Navigating Career Change: Tips to Achieve Professional Goals

Whether it’s changing roles, moving to another department, or entering a new industry; considering changing careers can happen to anyone in any industry. Here are some tips on how to do it.

Considering a career change can happen at any stage in your professional life. In fact, according to Statista, a survey conducted among employed women in Southeast Asia in December 2022 and January 2023 stated that 44% of the respondents said they intended to make a career switch in the next 5 years.

The reason for reinventing your career may come in many forms. Maybe your current workplace doesn’t support your career growth, or perhaps you want to have more control in your professional life. Regardless of the reason, changing your career is not an impossible thing to achieve when you know how to do it.

Here are some tips to heed when you’re considering a career change.

Reevaluate Your Choice

Before you do anything else, find out the root cause of your sudden change of heart. Make a list of what you like and dislike about your current job. This will help to refocus your goals and show whether you are on the right way to accomplish them.

If you are still unsure, look for second opinions from trusted people around you. Ask for their insights and whether they have experienced the same problem. Aside from getting informal help, you can also go to professionals like career coaches.

Do a Research

You might already have an idea about what you want to do next, or you might not. Regardless, it’s essential to conduct a deep dive into your industry and find out more about it. If you are eyeing a specific role, talk to people who have already been in the field for several years to know its realistic day-to-day responsibilities.

Develop a Plan

Once you have a clear grasp of your new career path, develop a plan detailing your next steps. For instance, you might need to upskill or reskill your abilities and obtain certifications to get into a certain role. You will also need to attend a volunteer, workshop, or conference to gain more experience. Additionally, if you are still doing your job while preparing for the change, you have to spare your time around your schedule, too.

Reskill and Upskill Yourself

If you want to change industries, then reskilling yourself is important to deepen your knowledge about the industry. Furthermore, if you choose to stay in the same industry, upskilling is also necessary to make you stay relevant. The advancement of technology makes a lot of jobs disappear, but it also brings new roles. If you cannot keep up, your career change plan might not work well.

Grow Your Network

Make yourself known in the industry. If you have time, do internships or part-time work that will introduce you to people who are already in the industry. If you are tight with your current job, the easiest way is by joining communities on social media. These groups are often rich with experiences shared by the members, as well as potential job leads.

Do a Rebrand

When doing a career change, a rebrand of your professional profile is necessary. For instance, rewrite your CV and resume to cater to your new career. For some industries that require a portfolio, create a new one from the new projects or workshops that you’ve done. Additionally, update your social media profile, such as LinkedIn, Glintz, or any other job-hunting platform. Marketing yourself with the right tags is useful to let hiring managers know you are available to hire.

Changing your career requires a lot of determination and motivation. You have to relearn all the basics, rebuild your network, and reconstruct your professional career from scratch. However, with a well-thought-out plan, changing your career can lead to greater fulfillment and better professional growth.

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