Did you know that the average person will change careers five to seven times in a lifetime? Not just a new job, but a completely new field. For example, leaving a marketing position for accounting or moving from manufacturing to retail.
If you’re considering a career change, these tips can get you on the right path.
Understand yourself. Take time for self-reflection. What are your passions, strengths and weaknesses? Not sure where to begin? You can find many free, online self-assessments to get started. Check out the 16 Personalities assessment that combines aspects of a few popular personality-type tests into one.
Assess your skills. Do have any transferrable skills? These are skills that were gained in one job that can apply to another one, even in a different industry. They can include time-management, good communication skills and attention to detail. The free online resource, O*Net OnLine, can help you figure out what transferrable skills you have.
Find the right fit. Explore the skills and traits needed for the jobs you are interested in and compare those to your current skills as well as what you’re looking for in a job. Do they match? Pure Michigan Talent Connect offers the Career Explorer tool that matches your interests and skills with the best career for you.
Use the right resume format. A chronological resume focuses on your work history. This format works well when looking for a new job within the same field because it shows you have specific experience in a similar position. A functional resume focuses more on your transferrable skills and abilities. This format will allow you to highlight the skills you can bring into a new career, even if you haven’t worked in that field before.
Network. Do you know anyone who is already working in the field? Would they be willing to provide a reference, or do they know of current job openings? Join a professional network in the field and attend local networking events. Prepare a strong elevator speech to let your new connections know why you want a new career.
Want to learn more? Check out this video to get more in-depth, expert advice from West Michigan Works! career coach, Mark.
The career coaches at any Michigan Works! service center can also help you understand your skills, explore career options, build your resume and much more. Visit a service center near you to get started!
Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.
