Some Guides About Changing Your Career
Most people have multiple career changes during their lifetime. If you know ahead of time that the career you started out it may not be long-term, it is a smart idea to be proactive about your career changes. If you plan for the eventual possibility of a layoff, an unexpected illness, a corporate takeover, a company bankruptcy, or other potential problems of your present career, you can make the change more comfortable for yourself.
Keep together items like your five-year plan, updated resumes, cover letters, business cards, your network and an emergency fund ready in the event of a job crash. By doing the research ahead of time on possible career choices that include your skills, you have the choice during a career change to seek work in your area of expertise or try to transition into another area using the same skills or those that you obtained while you were in your job.
You should put together several copies of your resume. One should be in Word format and have all the format the majority of resumes contain. One should also be electronic and be used for online submissions. Its also good to have a functional resume instead of a traditional one, if you have a lot of years of experience that may make you seem out-dated instead of fresh. This way you can group your skills by job experience rather than dates, making you appear younger at least on paper.
Along with your professional network and other things you do to be ready for a career change, you will find that having an emergency fund is one of the most intelligent decisions you can make. You will want to be able to pay your bills while you transition from one job to another. You will need to cover transportation costs to interviews and continue to portray a professional image, while having no income in many cases.
You will also need to build a professional network. Start to put together a network of professional contacts outside the company as well as within. You never know where your next job opportunity will come from, but it will most likely be from an individual who knows someone wanting to fill a position. Knowing the right people will supply opportunities when you need them most. Remember, preparing ahead of time helps you not only advance in your career but also helps reduce the stresses involved in career change.
Keep together items like your five-year plan, updated resumes, cover letters, business cards, your network and an emergency fund ready in the event of a job crash. By doing the research ahead of time on possible career choices that include your skills, you have the choice during a career change to seek work in your area of expertise or try to transition into another area using the same skills or those that you obtained while you were in your job.
You should put together several copies of your resume. One should be in Word format and have all the format the majority of resumes contain. One should also be electronic and be used for online submissions. Its also good to have a functional resume instead of a traditional one, if you have a lot of years of experience that may make you seem out-dated instead of fresh. This way you can group your skills by job experience rather than dates, making you appear younger at least on paper.
Along with your professional network and other things you do to be ready for a career change, you will find that having an emergency fund is one of the most intelligent decisions you can make. You will want to be able to pay your bills while you transition from one job to another. You will need to cover transportation costs to interviews and continue to portray a professional image, while having no income in many cases.
You will also need to build a professional network. Start to put together a network of professional contacts outside the company as well as within. You never know where your next job opportunity will come from, but it will most likely be from an individual who knows someone wanting to fill a position. Knowing the right people will supply opportunities when you need them most. Remember, preparing ahead of time helps you not only advance in your career but also helps reduce the stresses involved in career change.
