Tips For Starting A New Career
As many experienced workers can verify, determining the exact career for you can be a long and complicated process with many unexpected twists and turns. Even once you've graduated from university and racked up a few years of work experience, it can still be difficult to determine whether your career is the best possible fit. Understandably, this conundrum has led to many experienced workers deciding to change paths later on in their careers. So, if you feel like you fit into this category, fear not! Here are some simple yet effective tips to help you launch a new career.
Do some self-reflection
Before finding a new career, it's important to understand why your existing one is no longer suitable. Write down the pros and cons of your job and reflect on this list to determine the root cause of the problem. Do you find that your current career is not aligned with your interests, or are you perhaps dissatisfied because of harsh working conditions and long hours? Once you've determined the source of your dissatisfaction, you can begin determining the outcomes that you are looking for.
Think about your interests
The simplest way to begin your career hunt is by narrowing your search to possibilities that align with your interests. Are you very business-minded or does science spark your curiosity? Perhaps you enjoy teaching and get self-fulfillment from helping children. Whatever your interests may be, it's important to consider them during your search as your personal happiness is as much a priority as financial success.
Do some networking
While attending courses and conducting online research can help you to expand your knowledge, speaking with those who are involved in the field can give you an insider's look at the day-to-day workings of the industry itself. What's more, by engaging with people in your field of interest, you can develop meaningful connections that can result in personal coaching sessions, meaningful tips, and even job referrals.
Try it out
Although personal testimonies can be helpful in getting a feel for an industry, nothing will provide you with as much as a feel for the day-to-day life in your chosen field as some job shadowing. Talk to some of your connections in the field and ask them if it is possible to shadow them or perhaps act as an assistant or volunteer in some capacity. This will enable you to see not only the work that you may be in for but also the working environment. Once you've done so, you'll be able to determine whether or not this is a field that you'd like to pursue.
