Tips for Setting Yourself up for a Career Change

Many women find themselves in a career that, after a time, they’re just not so interested in anymore. When this happens, it can often be tricky to make a change to something else. If you’re like a lot of workers, you may find yourself staying in a dead-end job for way too long and not taking the plunge into making your new dreams come true.

If you’re currently feeling held back in some way in your career or wish that you could step forward and launch that business you’ve always been keen to create, it’s time to be proactive and open yourself up to new opportunities. Read on for some tips you can follow to make a career change happen sooner rather than later.

Know Yourself and Your Goals

Many women get stuck because they don’t have enough clarity to make a move. They know they want to do something different, but they haven’t worked out what that is. If you’ve found yourself in this position, do some self-reflection. Consider what passions and hobbies you have as well as personal strengths (e.g. creativity, problem solving, time management, relationship building, organization etc.). Understand your personality type, motivating factors, communication style and more.

Once you’ve done your soul-searching, you should have a much better idea of what you would enjoy doing. Then, research to find a job type that suits. As well, think about your goals. Work out the specific results you’d like to achieve and the timeframe in which you’d like to achieve them.

Get the Qualifications You Need

Many women feel held back in a career they don’t love because they don’t have the necessary qualifications to land a job they’re more interested in. While it’s obviously not a quick, overnight task to get a degree or other certification, it is a relatively straightforward process.

If you’re worried about having the time to commit to a course, keep in mind that there are more flexible learning options available. Most qualifications can be gained through digitally based study, for instance. This enables people to fit in their learning around current work or family commitments.

If the timeframe involved in getting a degree concerns you, keep in mind that there are often ways to fast-track studies. If, for example, you want to get into a management position, you might be concerned about how long it takes to get an MBA degree. While the standard timeline is around two years, you may find you can get credits for prior learning/experience, or you may be able to complete the program in less time by taking more subjects per semester.

The same goes for degrees in other areas. Also, find out if you can combine degrees if you plan to study two programs, and take additional units during summer breaks and other periods to fast-track your way through.

Increase Your Confidence

A big career sticking point for many women is a lack of confidence. Ladies stay in a job they don’t like for a long time because they don’t have enough self-esteem to convince themselves to do something new. This lack of self-belief can not only stop people from applying for jobs but also lead to interviews not going so well, often because of an inability to “sell” themselves.

Workers doubt themselves for all sorts of reasons. For instance, you might be worried about your skill level, intellect, networking ability, looks, weight, age, social abilities or some other factor. To get around this, examine your beliefs. Work out where your lack of confidence is stemming from (you may need to get help from a mental health practitioner with this), and then take steps to address it. You could, for instance, get some counseling, hire a stylist to help you get a new look, join a gym, practice your public-speaking skills through an organization like Toastmasters and so on.

Get Your Finances in Order

Lastly, if you’re like a lot of people staying in a lackluster job, it’s because you’re worried about money. Concerns about finances when having to retrain and then work your way up in a whole new field stop a lot of people from taking the plunge into a different career.

While this is understandable, it doesn’t have to constrict you forever. You might set yourself a savings plan and get together enough funds over a year or two to tide you over while you transition, for example. As well, see if you can get financial assistance to go back to university if needed. You may get scholarships, financial aid or even support from your current employer.