Career change isn’t easy! And I should know having moved from IT to occupational psychology to career coaching to HR organisational development to leadership development to operational management and now back to coaching/action learning/leadership development. Some career changes were significant and others much easier. All involved a temporary drop in pay and all involved a steep learning curve.
Here are 5 tips to successful career change based on my career experiences:
1. invest time identifying your preferences, strengths, your passion and how the new career will fit in with the rest of your life.
2. test the water through talking with others in the career, evening classes, reading to confirm if it’s what you really want.
3. if finances are tight try to find ways to apply current skills to in new field rather than making a big jump eg if want to change from accountant to HR get a job working for an HR consultancy. The new company might support a career change
4. be prepared to invest time and money to achieve a rewarding career
5. life is too short to be unhappy at work…. take a deep breath go for it!!
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