So you’re looking to change your career? Before you commit to anything, do know that doing that isn’t easy. Not only can career changes be extremely difficult, but they might result in more frustration. But that doesn’t mean people aren’t willing to commit to doing it. A recent survey from Business Wire found that 65% of employees in their 20s are eager for a new change.
While it’s certainly not late to do so, make sure to avoid making these 6 mistakes.
Making A Hasty Decision
So you might’ve read somewhere on the internet that certain jobs pay well. Well before quitting your job for the chance of working else for a bigger salary, you should do your research. Research is important before getting into any sort of business. You might feel entrepreneurship is your calling, but you can’t launch a startup without an idea. Even if you do have an idea, you should research everything about it. From researching whether or not there is a need for your product to how to lower costs, the best way to approach a career change is to be patient about it.
Getting Swayed By Huge Salaries
This is the easiest way to make a hasty decision, but this is a whole problem on its own. Many people change careers because of earning potential. But basic the decision solely on that is a huge mistake to avoid making. Not only can a high-paying salary make you feel unfulfilled, but do you even have the skills to do it?
While the article will focus mostly on mistakes to avoid, you should always look at career paths that interest you, provide you with value, and match your skills. Working a job that pays well is good and all, but will that fulfill your life?
Not Understanding the Demand
We keep coming back to the same point – most people switch careers for earning potential. Most people also go on Google and look up what the best jobs for most earning potential are. And when tons of people do it, ignoring the demand for the role is a common mistake. This is, once again, one of the biggest mistakes you can make when switching careers.
Everyone should research the demand for a particular career path they’re interested in. By simply visiting the US Burau Of Labor Statistics, you’ll get a better sense of what the median pay for a particular job is, what’s the projected growth rate, the number of new jobs, etc. These are vital information that will help you determine if risking your current job is worth the switch.
Quitting Too Early
No one should tell you whether or not you should quit your job. But one mistake you hate making is quitting your current job without lining up a replacement. This is probably the rashest decision you could make when looking to change a career. You might hate working your job, but you still have to eat.
Not only that, but the last thing you want before entering a new job is a gap on your resume. The reason why that’s the case is that you’ll be asked about it on next job interview. What employers value are hard-working workers. If they notice a gap on your resume, they might think something’s up.
Getting Another Degree
You might be asking whether or not getting a degree is a smart move. This is especially important if you’re thinking of a career change. Some career paths will likely ask you to meet certain educational requirements. When that’s the case, the obvious choice is to go back to school. But you shouldn’t do it at once. Instead, you need to figure out whether or not getting another degree will benefit your job prospects and increase your monthly income.
Even if you do obtain the degree relatively quick, nothing guarantees you’ll land the dream job. When that happens, the last thing you want is to spend years and thousands of dollars by taking another student loan for a degree that doesn’t really pay that well.
Not Tailoring Your New Resume
Potential new employers won’t care that you have 10 years of experience working as a sales manager when trying to apply for a job as an IT technician. While any previous working experience is good experience, your employers have no use of your sales skills when they’re looking for a developer. That’s why you need to start tailoring your new resume to reflect the job you’re looking for.
To do that, you will need to add the relevant skills that can indeed be applicable, such as being a team worker, having excellent communication skills, etc. All other skills need to be thrown out from your resume as they bring no value to the table.