Switching Careers in 2021
They say the only thing constant in life is change.
This likely applies to career advancement as well.
Career experts indicate that switching careers every five years can allow a person to grow professionally, develop skills and experience without becoming demotivated or repetitive.
Regardless of motives, there are certainly instances where switching careers seems necessary.
Find your fit at Caribbeanjobs.com
What are the motivations for switching careers?
Pursue greater challenges or lucrative opportunities
While there are some people who may value comfort and familiarity, other individuals seek challenges. When work life becomes too repetitive, they may seek out an opportunity to keep their interest high, gain upward mobility and utlitise their full potential.
Toxic environment
We’ve heard, “people don’t leave bad companies, they leave bad bosses”. Often, the career switch may be a desire to escape a difficult boss or toxic workplace culture.
Less commute
A person may seek to switch careers if that means less traffic, starting work earlier or having more time for themselves or their families.
Greater financial compensation
It’s no secret that as working individuals, we sometimes switch careers to pursue higher forms of compensation as we progress in our careers.
Security
Job security is invaluable for many people, particularly in moments of economic or social uncertainty. Therefore, a person sensing layoff in a pandemic, would switch careers to secure their income. Persons who are also working temporary, part-time or contract would consider switching to a position that offers greater job security.
Are you mentally prepared for a career switch?
Opportunities and industries which were previously flourishing may be performing layoffs or hiring the bare minimum of staff they require. Therefore, job seekers during pandemic times, have to be mentally prepared for the challenge.
It is therefore critical to mentally prepare yourself that you are willing and able to address the following criteria:
- Are you prepared to wait for a while before a lucrative position comes up?
- Are you prepared to switch to a career that may not compensate as highly given companies have slashed their budgets?
- Are you comfortable with new forms of working such as remote work?
- Would you be able to forge new relationships virtually with the team as work meetings have gone online?
- Can you adapt to this new culture?
- How able are you to forget past successes to avoid becoming overconfident and become a black canvas essentially in your new career?
It is essential when switching careers that you consider your mental readiness and professional abilities. To evaluate your professional capabilities, it is critical to perform a professional self-assessment to determine suitable careers for you.
Find your fit at Caribbeanjobs.com
How to perform a professional audit
In answering these questions, your professional audit will also provide necessary insights about yourself:
- Career objectives – What are your long-term career goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 years and what level in your career would you like to be?
- You vision for the career switch – Why are you switching careers at this time? What is your expectation from this new career change and how do you see your life improving as a result?
- Document your past achievements – What did you accomplish that you are particularly proud of? This information would provide you with the career options that offer you the most fulfillment.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses? Highlight the skills you have and how you can develop them as well as areas within your professional life that require improvement.
To successfully perform a professional audit, you can utilise several online tools to receive a detailed evaluation of your competencies and possible career paths. Some of the common ones include the Myers-Briggs Test, Big Five Personality Test and StrengthFinder.
Tips to help you narrow your job list
Performing a self-assessment as well as a professional audit can enable you to narrow your job search. Your job search therefore should take into account three important variables.
Your interests
To find an opportunity that is fulfilling, consider what areas interest you which you can make a career out of. For example, a writing hobby can be expanded into a copywriting, marketing or journalism. Similarly, if you have an interest in hairstyling, auto mechanics, programming, teaching or skilled handiwork, these can be a potential area to switch.
What are you good at?
You must be good at what you do. As such, it is crucial that you evaluate whether you have the skills for a career switch. If you do have the skills, how proficient are you? Pandemic times means greater competition for jobs. Therefore, make sure you narrow your job search to those opportunities where you can be a top performer.
What does the job market offer?
This last variable of your job search is perhaps the most essential to examine. Many companies and industries have been affected by the pandemic. Therefore, you must consider what is available right now. You can supply all the skills and competencies, however, if there is no demand from the local job market, that career opportunity no longer exists.
Starting the job search process
Taking your state of your local economy and job market into consideration, you can start building a map. This map details:
- Sectors that are hiring
- What positions are available?
- What skills are being requested by employers
Tips on performing career path research
Network & build relationships
It is important that you network appropriately on social media in order to build a healthy, beneficial relationship. Introduce yourself and ask pertinent questions about the industry. Once you have successfully laid a foundation, you can ask for specific insights or details about the industry and best tips on getting hired. People generally will assist once the relationship has been cultivated in the right way.
Mentorship
This will be an asset to you as a mentor can give you helpful advice, assist with your career research, put together your professional audit and help you be mentally prepared for a career switch.
Prepare your job search tools
One vital tool is what is termed as ‘the hidden job market’. This essentially refers to jobs that are available but are usually not posted. Persons usually access these jobs through their network. A candidate may know someone within a company who is aware of a potential vacancy and knows someone who can provide assistance. It is therefore always important that you maintain your networking efforts and get people to know, like and trust you.
Your elevator pitch
In these pandemic times, employers are searching more than ever for candidates who have something to contribute to an organisation as opposed to ‘just looking for a job’. Have your elevator pitch ready to describe an employer’s pain points, what you can offer them and solve their problems.
Job search engines
Use a variety of media to evaluate what opportunities are available to make a career switch. Peruse job boards, search engines – CaribbeanJobs.com and company websites to see what positions are offered and what your next career switch can potentially look like.
