Hoping to change career? Many of us have ambitions to move up the career ladder or to go a step further and change direction completely. There are many reasons for these ambitions, some financial, others personal, whatever the reason, with the right plan that change can be brought to fruition.
Maria Lalor from Pitman Training Swords gives her advice on finding a new job that you enjoy.
- Why don’t you like your current job?
It’s a question you need to ask yourself, as when you’ve had a holiday it’s easy to feel like you don’t want to go back to work and face 200+ emails.
“September can feel a bit flat after summer off enjoying holidays and family time, but if you’ve been considering a career change for a while, then it’s unlikely to be more than just holiday blues”, says Maria.
“Unhappiness in your job can easily be suppressed during the working week but when you have some time off and actually have the headspace to think about it, often your unconscious thoughts start to surface and you start thinking seriously about making a change.” - Research and plan your new career path
Career change and progression doesn’t happen overnight; it takes planning and work.
Start by doing some research into the career path you’re looking to take. What opportunities are out there and are there any standout employers you’d like to work for? What skills and qualifications are required for the role you’re considering and what’s the progression path?
“Identify some employers that you’d like to work for and see what opportunities they are currently offering” says Maria. “That way you can tailor your plan towards meeting their expectations and get your foot in the door with a good company from the start of your new career.” - Get some support
Deciding on a new career path doesn’t have to be something you do alone. It can be very helpful to talk through your options with a confidant; speak with friends or family, but there’s also people outside of your workplace that you can talk to about your options.
“We [Pitman Training Swords] have a team of career advisors that specialise in helping people to find the right role to suit them,” says Maria. “It’s an important decision and making it alone can be difficult, it’s always best to get support either from a service like ours, or someone within the industry you’re looking to get into as they can offer expert advice.” - Quality over Quantity
Don’t just fire out a one size fits all CV to every relevant employer. Employers will appreciate a well-crafted, tailored application and it will set a positive first impression. “Often recruiters and employers will search CVs and applications for keywords that are found in the job advertisement. If you haven’t taken the time to tailor your application, it will show,” says Maria. “Prioritise the roles you are most keen to go for, and work on your applications for these ones first.” - Don’t Rush It
When you’re ready to leave, it’s easy to want to rush into the first thing that comes your way. But it’s important to be realistic and set yourself a timeline of when things are going to progress. “Changing career isn’t a fast process, especially if you are gaining new skills and qualifications. Having interim targets and milestones can help to keep you motivated and working towards that end goal,” says Maria. “While it may take a while, it’s always worth the wait when the hard work pays off and you start a career that you enjoy.”
Maria Lalor and her team at Pitman Training Swords offer career training and support to those looking to change career. Get in touch with them on 01 8404075 or email [email protected] to find out more.