Hate your current job: Many people think because they do not like their job they need to find a new career. Do NOT confuse your job with your career. You may have a problem with your boss, or your company but it does not mean your career is bad. You must make sure that you do not quit your job until you have a plan for finding a new position. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is quit your job without a new job.
3) Not planning for new career: The common mistake that people make is to change careers without a plan. While the new career may seem exciting, changing careers is not as simple as switching job. It requires a plan to prepare your skills for new career. Most people who make career change without a plan usually have a very bad experience. Before switching career, you must have a detail plan includes trainings, finances, research on new career, etc.
4) Switch career without the necessary skills: Making a serious career change without the necessary education is a serious mistake. In order to have a successful career change you must find a way to transfer the skills you have in your current career to your new career. While transferable skills (soft-skills, communication, etc.) are important it is necessary to gain additional training in order to transition into a new career field. Before you leave your current career find out what skills are required to succeed in the new career. Research additional education, training, or certifications that will help you become qualified.
5) Changing careers without exploring all possibilities: You should never jump into a new career without considering all possibilities. You may thing you know exactly what career you want to switch to required but without conducting a thorough research you may be making a mistake. You should talk to people in that profession, and considering meeting with a career counselor before your make a career change. The more you learn about the different careers the better informed you are to come up with your final career choice.
6) Changing careers because of outside influences: Making a career change due pressure from parent or spouse is a bad idea. How long can you be happy in a career that you do not like and that you chose because someone pressured you into it? You may end up hating the person that pressured you into making a career change and you will not be happy in your new career.
7) Changing careers without self-assessment: One of the critical components of career-change success is to assess your own interests to know what you like and dislike. Making a career change without adequate self assessment could create a lot of problems later. You must understand what you really enjoy doing to help you make a good career change decision. Once you have made the decision to change, start looking for someone to be your mentor, someone who can help you learn more and introduce you to other professionals.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
