If you’re thinking about doing the difficult task of switching careers, take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. A poll of 1,000 consumers conducted a few years ago by nonprofit online learning resource edX revealed that as many as 32 percent of the respondents, aged 25 to 44, were considered switching careers at the time. A further 29 percent of respondents had already gone through a career change since their first job out of college. Several reasons factored into their desire to shift careers, but one of the top reasons was the potential for a salary increase (39 percent).
In the Philippines, a 2018 survey whose findings were reported in SunStar Cebu revealed that 89 percent of professionals with over 15 years of experience expressed a desire to switch career paths. As with the edX poll mentioned above, the primary reason was financial gain. As for fresh graduates, their motivation to switch was often driven by their desire to expand their skills.
As much as it may seem like the logical thing to do, especially if you think you’ve hit your ceiling and want to make a better income, it’s never easy to change careers. This type of transition often demands a significant investment in terms of time and money, for example for training and industry-approved certifications. There’s also no sugarcoating the fact that you may be risking a career you’ve built for years. What, then, should you do to end up in a career that fits your lifestyle and personal circumstances better than your current career does?
To find lucrative and rewarding Philippine jobs in a new field, entailing new responsibilities, here’s what you should do:
1) Assess Yourself
The first step you should take towards transitioning to a new career is to assess yourself thoroughly. Take the time to reflect on your current skills, strengths, weaknesses, values, and interests. Are there skills you already have that could still be useful for your next career? What do you need to work on to fulfill a new role in a certain field?
Consider what you enjoy doing and what aligns with your long-term career goals. To illustrate, try using the Japanese concept of Ikigai to find your ideal career. The Venn diagram associated with Ikigai encourages one to identify the intersection of what they love, what they need, what their skills are, and where the best opportunities lie for them. This may give you a better idea of which exact career will fulfill your passion and earn you a good living.
2) Explore Your Current Options
Next, once you have a clear understanding of your strengths and interests at this moment in time, you can explore job opportunities that align with these.
Research different industries, roles, and companies to determine where your present skills and experience can be best utilized. Go outside your comfort zone and consider fields or roles that you may not have heard about a few years ago, as these may be where your best opportunities are.
Also see which companies offer remote or hybrid positions. These are especially abundant for media, arts, education, business process outsourcing (BPO), or web development services positions. If you’re a parent, this could make a significant difference when it comes to securing a career that fits your needs as both a breadwinner and caretaker to your kids.
3) Network with People
Another thing you should do before you jump into a new career is to connect with professionals in your desired industry through networking events like industry conferences and conventions. You might also be able to meet future mentors and colleagues using online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Once you find someone who’s willing to give you a few minutes of their time, you can ask them for informational interviews.
It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to build relationships with people already working in the industry. They can provide valuable insights and advice about your new career, and they may also be able to help you find potential job opportunities. Be courteous and tactful to whoever you meet while networking, and if you receive advice or a recommendation that’s helpful to your change in career, don’t forget to express gratitude.
4) Acquire New Skills with Training
Depending on the requirements of your target career, you may need to acquire new skills or qualifications and add to the ones you already have. Fortunately, with so many free or affordable courses and training programs available online, there may be no need to actually attend a physical class to upskill yourself.
Are you aiming to be a programmer? Then, you need to study the fundamentals of coding and the programming language you’re interested in. If you’re interested in data science, on the other hand, you can enroll in basic and advanced courses online. Consider enrolling in other training programs, seminars, courses, or certification programs to enhance your skill set and increase your marketability in the job market for your new career.
5) Consider Taking Freelancing Jobs First
Before fully committing to a new career path, you can also consider taking on freelancing or part-time roles in your desired field. Freelancing can provide you with valuable hands-on experience, help you build a portfolio, and test the waters before making a permanent career change. It’s also a low-risk way to explore new opportunities and gain insights into the industry while still being able to put away some income.
6) Create a Transition Plan
A successful career change requires both careful planning and careful execution. It’s in your best interest to put together a detailed transition plan that outlines your goals, timeline, and action steps for switching careers.
Set achievable milestones to track your progress and keep yourself accountable throughout the process. For example, you can dedicate a month or two to focusing on networking opportunities, and another couple of months to finish a certification program. Having a clear roadmap for the things you need to do during your transition will help you stay motivated and on the mark towards your new career goals.
To change careers right now might be one of the smartest things you’ll ever do, but you’ll have to be sufficiently prepared. Take the suggestions above to ready yourself for such a big change and to increase your chances of making good on the career change.
