There is often a misconception that you pick a career and stay in it for the rest of your life. Whether that career is in construction, transportation, scientific research or another work sector. That idea is far from the truth.
In fact, on average the modern-day worker spends on average 45 years working, and in that time has had up to 12 jobs in their lifetime. Despite it being so common, that doesn’t mean changing careers isn’t stressful. Fortunately, there are many different ways that you can manage that stress!
How you can prepare yourself for a career change
If you’ve already decided that you want a career change, but you have yet to decide what career you want to explore next, one way to prepare for and prevent stress is to research the different industries. Write out a list of your transferable skills and compare it to careers that you think you might like to try. Sometimes you might be lacking a particular skill in your dream career, and to combat that, you should consider taking some extra courses or earning additional qualifications.
Another important thing to not forget when making this big career change is to prioritise some time for yourself. You may think, “I need to work to earn money and spend the rest of the time looking for a job I want” but in reality, this is how you can become burned out quickly. Set certain days and times for you to be doing your career search and ensure that you have one full rest day a week where you can spend the time doing something that you love and enjoy. Whether you like to visit a bookshop and pick your next novel, go out with friends or simply want to sit down and binge your favourite TV show, whatever your preference, spending time on things other than work or job seeking is a priority.
Conclusion
A career change is a big decision. It’s important to think about your options carefully and to prepare before making any life-changing decisions. By making sure you are in the right place mentally and career-wise you are giving yourself the best possible opportunity to land the perfect job for you! Don’t rush into making decisions, always consider alternative options, and be confident in your own skills and ability!
*In collaboration with Simply Academy*