When it’s time for a change in career, you’re probably looking to make the transition as smoothly as possible. A lengthy or prolonged career switch can lead to CV gaps, which can in turn scupper your chances of landing the dream job you’ve been hoping for (or at least delay them). With that in mind, you want to do as much as you can to make sure that when it’s time to leave your current job and move over to the next stage of your life, there’s nothing outstanding. Here’s how you can seamlessly change your career and start working on what really matters to you.
Have some money ready
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If you’re not planning to jump straight from one job to another (which is becoming increasingly common as mental health issues move more to the fore), then it’s important to make sure you’ve got funding to keep you going until your break is over. Naturally, the best way to acquire this funding is to save money from your current job, but you could also appeal to your friends, housemates, or family members to help you out. Even £500 loans can make a huge difference, so explore every avenue available to you.
Do your research
While you’re at your current job, it’s a good idea to research your new career as much as possible. What are the entry-level positions you could apply for? Are there jobs further up the career ladder that might suit your skills? Is there anything extra that you need to learn before you’ll be ready? By researching your new career path, you’ll be able to minimise any issues that could occur during the transition. You can conduct this research in your downtime, or even while you’re at your current job if you encounter a slow period.
Start networking
The old adage holds that “it’s not what you know, but who you know”. All this means is that you’re more likely to get an advantageous position in life if you know the right people, and while it’s certainly not true in all circumstances, it’s more true than you might think. That’s why building a network is so important; if you’ve got the right people on your side, then they might consider you when the ideal opportunity arises. Of course, you might still need to go through an interview process, but even having your network bringing the job to your attention is a plus.
Build up some volunteer experience
If you can fit it into your schedule, then it’s a good idea to start volunteering in your new career path before you start looking for paid positions. This will help you to accrue valuable experience that you can use as a bargaining chip, and it will also give you an idea of what life is like “on the ground”, so to speak. Sometimes, you can have a romanticised idea of a new career simply based on the fact that your current job isn’t doing it for you, but volunteer experience can help you see the realities of your dream and figure out whether it’s really for you before you commit.
Look for new jobs while you’re at your old one
Don’t leave it until you quit to start looking for new jobs. If it’s a seamless career transition you want, then you should make sure there’s as little empty space between each position as you can. This means that lining up a new job before you leave is pretty much critical. You can use holiday in order to attend job interviews, and when you’ve got the job you’ve been dreaming of, you can hand in your notice (assuming you’ve got a start date for your new position, of course). Just make sure you think very carefully if you’re planning on quitting before you know what you’re doing next.
Write a CV for your new job
While you’re working your current job, you should be thinking about adapting your CV to your new career path. Changing your CV based on the job you’re applying for is common practice; it shows employers that you’re passionate about the job you want and that you’re willing to put in the effort required to communicate that passion. Emphasise the experience that applies to the new career path and try to push the experience that is less important to the background. Employers won’t spend long reading your CV, so you don’t have a lot of page space to make it count!
Prepare interview answers
If your new career is a fairly drastic and radical change, then you may be asked why you’ve made the decision to switch. You might also be asked how your current work experience could be related to the new position, especially if it initially looks irrelevant. If you’re serious about your career change, then you should be able to explain how your skills and experience make you an ideal fit for the new job, so make sure you’re brushing up on your interview technique. Why not recruit a partner or friend to act as a mock interviewer for you?
Talk to others who’ve changed careers
You might well know someone else who’s managed to change their career. If you do, then make sure to reach out to them and ask if they wouldn’t mind telling you about their experience. They might have some valuable advice for you that could help you in your own career transition; after all, there’s no better teacher than experience, and they could point up some challenges or red flags that you need to be on the lookout for. If nothing else, they can provide a sympathetic ear when you need to chat about the problems you’re facing with your career switch.