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How To Make A Career Change
How To Make A Career Change
potential financial difficulties for your employer your company moving into a different area of business a collapse in communication with your manager or colleagues
Spotting when the time is right If you do decide to leave a job, quitting at the wrong time can hit you in the pocket if youre not careful. For example, leaving just before your big bonus is due is not very sensible. Its a good idea to think about whether youre currently paid in advance or in arrears as any change may affect your monthly cash flow.
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If youve got a holiday planned, wait until you get back before handing in your notice. Your new employer wont take kindly to you booking two weeks off during your probation period. Leave in a position of strength Once youve made the decision to leave, make sure you have somewhere to go before handing in your notice. Dont be tempted to storm off in a huff or make some sort of statement if it means leaving yourself vulnerable. Its much easier to find a job when you already have one. A long period of unemployment sends out a bad signal to a future employer. Dont ignore the consequences of quitting before you have a new job lined up, no matter how much you dislike where youre working. Apart from looking bad as you start applying for new jobs, voluntarily leaving your former role could compromise your eligibility for unemployment benefits. Money shouldnt be the only reason If money is the overriding issue in your desire for change, have the courage to address it before thinking about leaving. If you dont feel youre getting paid enough, ask for more. This can be a scary experience, but it could solve your problem.
Further Reading
- How can I manage a gap in my earnings? - How can I secure a pay rise?
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Once youve completed some serious soul searching and got clear answers to those tough questions, be realistic about the options open to you. Going to university full-time or retraining simply might not be possible if you are a single mother, have large mortgage payments or care for a frail relative. Consider whether your ideal role is in the same industry you already have experience in. It is far easier to change jobs within the same sector and you may just need to find a more exciting company to work for. Another important factor to consider is the amount of progression that a certain job or career path allows. Aiming for a job that will satisfy your needs now may be good for the short-term, but what about in five years time when you need to earn. Back yourself to succeed Now youve identified where you want to go, get on with it. Research the latest developments in your chosen industry, network as widely as you can at industry events and talk to people who do the job you want to do. Make yourself an empl0oyers most attractive prospect by proving you are motivated, informed and know what you have to offer can benefit their business.
Further Reading
- Should I become a specialist or a generalist? - How can I get a job working outdoors?
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These transferable skills are often overlooked by career changers but are desired by almost every employer: IT literacy Numeracy Problem-solving Research and analysis Foreign languages Presentation skills Organisation and time-keeping
This applies to achievements as well. If youve been successful in one job, chances are you will continue the trend in another. Remember that specific details of the tasks might not be recognised in an alternative sector, so keep the examples brief. Getting your name out there Changing career is not easy, but very achievable. Once youve convinced yourself its the best thing for you and have the hard evidence to back this up, its going to be much easier to persuade a potential employer. Find out as much as you can about your new industry by attending conferences or networking events and keeping up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry youre heading towards. Youll really impress your interviewer if you can show a dedication to the position, before youre even in it. Unless time-travel is invented, you wont get a second chance, so make sure you act now to create the life you want for yourself.
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But, earning less now could put you in line for a quicker rise to the top, especially if you move to a company renowned for allowing a fast-track path to management. Look at whether the post has a strong long-term potential within an organisation that has an enviable reputation in your industry which could boost your overall career prospects. Consider what opportunities the position can offer you in terms of learning new skills, experiencing a different environment and working practice. Use the skills and knowledge that you have acquired throughout your career to make you an invaluable asset to your colleagues and management in your new position. Whereas the road to the top used to involve working your way up through the ranks in the same organisation, only about 10% of chief executives in the UK today have spent their entire career following this route. Career experts predict that in the future, the senior positions in organisations will be held by people who have come from more diverse backgrounds. Choosing your career options is like playing chess. Approach your choices with caution. Access your options. Tactfully envisage how your next career move will determine your move after that. And then play it out.
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There may be things you are doing that your boss is not actively aware of, such as working unpaid overtime at home or skills you have developed, which are a real benefit to the business. All these can be used as extra leverage when you get down to the actual numbers. If you're discussing the possible salary for a new job, your potential employer will usually have a salary range in mind set by their management team. Consider the offer and match it up with your research to see if it's fair. Budget constraints operate in every business and it's impossible to accommodate every pay demand from every employee. If money really does end up as a stumbling block, consider using transferable skills to move into a more profitable and high-paying industry or job. Choosing the right company to work for is an important decision at every step of your career, and if one doesn't appreciate your value in the market, there will be another out there that does.
Don't ask directly for a job - networking is not a job fair; it's an opportunity to gather potentially useful information.
Give and take - networking is a two-way exchange; there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Do the groundwork - research your contacts before meeting them and always follow up good leads or they pass on.
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Even if you're new to the game, you may have lots of worthwhile contacts you hadn't seen in that way before:
Old school, college or university classmates Friends and family Your doctor, lawyer or accountant Former colleagues or bosses
Keep good records of who you meet and the conversations you've had - there's no point building a network of contacts that you then forget. Also aim to stay in regular touch even when you're not after anything specific. Networking events and conferences are good ways to build a network if you're not sure where to start. Make sure you know why you are there and what you want out of it and make sure you have a few copies of your CV or business cards. If you're not used to the idea yet, networking can be scary; like it's something for super-confident types who get all the best jobs anyway. But that's not the whole story. The Internet has made networking a viable option for everyone and there are many forums and business networking sites which enable business people to share and discuss their views and knowledge, but can never completely replace actually getting out and showing your face.
Further Reading
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How do I build and maintain a contact database? How can I benefit from conferences?
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Moving with your employer Sometimes change is forced on us by our employer heading to pastures new. Youre likely to be given a couple of weeks to decide whether you want to move with them so use this time wisely to make an informed decision. Apply all the same principles as you would if you were choosing to move voluntarily, and dont feel under massive pressure to move simply to keep your job. If you do decide to move with your employer, check out what financial support is going to be available to you to cover the great expense of moving. Settling in to your new surroundings Its always tough building up new social networks from scratch, but use your imagination and look for ways to get involved with your new neighbours and the community. If you have children, youll generally meet other parents through school activities. Your new colleagues are an obvious group of people to get involved in social activities with, but be careful not to come across as too needy before youve integrated into the team.
Get to know an area Whether youre moving from a small suburban location to the city or the opposite way, Monsters Local Guides will help you adjust as easily as possible. They include advice on what its like to live and work in an area, up-to-date house price information, a map of local amenities and salary data for the region.
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Use your imagination and common sense and exploit every positive you can find to build up a picture that will appeal to your future employer. Your lack of experience in their industry will be irrelevant if the rest of the CV proves your value. The job of a career change CV is to make your switch seem like the logical next step, enabling future employers to see why they should give you a shot at succeeding in a new field. Getting your name out there Networking is of great value here, so see if you can get into a relevant business group or club. It also pays to ask around amongst friends and colleagues to see whether they have any contacts that may be of help. As every industry has its own way of doing things, these contacts will be invaluable when it comes to giving you pointers on perfecting your document. They will quickly notice any vital information missing. Making prospective applications and posting your CV on Monster will put it in front of employers who are on the look out for new talent. Making the switch to a new company is always easier if they come to you rather than you chasing after them!
Further Reading
- How should I list my previous jobs on my CV? - What makes a good CV design and layout? - How can I make my CV more effective?
They say that the grass isnt greener on the other side, but often it is. Our series of eBooks brings together expert advice to help you secure the job you want and build a successful career. For more career tools, visit career-advice.monster.co.uk.