How to Change Careers Successfully

A change in careers can be a key step to moving forward and a necessity for successful career management as your life changes. If you are dissatisfied with your current career and are looking for a career transition based on your current circumstances, use the following steps to achieve your career change goals.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Identify Specific Career Development Goals
   
   Determine if you want to change directions within your own industry or whether you want a complete career change. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and make sure that newly chosen career goals are synergistic with your strengths. Make sure you know who you are before deciding to to change careers .

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   how to change careers

   Set Up Informational Interviews
   
   Use your network to find people who work in positions that you would potentially be interested in and ask them if they could spare 15 minutes to talk to you about the industry the actual work and advice on how to network within the industry.

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   Join Professional Associations
   
   Join professional associations in the field you are interested in. Actively participate in industry conferences and volunteer to help organize events. Start to gain visibility with professionals in your chosen industry.

4. Get Experience - Volunteer for Projects in the New Industry
   
   Find small companies and non-profit organizations in the new industry and offer to volunteer to work on small scoped out projects you're interested in. This will enable you to add experience to your resume while gaining an understanding of the industry.

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   Sign Up for Related Coursework
   
   If you need a different skillset in order to change careers, do some research and sign up for related coursework that will shore up your confidence and your skills. Make sure that the quality of the classes you take is high and that you are completely committed to spending the time to learn the material.

6. Change Your Resume
   
   Update your resume to reflect your change in direction. Work with someone in the new industry to identify what potential employers would be looking for and start to fill in those gaps in your resume. Identify and articulate transferable skills from your previous career at the top of your resume. Write cover letters that let your potential employer know what you bring to the table as a non-traditional applicant.

7. Update Your Social Networking Profiles
   
   Update all your profiles on social networking sites so that they reflect your new goals and aspirations. Leverage your network as much as possible for advice and connections that could lead to a new position.

8. Come Up With a Pitch
   
   Write down a 30 second pitch that clearly allows you to articulate your goals, your value add and the type of position you're looking for. Practice in front of the mirror so that you sound confident and engaging. Use this pitch when talking to people.

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   Go On Interviews
   
   Once you have refined your resume, send out feelers to your network to see if anyone can point you in the direction of a job opening within your field of choice. Interview as much as possible so that you can hone your interviewing skills and develop a knowledge of the industry while opening up the potential for new employment. Be persistent, resilient and creative with your career change strategy. Career transition can be difficult - stay positive and keep moving in the direction that makes sense for you.

Resources

• How to Feel Empowered
• How to Prepare for a New Job - A Checklist
• How to Create a Professional Development Plan
• http://www.ehow.com/how_5051261_create-effective-goals.html
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