How to start a new career you love

You’re determined to switch careers in 2021, having decided your current job no longer gets you bouncing out of bed every morning.

The question is how to leave one career and find another that fuels your passion.

While it’s a big decision to switch careers, the good news is it’s not impossible. Indeed, many people switch careers more than once during their working life, and for many reasons. You can too.

Here are some ideas to get you off on the right foot.

Decide what you do best

Make a list of what you do best, and what you love doing. Are you a great networker? A superb organiser? Do you get real satisfaction out of project management? Do you get a buzz out of working with a dynamic team or do you prefer working solo?

Making a list will get you focused and energised.

Find your purpose

In addition to what you do best, be clear on what you want out of your new career. More money? Greater flexibility? More stimulation? A healthier work-life balance? New challenges?

Research the industry

Researching the new industry you want to enter will help you reality check if you’re on the right path. If you want a healthier work-life balance, for example, you might not want to go for an industry that requires shift work or weekend work. If you’re looking for more money but the jobs you research online don’t offer the right pay scale, you might need to think hard about that.

Highlight your transferable skills

Transferable skills are key when looking for a new career. Indeed, they’re more important than ever for all jobseekers. You can apply these ‘portable skills’ to various roles or occupations, not just one position. These are skills you can transfer between jobs, departments, sectors or industries. Transferable skills can include the ability to learn quickly, negotiate deals, make decisions, be a great listener, or excel at meeting deadlines.

Learn more in this face2face expert article and make sure your transferable skills are highlighted on your LinkedIn profile and resume.

If you’re looking to transfer from the private to public sector (or the other way around), this article has great tips.

Learn about hard versus soft skills

When switching careers, it’s important to learn the difference between hard and soft skills and reflect both on your LinkedIn profile and resume. Read this article to understand each type of skill set and explore examples.

Connect with a recruiter

Great recruiters are amazing at drawing out your skills and strengths by getting you to think laterally. An initial interview with our talent manager will help assess your skills and how you can add value to the new field you’ve chosen. face2face is immersed in a wide range of positions and levels and has ideas about pursuits you might not have dreamed of. We also support jobseekers in refining their resumes to reflect strengths. We coach on interview techniques too.

Think about training

It may well be you can start to develop the skills needed for your new career path as you look for a new position. This can be online training, short courses, or even registering for a degree. Research jobs on offer in your new career field to see what employers are looking for. This will help you zero in on the right type of training. One thing is for sure … your motivation to have started training will impress prospective employers and show how determined you are in you jobseeking endeavours.

Network

Networking is invaluable when switching careers. Connect with people and businesses in your new industry on LinkedIn. Joining a professional organisation might give you insights. Explore opportunities to attend events to make contacts and learn about the industry.

Find a mentor

Find a mentor in your new chosen field, who can help with your transition. A quality mentor can share knowledge, provide advice on what the field is looking for, suggest contacts and even give you ideas on how to improve your resume.

Be patient and positive

Changing careers isn’t an instant exercise. It often takes time and you’ll need to remain positive while working on getting your foot in the door. This is normal so don’t give up. Also fight the fear of moving on by applying these tips.

Keen to learn more?

How to get a job without experience

Six actions for landing a new job

Job or career. Which do you have?