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Changing careers after building a brand in an industry can be a difficult task. Some of the reasons that have been identified to initiate this desire include: wrong career choice, conflicting personality, job burnout, changes in life, improbable job outlook and higher anticipated earnings in the new career. Whatever the reason you’re changing careers, it would be imperative to consider the key things that would ensure a successful transition;
Life impact
Change of career requires a shift in mindset to reflect the new demands on the new role. Without proper appreciation of the impact this transition will have on your living standards, economic outlook as well as networks, one is likely to fail. For instance in learning a new role, the evaluation of the new skills required and the investment in time to acquire the skills would take a huge chunk of your time. This may have an impact on how much attention you are able to give to your social circles and family responsibilities. Similarly, economically, you may not earn as much as you to where you were considered a professional; you now are an amateur. Is this a tradeoff you are willing to make?
Required Skills and Attributes
Change in career doesn’t necessarily mean change in skills and competencies per se, it could mean just wearing a different hat but working with the same skills. It may however require learning something totally new in order to position yourself for the new demands in the market for the role you want. Therefore, it’s important to identify and develop the key skills for success in your new career. The tip between success and failure in the new career is determined by how much prowess you will have relative to what needed for the role. Can you identify and rate your prowess in the skills needed in your new career? Are you convinced that you have what the market needs?
Runway duration
When you started walking, you couldn’t run, neither were you able to start walking without first sitting. Effective career change also demands that you get guidance and support to learn the ropes, either through coaching and mentorship, going back to school or shadowing someone in the role. Like a plane, any new career does take time on the runway before ‘taking off’. With this in mind, it would also be important to put your expectations in check; you cannot expect to hit the ground and acquire the recognition that you had in your previous career. It takes time to prove your worth and earn a reputation and then the shillings can increase in value vis-Ã -vis your work. Are you ready for the wait, or will your patience runs out midway? Secondly, in a new field you will need to build a whole new network of professionals with whom you can share experiences. It takes times to work your way into a network, this will be essential for knowledge sharing. Lastly, you must be adaptable, to the rigors of the industry, the expectations of your-would be colleagues as well as to the new demands placed upon you.
Industry Research
Are you looking for a career change due to the stagnation in the industry you are in? Then you need to understand the dynamics of the industry you are looking to move into before making the change. Key consideration would be, is the industry you are looking to jump into a Walkman in an iPod generation? Essentially is there growth prospect for that industry. The need to carry out thorough research on the sustainability and relevance of the industry long term would be essential before making that move. There is no greater career tragedy than getting into an industry whose future is bleak.
Work Environment
The psychological contract that you have with your workplace influences your commitment to your job. If you work in a place where you feel valued, that you make an impact on business performance, that you have good relations with your colleagues, that makes you come alive then you would not want to change your career? The policies that are implemented with your work environment, the people that you work with, the systems that enable you perform as well as the workplace layout have a huge impact on your job satisfaction. The work culture of the business is influenced by all those factors. As you consider a different career change, you would need to consider which of these factors have necessitated your decision. In your new career, you would need to ensure that these factors are in line with your expectations; otherwise you will be changing your career again.
Career and Personal Benefits
Every job comes with its fair share of responsibilities and benefits, some too good while other can be bad. While others may not come with good packages, the empowerment that it gives you maybe all that you needed and enjoyed. The chance to influence others through leadership and also through difference resources. Whatever your current career benefits are, they speak directly to your satisfaction in that career. Whilst changing careers, consider the things that you may have to forgo in the new career, and whether it would be a tradeoff that would be worthwhile for you. When the tradeoff between what you were used to and what you are getting offered in the new career isn’t commensurate, there are high chances of disgruntlement. This slows your uptake of the new role, as such puts you in a situation that would make you not enjoy the change.
In conclusion, a career change can be risky, however with proper consideration of life impact, having the required skills, willing to take care of the runaway duration, carrying out thorough industry research, considering work environment and career and personal benefit you are well on your way to making the change.
Life impact
Change of career requires a shift in mindset to reflect the new demands on the new role. Without proper appreciation of the impact this transition will have on your living standards, economic outlook as well as networks, one is likely to fail. For instance in learning a new role, the evaluation of the new skills required and the investment in time to acquire the skills would take a huge chunk of your time. This may have an impact on how much attention you are able to give to your social circles and family responsibilities. Similarly, economically, you may not earn as much as you to where you were considered a professional; you now are an amateur. Is this a tradeoff you are willing to make?
Required Skills and Attributes
Change in career doesn’t necessarily mean change in skills and competencies per se, it could mean just wearing a different hat but working with the same skills. It may however require learning something totally new in order to position yourself for the new demands in the market for the role you want. Therefore, it’s important to identify and develop the key skills for success in your new career. The tip between success and failure in the new career is determined by how much prowess you will have relative to what needed for the role. Can you identify and rate your prowess in the skills needed in your new career? Are you convinced that you have what the market needs?
Runway duration
When you started walking, you couldn’t run, neither were you able to start walking without first sitting. Effective career change also demands that you get guidance and support to learn the ropes, either through coaching and mentorship, going back to school or shadowing someone in the role. Like a plane, any new career does take time on the runway before ‘taking off’. With this in mind, it would also be important to put your expectations in check; you cannot expect to hit the ground and acquire the recognition that you had in your previous career. It takes time to prove your worth and earn a reputation and then the shillings can increase in value vis-Ã -vis your work. Are you ready for the wait, or will your patience runs out midway? Secondly, in a new field you will need to build a whole new network of professionals with whom you can share experiences. It takes times to work your way into a network, this will be essential for knowledge sharing. Lastly, you must be adaptable, to the rigors of the industry, the expectations of your-would be colleagues as well as to the new demands placed upon you.
Industry Research
Are you looking for a career change due to the stagnation in the industry you are in? Then you need to understand the dynamics of the industry you are looking to move into before making the change. Key consideration would be, is the industry you are looking to jump into a Walkman in an iPod generation? Essentially is there growth prospect for that industry. The need to carry out thorough research on the sustainability and relevance of the industry long term would be essential before making that move. There is no greater career tragedy than getting into an industry whose future is bleak.
Work Environment
The psychological contract that you have with your workplace influences your commitment to your job. If you work in a place where you feel valued, that you make an impact on business performance, that you have good relations with your colleagues, that makes you come alive then you would not want to change your career? The policies that are implemented with your work environment, the people that you work with, the systems that enable you perform as well as the workplace layout have a huge impact on your job satisfaction. The work culture of the business is influenced by all those factors. As you consider a different career change, you would need to consider which of these factors have necessitated your decision. In your new career, you would need to ensure that these factors are in line with your expectations; otherwise you will be changing your career again.
Career and Personal Benefits
Every job comes with its fair share of responsibilities and benefits, some too good while other can be bad. While others may not come with good packages, the empowerment that it gives you maybe all that you needed and enjoyed. The chance to influence others through leadership and also through difference resources. Whatever your current career benefits are, they speak directly to your satisfaction in that career. Whilst changing careers, consider the things that you may have to forgo in the new career, and whether it would be a tradeoff that would be worthwhile for you. When the tradeoff between what you were used to and what you are getting offered in the new career isn’t commensurate, there are high chances of disgruntlement. This slows your uptake of the new role, as such puts you in a situation that would make you not enjoy the change.
In conclusion, a career change can be risky, however with proper consideration of life impact, having the required skills, willing to take care of the runaway duration, carrying out thorough industry research, considering work environment and career and personal benefit you are well on your way to making the change.
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