Whether your goals, values or interests have changed or you need more money and flexible hours, starting a new career isn’t something you can take lightly. You need to really think things through before you make a decision.
If you are in the middle of planning your next career move, here are some of the best tips you can use.
Determine Where You’re At
Some of the most common jobs people have during their early years may feel like a “dead end” but it doesn’t have to be the same for you. According to Live Career, these include things like:
- Working with retail, whether it’s in the mall, a small boutique or a big chain store, can teach you how to work with people and handle money. These are things that will look good on your resume regardless of what direction you want to head.
- Tutoring can showcase your excellence in academics as well as how you enjoy working with people. This can propel you into a teaching career or you could work at a daycare or after school center.
- Lifeguarding shows you’re physically fit and you’re trained in things like first aid and CPR. These show how reliable you are as an employee.
- Babysitting is a great start towards a career in entrepreneurship or any other area where you’re primarily responsible for handling your own schedule.
Take a close look at your current job. Decide how satisfied you are and what type of job you really want.
Think about what parts of your current job you really like and dislike. Decide why you feel dissatisfied. It can be due to the work culture or the job itself.
Think About Where You Want to Go
You should never let yourself feel “stuck” in the job you’re currently working in. You need to take a look at what you’re interested in and what you’re skilled at. For this, take a look at the roles you were successful at in the past.
See Also: How To Get Out Of A Career Rut
Based on what you found, you’ll want to brainstorm ideas for alternative career opportunities. This is also a great time to talk about these things with your friends, family, and networking contacts.
If you still find yourself struggling here, you should consider meeting with a career counselor. They can help you conduct a preliminary comparative evaluation of several fields that interest you.
Once you decide on a career that interests you, it’s time to start networking. This is an essential part of a successful job hunting because this is how you find most jobs today.
Besides a list of references, you’ll definitely need a good resume, too. Your cover letter needs to specifically address the job you’re applying for.
You don’t have to include everything in your resume but be sure to include all related working experiences.
Start Heading There
Once you’re ready to make a career switch, you’ll want to start applying for the new job you want. As you do so, you’ll find that many employers are using video job interviews today. These really aren’t any different from a traditional job interview other than the way they’re conducted.
When you do schedule a video interview, you should still dress for success. Appearances matter a lot because it’s during the first few minutes of your interview that you make a critical first impression. As such, you need to dress appropriately for the job.
Also, make sure that you answer the questions with creativity. Interviewers ask specific questions to make sure that you can do the job you’re applying for.
You don’t want to come across as “fake” because you don’t want to make it seem like you’re only telling them what they want to hear. They want the person they’ll hire to be the same person that’ll show up on the first day of work, too.
In Conclusion
Although you need to be careful not to seem too “rehearsed,” it’s still important to practice all these things beforehand. You want to make sure that everything is “perfect,” that you’re dressed properly and that your video equipment is all working correctly.
The perfect ending is also important. Make sure to send a thank-you note at the end of the job interview. It can show your appreciation for being considered for the job. It’s also an opportunity for you to reiterate your interest in the position and share anything you forgot about during the interview.
See Also: Warmth or Competence: What Job Interviews Are Looking For
With these tips and “tricks” up your sleeve, changing jobs shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, doing so should be relatively easy.