How To Prepare for a Career Change: (Quick Guide 2023)

Career Change - How To Prepare for a Career Change.

Why Consider a Career Change?(Guide Updated 2023)

There are many reasons why someone may consider changing careers. You may feel unfulfilled or unsatisfied in your current role. Or your interests and priorities have shifted over time. The industry you work in could be changing rapidly. Don’t be afraid to take time to evaluate your motivation for a switch – it’s an important step toward determining your next move.

Identify your motivations and interests

Reflect on your values and skills

Take stock of the aspects of your current and past jobs that you found most rewarding and meaningful. What tasks do you most enjoy? Which work environments and cultures are best suited to your strengths and personality? Understanding your values and strengths will help indicate careers aligned with who you are.

Research potential new careers

Browse potential career options to get excited about. Research job descriptions, required education and daily tasks. Speak to people in fields that interest you. Learn what a typical day looks like. See if the roles play to your interests and leverage your skills. This initial research can help narrow your options.

Develop your career change plan

Research education and training requirements

Most careers require some level of additional education, certifications or training. See what’s needed for your target roles. Create a plan for completing any additional requirements for your new career. Consider factors like cost, commitment and schedule.

Create a timeline

Map out a timeline with target dates for completing your transition. Consider milestones for research, completing additional education, updating your online presence, gaining experience, and your target start date in your new role. Having deadlines keeps you accountable.

Research networking opportunities

Attend industry events and connect on LinkedIn to expand your professional network. Having contacts in your desired industry can provide informational interviews, potential job leads, and recommendations during your job search. Now is the time to start fostering relationships.

Update your resume and online presence

Refresh your resume

Update your resume to highlight experience and skills most relevant for target careers. Tailor each resume to the specific role. Seek feedback and refine based on advice to perfect your resume before beginning your job search.

Optimize your LinkedIn profile

Your LinkedIn profile is one of your first digital impressions. Ensure yours is professionally crafted and optimized for recruiters. Get recommendations from previous managers and clients. Connect with companies and alumni from target programs

Gain relevant experience

Consider volunteer or internship opportunities

Volunteering or interning is a low-commitment way to get experience in a new field and develop new skills. It’s also a great way to build your network while learning if a career is the right fit. Ask if any roles are unpaid or provide a small stipend.

Take additional courses or certifications

Completing short programs can help augment your skills and resume. Consider free online options, night school or professional development through your local community college. Certifications can provide credentials for roles you aim to pursue.

Prepare for interviews

Practice answering common questions

Anticipate interview questions and perfect your answers emphasizing relevant skills and passion for the role. Ask trusted friends and advisors to conduct mock interviews to improve your responses. Practice describing accomplishments concisely.

Research the company and position

Thoroughly research the company, their mission, leadership, and industry trends before interviews. Relate examples directly back to the position requirements and company to demonstrate your motivation and fit for the role.

Have examples ready to discuss your motivation

Be prepared to discuss why you want to make a switch and why this particular career and company appeals to you. Have clear, impactful examples memorized to showcase your motivation when the interviewer inevitably asks “Why should we hire you?” or “Why do you want to make this change?”

Take the next step

Work out a proper notice

Make sure to end any current professionally and on good terms by providing sufficient notice. Offer assistance with transition instructions or complete final projects before departing. Leave on a positive note for future references.

Celebrate your success

Reward yourself for all your hard work in researching and landing a new opportunity aligned to your passions. Whether through a small gift or night out with friends – acknowledge how far you’ve come in pursuing your career goals.

Conclusion

Transitioning careers takes time and effort but can be incredibly rewarding both professionally and personally. With dedication to thorough planning, ongoing career development, and relentless networking, a new path is well within reach. Stay motivated by keeping your desired work and lifestyle top of mind each step of the transition. Success comes to those who are willing to step outside their comfort zone.

FAQs

Q1. What if i’m worried about starting over?

A career change does not mean “starting over.” Highlight transferable skills from your resume that are relevant to the new industry. With experience, your value only increases over time.

Q2. How do I decide on a new career path?

Reflect on your strengths and interests. Research in-demand fields and talk to people in different roles. Try informational interviews or job shadows. Take personality or skills assessments for additional guidance. Eliminate options that don’t fit your lifestyle. Narrow to 2-3 viable paths to further explore.

Q3. What if employers won’t take me seriously without direct experience?

Leverage related experience and transferable skills from prior roles. Seek volunteer, internship or contract project opportunities for hands-on experience. Highlight relevant training, coursework or professional development. Effective networking can open doors even without “perfect” experience. Demonstrate eagerness to learn and you can gain the experience over time.

Q4. Won’t employers see my career change as indecisiveness?

A career change can demonstrate self-awareness, resilience and motivation to grow rather than uncertainty. Highlight reasons for change like interest in a new field rather than dissatisfaction. Emphasize skills and qualifications rather than previous titles. Be prepared with clear examples of career progress and solid motivation for the specific role you seek.

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How did I find my purpose?

Career and Relationship Coach standing in front of a beautiful lake

–– From Feeling Stuck to Living A Purposeful Life

What is my purpose?

I am sure we all have asked this question at some point in our lives. I remember for me; this question arose after my 7th break up with BL, whom I loved deeply. I thought I was supposed to be married and have two children at age 30. But on my thirtieth birthday, I felt like a failure. I felt like I had failed life, and it happened that night, I also had a big fight with the person that I thought loved me the most in the world. “I don’t think this is going to work anymore,” he said to me for the 100th time. Even though part of me knew that he says things like this every time we run into a hurdle in our relationship; Us has always been the first thing he dumps. Regardless, it still hurts to hear it every time.

My fear told me that I needed to leave him before he left me this time. So, I told myself, no more Sixu, no more. Enough is enough, leave and never go back to him. However, I felt highly empty inside. I felt like I have lost my sense of purpose without this person in my life. I can still remember, even up until today, how painful it was for me. I, at the time, worked at a 9-5 design job. Despite how horrible I felt, I knew I must suck it up, go to work, and continue to do a good job. I still vividly remember the blank stares I had at the computer screen doing brainless CAD work while thinking about how much of a loser I was compared to my other friends; their kids were already in elementary school. Deep down, I knew I desperately wanted to have a family, and I couldn’t figure out why it was not happening because in my mind and with the culture I grew up with, life would be incomplete without having a family of your own. I asked my dad once in my teens, “hey dad, what is the purpose of life” he said, “Our purpose is to leave something behind. If you can’t leave a legacy yourself, you should raise your kids the best you can so he or they can leave something behind.” What he said was engraved into my brain, and that is how I have been living since. I knew I could not achieve mastery or have inventions or change the world, so I thought I should raise my children. Well, I need to have them first, right? Therefore, having a successful relationship has been my number one priority for the longest time. 

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Now, let me go back to the story with BL, I loved him so much with my heart and soul, and I had prioritized him, even on a pedestal at times. It is not that easy for me to fall deeply for someone, but since I fell deeply in love with this guy, I gave it my all and hoped we could make it into a happy ending. I had already helped him with a more fulfilling life, yet he still left. I was lost, and I went to a dark place after the last broke up. I even had suicidal thoughts to end the suffering. For months after, I didn’t feel like myself. I operated on little sleep and ate little food. Part of me could not find another reason to continue to live happily. Of course, this state of being would significantly affect my performance at work. I got laid off at the perfect timing of the pandemic’s beginning. Then I was even more lost, as the only reason I got up in the morning was no longer there. I had no interest in searching for another design job, as I had enough bosses who didn’t value my worth.

My long, 80-hour weeks made me decide to leave the design industry. Eight years of being over-worked and underpaid made me feel too burned out to put my resume together for more job interviews. Therefore, I entered the darkest three months of my life, not knowing what to do with myself. Every day was made up of binge-watching TV shows, hoping to hear back from BL still, and minimal communication with my roommate at the time. I am an extrovert, but for those three months, I was mostly quiet. I was passing the time and staying alive rather than living my life. You could call it depression, but I did not bother to diagnose myself. I knew this was not sustainable, and I could not live like this forever, so I began my soul-searching journey. 

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I wanted to find myself a good reason to get up. I knew there was no answer I could find elsewhere, so my only choice was to go inward. I journaled a bunch. I began to ask myself, “What would drive you to get up in the morning out of all the things that interest you?” The answer came to me quickly, “If someone needs me.” That struck me, and it made complete sense. As I recall in my relationship with him, especially when we were long-distance, each morning, the first thing that came to my mind was, “What does he need me for right now?” and if I satisfied his need, it would already make my day. I then asked myself to think about all the other times that I had helped someone with their issues; I realized that I lit up every time I helped them resolve a problem. “Wow, it is not just him,” I said, “I should be helping many others.”

After this realization, I felt alive again and began my research on how to serve others, like how I used to help BL with his life struggles. I have looked into becoming a therapist, a counselor, and a mentor. Based on my research, none of these options seemed feasible to me. Before I felt defeated again, a voice appeared out of nowhere when I woke up one morning, “What about becoming a life coach?” I felt excited; I remember it was 6 ‘o clock in the morning, and I could not continue to sleep after having that thought and texted my life coach at the time to ask her opinion about the idea. She advised me to learn more about life coach school and life coach certifications. Once I did, my goodness, everything about it described me. It aligned well with my personality, talents, skills, and value. I felt like I had found myself for the first time. Soon after the initial research, I came across an online school named Life Purpose Institute. This was perfect synchronicity with the school’s name. I signed up right away, got certified within three months, and launched my coaching business shortly after my certification. I have since then helped dozens of people connect to their purpose. Life has not been the same since. Each day I wake up excited and ready to serve and go to bed feeling satisfied. I feel alive and purposeful. 

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Now you must wonder, is being a life coach your purpose then? I thought so too at first, as I had never felt so fulfilled before. However, after having the business for a while, I started to miss design and the artist in me. I needed an outlet for my creativity, and fortunately enough, my best friend started her own design firm around the same time I launched my coaching business. She invited me to design with her part-time. I was thrilled as we got along so well and agreed without a blink. Now a year has passed. I can confidently say I made the right decision, as working with her reminded me why I loved doing design. She was a delight to work with, and when we collaborated, we inspired each other for a better idea to surface. She also respected my effort and compensated me well. She appreciated my talent and had constantly challenged me to be better.

Most importantly, she didn’t have unreasonable deadlines. I felt blessed to have a boss and a friend to design with, and we successfully completed a BBQ restaurant that is expected to open this fall. I then realized that I didn’t give up design because of design issues but the corporate working culture. Thanks to her, I found my way back to design. Being a designer part-time did not hinder my coaching ability but enhanced it as it created a good balance for me. It satisfies my cravings for creativity which brings more joy and satisfaction to my life that allows me to best show up for my coaching clients.

I now often jokingly call myself a life coach during the day, and a designer at night. I am pleased to utilize both of my talents and interests, and I love the purposeful life I am creating that is full of joy and freedom.

Are being a coach and being a designer both my purpose? After living my life pursuing these two passions, I concluded that none of those is my purpose. My purpose is not limited to doing any one thing or several things. My purpose is to be me and reach for my potential as a unique being. That includes sharing my gifts and talents with the world and being in joy, and bringing love and joy to everything surrounding me. After my journey of becoming a life coach, I knew I had discovered a part of me that was not found before, and I am closer to my potential. I also understood why my relationship with BL had failed as I had made him my purpose and lost myself in helping him. No matter how much we love someone, they are not our purpose. We must focus on our individual journey, and we can only best serve others after taking care of ourselves. My focus now is to continue to evolve, and I believe I have infinite potential to grow if life is endless. As I have a limited amount of time here, I am determined to continue growing and becoming the greater version of myself each day. What more to ask for but to be grateful for the journey in between?

I believe no one is here to be miserable. We are all here to be the best we can be while doing what we love. Therefore, I am determined to help you find your talents and passion and strive for your potential as the unique being you are. After reading my journey, I hope you stop looking for a purpose and start looking into understanding yourself more deeply. That’s where the purpose lives. The more you are being your authentic self, the more purposeful you will feel. If you feel lost or overwhelmed to start, I have created a simple 9-step process to help you connect deeper with who you truly are. I would love to serve you as a guide to point you in the right direction.

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