Ana Andreeva 2m 583 #career
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Many adults of working age find that they become stuck in a certain job during their career. Office workers, for example, may no longer enjoy doing routine tasks such as answering emails and administering various parts of the business operations. In addition, the 9-5 working routine may not be suitable for all personality types. If you have found that you no longer enjoy your job or even the industry that you work in, it may be time to consider a career change. Plotting a new career path can be an exciting venture of self-discovery; however, you may not always know which route to take.
Thankfully, this short guide will be of assistance. In it, some key strategies will be explored. These can help you to understand where your skills lie, and which industries may need them. In addition, the power of effective networking will be explored along with the importance of creating a well-produced résumé.
Understand your skillset
The importance of understanding your unique skillset cannot be underestimated when planning a career change. Put simply, you are more likely to enjoy your new career if it requires key skills that you already possess and enjoy using.
Think about the tasks and activities that you enjoy in your current or previous roles and what skills were required to undertake them effectively. It can be beneficial to make a ranked list of your key soft, hard, and technical skills and then find jobs that require these. For example, if you discover that you have a highly practical skillset and enjoy the thought of building or managing projects, the construction industry may be the perfect new job route. In this case, search online for construction job openings and see if your skills reflect what is required in the industry.
The construction industry is currently in a period of growth and has many roles for staff who have highly developed practical skills. Many people find that they relish the idea of hands-on roles after years spent in an office environment; the change of career can be invigorating and motivating.
Network effectively
When you have listed your skills and got a clear indication of the types of industries that would be suitable, it is time to understanding your unique skillset: identify if any job fairs in your locality have representatives from the sector of interest; speak to the delegates and be confident in outlining your key skills that they would value.
In addition, it can be beneficial to contact firms of interest proactively (i.e., even before a job advert is placed). Many employers respect workers who seek out their company for employment. Even if they do not have any current openings, they may keep your details on file and contact you as soon as a new role is created.
Perfect your Résumé
Briefly, it is vitally important to take the time and effort to create a succinct but professional résumé that illustrates your skills, knowledge, and experience. It should include a summary section along with your academic achievements and skills gained in work. Ideally, you will have undertaken regular training schemes and academic programs, demonstrating that you have committed to a philosophy of lifelong learning.
Remember that there is no specific length for your résumé; a lot depends on your circumstances and years of work. One page may be sufficient if you have had a relatively short working life and longer may be appropriate if you have highly developed skills gained over time.
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