10 Strategies for a Successful Career Transition (Part1)

10 Strategies for a Successful Career Transition (Part 1)

Have you ever felt that you were born to achieve something big? Have you ever felt the need to work for a company or a person you admire? Are you happy with your current job? Do you imagine yourself working there for the rest of your life?

These are questions that you need to ask yourself. And If you are not happy with your answers, then you should start thinking about changing your career. But before we start, ask yourself one more question: “Why haven’t I done that already?” Is it the fear of the unknown? Are you afraid of not finding another job? The fear of getting out of your comfort zone? Here are 10 Strategies for a successful career transition.

1. “Taste” different things

But Jim, how can I change careers if I don’t know exactly what my passion is, and what I want to do for the rest of my life? If you are not married, if you don’t have family obligations, and you are not in debt, you can try out different jobs to find out what job you like (office work, manual labor, etc.). Don’t be afraid to take risks, otherwise if you stay in your comfort zone, you won’t be able to “find your passion”. But what happens if I have a family to feed, bills to pay, and “going all in” is not a good option for me? Then you can start by doing different things as a side hustle. For example, if you like web development you can start developing sites for companies, or if you like drawing, you can create designs for T-shirts, or whatever it is, you can sell your products or services online. Keep your main job to pay your bills, until your “passion” becomes your full-time job. And trust me, when this will happen, your life will dramatically change for the better. 

2. Identify your skills / Develop new skills.

Ask yourself: “What skills do I need to have to pursue the career I want? What do I have to add to my skill set? What new habits do I have to develop? There are plenty of good online courses for anyone who wants to broaden their knowledge and career perspectives. As Mahatma Gandhi said:

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

3. Networking

You can let the people in your network know about your career change intentions. You never know – you might end up working for someone from your network or even becoming business partners. Attending networking events is also a great way to expand your network and learn more about the career you want to pursue. You can gain a lot of experience and valuable information from these events. But remember, when you meet new people, don’t ask immediately for a job. The goal is to build long-relationships with potential employers or business partners.

4. Informational Interviews

Interview people who are successful in the career you want to pursue. You can set up a meeting for coffee or lunch (whatever time works for them) and ask them to share their story with you. Not only you will get great value, but it will also play a key role in your career’s path.

To be continued….

Feel free to connect with me on Facebook and LinkedIn by visiting my personal site here JimPanos360.com