Thinking About Making a Career Change?

With the economy in the state that it is in and the job market reaching an all time low, it is expect that American workers are affected. They are forced to do more with fewer resources while receiving less compensation. They have a constant underlying fear of getting laid off or their company shutting down shop all together. And, many are already fighting a losing battle to find a new job after being fired from their lifelong career. These factors contribute to a growing level of unhappiness among the employed and the large group of unemployed.

The rise in discontent workers has led many people to rethink their career path. In a recent Monster.com survey, results showed that “nearly 50% of job seekers said they wanted to make a career change; 89% said they’d consider it to find work”. To some, the task of changing careers may seem like a stressful and time consuming process. But, recent interviews conducted by Money.com show that with the right attitude and the right techniques, a career change is not as farfetched as some perceive.

The Money.com interviews are reviewed in a recent article posted on CNNMoney.com. The article reveals 5 secrets to a successful career change (Showing how your talents translate, Networking outside of the box, Getting the skills you need on the cheap, Getting your finances in order, and Turning your passion into an asset) from those that have gone through the process.

If you are considering a career change, I recommend reading over the summaries below and checking out the full article on CNNMoney.com. You can click here to link to it.

Showing how your talents translate

A good example to better explain this technique is if you are a high up manager at a financial company, unhappy with your current role and dreaming about working in a more rewarding industry, you could transfer your expertise in presentation skills or selling strategies to position yourself for a job at a nonprofit organization or a company where you are able to help others on a daily basis.

Networking outside the box

Many of us are used to speaking to our everyday network on the job- our bosses, coworkers, internal contacts, and external vendors. But, reaching outside of this can lead us to a much broader range of industry experts to network with for career opportunities. Think about friends and family or friends of friends that you might be connected with on one of the many social media sites like LinkedIn or Facebook. Research the companies that they are in and see if you can meet for lunch or over coffee to network and learn about the roles that they have to offer.

Getting the skills you need on the cheap

After browsing jobs in a new industry you might learn that there are certifications, training, or a certain number of years experience needed to be considered for a specific role. To avoid spending an overwhelming amount of money or time to meet the necessary requirements, check into low cost or fast track options. Many community colleges or organizations offer discounted classes or workshops and some local or state governments will even provide free programs to those that are unemployed.

Getting your finances in order

When a career change takes place it is typical to incur a pay cut. You are commonly put in a lower level position, expected to work your way up, or you are hired with a lower salary because of your lack of experience. Reviewing your finances and figuring out a realistic amount of income that you will need to make helps determine where you stand and if the career change is even an option.

Turning your passion into an asset

If you are focused on making a career change but are unsure of where to go, think about what you are interested in outside of work. What are your passions and hobbies? If you are involved in volunteer work or social groups, use these to leverage and find opportunities for a new job. Your skills and experience from working with these organizations can help you stand out on your resume and the contacts you have met in the groups can also be a networking connection.