Are you thinking of changing your career? You are not alone! Most people no longer stick with one career for their lifetime, often choosing to retrain or change pathways to follow a different passion or find a more fulfilling industry, so there’s no need to feel stuck in your current role. At CareerWise, our friendly team is full of experts in recruitment and we can offer you support and practical help when you are exploring the possibility of a new career.
Stepping into a new career can be challenging and it is important to plan the process carefully. To begin with, think about why you want to change your current lifestyle and what it is you are looking for. Do you want to find a better paid role or move towards a better work/life balance, for instance? Have you been unhappy in your current role or do you simply want to explore your dream job? Finding the answers to these questions can help you to pin down exactly what you are hoping to find by changing careers, and this will give you a good place from which to start planning the future you want.
Approaching your potential career change methodically will ensure that you don’t miss any crucial stages of the journey and help you to consider all of the options open to you. We recommend following our tips for success:
1. Identify your limiting beliefs. Changing careers can be an overwhelming prospect, especially if you have been in your current role for a while. Take some time to identify what you are unhappy with in your current setup and how you envisage your future life. We all hold limiting beliefs that hinder us from achieving our dreams, and digging these out can help to give you the confidence to move in a different direction. For instance, you might feel that it is too late to follow the career path you’ve always dreamed of, especially if it feels a long way from your current existence. However, the chances are that you will benefit from making a change at any age. It is worth considering that if you are 40, you probably have more working life ahead of you than behind so you need to be happy in what you are doing on a daily basis.
2. Do your research. If you want to make a big change, such as changing industries or setting up your own business, you should do as much research as possible into the reality of the career you are considering. Talk to people who are already doing the job you have in mind and find out how it works for them, asking questions that will give you a realistic picture of the role. Research the field you would like to work in and keep yourself up to date with the changes that are occurring, and remember that building up contacts in the industry you want to work within could be very helpful to you in the future.
3. Look for roles that interest you. Thinking about changing careers becomes concrete when you start looking at the roles that are available and considering whether any are a good match for you. Identifying roles that excite you can transform your mindset and help you to narrow your focus and consider the skills you may need to develop. Instead of simply imagining a role in which you use your passions and skills, seek out examples of jobs you would love to do and take your dreams one step closer to reality.
4. Look at your skillset. Changing your career can be extremely liberating but it’s a good idea to be brutally realistic about the amount of retraining or upskilling you will need to do. If you are hoping to move into a different industry or a completely different role within your current industry, the chances are that you will need to learn new skills and update your industry expertise to suit your new career path. You may need to take professional development courses or study alongside working in your current role, and this can be stressful. It can help to talk with someone who is currently in the job you want to find out where your skills gaps are and then work out the best way to plug these.
5. Establish your goals. Identifying where you want to be is an important step, but breaking the pathway down into manageable chunks makes it a real possibility and helps you to work out how to get there. You will need to think about how long the process of upskilling is likely to take and when you will be ready to start applying for new roles, and even if your end goal is a long way off, you will be able to apply focus and determination to the process if you have a clear and workable plan to follow. Look at where you would like to be in six months, two years, even ten years, and consider that every step you take towards this vision is an important part of your journey and will take you closer to it.
6. Start where you are. For most people, especially if you have responsibilities, it is not possible to simply begin on a new career immediately. If you are lucky enough to be able to leave your current role and begin training for your dream job, this is great news, but most people do not have the financial freedom and flexibility to do this. Starting where you are means working towards your new career plan while you are still in your existing role, looking into opportunities and training options and building up your networks. This can be exhausting, but is also a rewarding way to begin to explore your dreams so pace yourself and get started.
Continuing to dream of a new career won’t get you anywhere but taking concrete steps to make it happen will enable you to build the future you want. Good luck!
A Recruitment Agency like CareerWise can support you as you move towards your ideal career, identifying opportunities and positions that may appeal to you and working with you to find out what you need to do to be considered for these roles. Our friendly recruitment advisers have many years of experience, and we can help you to make applications, write your CV and brush up your interview skills.
Our expert team work with talented individuals and top quality businesses to make valuable connections for everyone and we will be happy to work with you to develop a pathway to your dream career. We are based in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Dublin and Mayo and we specialise in the Engineering, Supply Chain, Science/Pharma, IT and Accounting industries in Ireland. You can contact our friendly, professional team online now or give us a call on +353 (0) 21 206 1900 to arrange a consultation.
At CareerWise Recruitment, Gillian has dedicated herself to mastering the intricacies of digital media. With a keen creative insight, she crafts and oversees a dynamic content marketing strategy that captivates and engages. Her strategic marketing and project management skills enable her to grasp overarching goals and pinpoint the steps necessary for timely, cost-effective project fruition.
Gillian’s background is rooted in a vast multinational telecoms firm, contributing over nine years in Finance/HR and Project Administration roles. Additionally, she brings a wealth of knowledge from five years in editorial and desktop publishing.
Her academic credentials include a study in Personnel Management at the University of Limerick, complemented by a diploma in Business Studies.
CareerWise Recruitment. EastGate Village, EastGate, Little Island, Cork.
Phone: +353 (0) 21 206 1900
Email: info@careerwise.ie