Have you recently decided that you want to take on a role in a different department at work? Are you sick of your current job or industry and want to make a major career change?
I’ve provided 7 Steps below that will help to get you on the right track. Career transitions aren’t always easy but if you are determined to make a change for the better…then no setback or hurdle will stop you!
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What is that you want to do? Is what you want to do lucrative? If not, could it be? It’s great to shoot for the stars but it’s also important to make sure you’re making a somewhat calculated risk.
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Once you’ve narrowed in on what you want to do, ask yourself “Self, who do I know that works in this industry?…or that department?” If you don’t know someone directly, do you have a friend that might know people? What I’m getting at is…utilize your network! Don’t be afraid to ask people for insights, guidance and “inside scoop.” You can also utilize your social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or Google+. Get creative!
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Now that you know a few people and have gotten some stellar advice…what are you going to do with this new found calling and information? CREATE A PLAN. How are you going to attack this new goal? I recommend making a first week, first month, 3-month, 6-month and year goals list. What do you want to accomplish at each of these milestones? This is a great way for you to see your progress incrementally. Also, I’d recommend doing a daily journal. It’s therapeutic and a great way to track your progress from a personal side. We all go through ups and downs!
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Have a mentor, “hype person” or close friend to be your go-to during this period. They can hold you accountable as well as pick you up when you’re feeling down.
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Gain experience and the skills needed to succeed in your new role or field of work. If you’re looking to change departments or roles at work, make sure to learn as much about the position as possible from someone in the role and be sure to do some research on your own. If your looking to make a major career change and need to acquire a brand new skill or credentials it can be helpful to see if there are “bootcamps”, workshops, courses or training sessions to help you gain the right qualifications. Many of these courses are online! It’s helpful to do some research on which schools or companies offering the courses/training are the most credible in that industry and will be worth your time and money.
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Once you’ve completed your research and training it’s time to either speak to HR at your current company about a new role OR start a job search with your new skills! If you’re looking for a new position make sure that your resume is updated and all of your past work history gives a clear picture (to the employer) of your career trajectory, interests, and your story. This will help employers have a better understanding of why you’re making a change. Also, make sure that you’ve practiced your response for why you are making this big change and help inspire the recruiter or hiring manager with your story!
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At this point you know what you want to do, you have built a small but mighty network, you have a master plan and you have a mentor or friend to keep you on track, AND you’ve acquired some amazing new skills to give you an edge…What’s next you may ask?…It’s time to execute your plan!
I’ve listed a SAMPLE PLAN below (1st Week – 1st Month). It’s a real life example that I provided to a candidate I worked with last year. He was a math teacher and wanted to transition into becoming a Software Developer.
SAMPLE PLAN:
Week 1:
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Review current skills and credentials.
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Research roles/positions that you would like and document the requirements for the position. Make a list of all of the qualifications, certifications or experience needed.
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Narrow down the skills that you’re most interested in acquiring within your first year from that list.
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Identify if training or a “coding bootcamp” would be necessary. If necessary, sign-up for classes (in classroom or online) that align with current work schedule.
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Create StackOverflow and GitHub accounts to show sample work as you’re learning new (software) languages and skills.
First Month:
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Begin attending networking events (i.e. Meetups) that align with the skills you are building. At this point you are a few weeks into your training/courses and should feel comfortable talking with others about your current studies and work.
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Network with companies that are building technical solutions for education. This is a great way to marry your two skills and bring the depth of experience from your years of teaching.
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Set-up two coffee meetings in the first month to sit down and learn from someone that is a software developer or works within a software development team.
Congratulations on leaving your comfort zone behind and challenging yourself!
It takes a lot of courage to take on a new position or start a new career. My hope is that these steps will help get you get started on your journey to making a change for the better!