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You spend the majority of your waking life at work. It only makes sense to pursue a career that makes you feel happy and fulfilled as much as possible. Sometimes, this means that to be satisfied with your job, you’ll need to consider changing paths from time to time. Even if you were excited by your role when you first took on your current job, a time might come when you decide it’s time for something new. People change, and their professional goals can evolve.
You might even decide it’s time to switch tracks if you feel like you’re not earning enough, or there aren’t enough opportunities waiting in your future. Of course, changing jobs can be a complex and daunting prospect. That’s why it’s so important to have an action plan in place before you dive in.
Decide Why You’re Changing Jobs
First, you’ll need to think about why you want to change roles in the first place. If you’re just unhappy with something temporary in your current position, like a bad colleague, you might consider staying in the same place for a little longer, particularly if you love every other part of your job. Writing down your whys will give you a clear view of whether a change in roles the right thing for you is right now. It should also help you to prioritize what you want to look for when you start searching for a new position. If you’re unhappy with the current culture at your workplace, you might look for a company with values similar to yours.
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Assess Your Strengths and Passions
Next, it’s time to think about where your new
Plan for Your Education
If you’re moving into a new industry, or you want to pursue a role that requires a different skillset than the one you have today, you might need to update your education. Sometimes, you’ll be able to take basic courses while you start working for a new company or leverage lessons that are accessible online. In other situations, you may need to consider going back to
Start Developing Experience
Either while you’re getting your education, or soon after, you should be looking for ways to get experience related to your new role. There are various ways you can do this. You could offer your services as a freelancer online to expand your knowledge of the industry or volunteer for a company related to your field. You might also look into internships and lower-paid entry-level jobs connected to the role you want, so you can start working your way toward a position more tailored to your expertise. The more experience you can develop, the more compelling
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Start Networking
Who you know will always be important when you’re applying for any new role in a business, or industry. With this in mind, it’s worth looking for ways to expand the professional network wherever you can. You can begin by attending industry events, both online and in person. This will both give you a chance to learn more about your sector and meet new people. If you’re not ready to start interacting with other professionals offline just yet, you can look into online networking options instead. You can join forums related to your sector, find groups on LinkedIn and Facebook, and connect with those over social media. While starting a new career can be a challenging and stressful process, it can also be a fantastic way to ensure you’re getting the most out of your professional life.
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