Step 1: Explore the options available
Before taking any steps, you should first look around. And make sure you explore the wide range of categories (remote work, tech jobs, finance jobs) to understand the nuances of specific positions. Vincenzo Repasi, a senior coach at LOVR Atlantic who helps his clients with career transitions, emphasizes that finding a new niche is the first vital step when you are preparing for a career change, but don't forget to mention that this step should be approached wisely.
"A lot of the advice says you should follow your dreams, and sometimes that's a really good idea," says Repasi. “However, often this approach complicates retirement and turns your passion into a poorly paid routine.” Instead, Repasi's advice is to do as Ramanathan did, focusing on identifying the opportunities available and your interests in which you have expertise and a competitive advantage.
Step 2: Determine what, who and why
Sarah Johnston, who is a job search strategist and founder of Briefcase Coash, recommends that people who want to change their careers be very specific about their next steps. there is no clear understanding of their next steps, or that they are too open - very often I hear phrases: 'I want to do X, X and X', ”says Johnston. “Job seekers who know what they are looking for (position, opportunities, and so on), who search for those opportunities (definition of the company or specific hiring managers), and know why they are uniquely qualified for those opportunities are significantly more likely to complete their search with success.
Step 3: Conduct Informational Interviews Before Interviewing
Another way to gain insight into whether a particular career is right for you, beyond volunteer work and trial runs, is to talk to professionals who are already working in the field that interests you.
“Get them coffee and ask them about their jobs, their responsibilities, what they enjoy and what they struggle with in their position,” says Vincenzo Repasi, Senior Coach at LOVR Atlantic. "If you're not impressed with that prospect, then you shouldn't go any further."
Amanda Holdsworth, founder of Courses for Communicators, has a lot of informational interviewing experience, having experienced a career transition herself in an industry where she now helps others do the same.
“I worked as a full-time director of communications, making six figures, and then I went to work as an assistant professor (earning half of the previous amount,” she said. “Then I worked as a consultant, career coach and online entrepreneur.” The reason for such a big change was that, despite a good salary, she felt "burnt out" as director of communications. "I left the house at 7 am and did not return there until 6:15 pm or even late at night," Holdsworth said. "I forgot about her girlish affairs and experienced constant stress.
But after becoming an assistant professor, the university where she worked unexpectedly cut a number of professorships - including her position. This gave her the impetus to move fully into consulting and entrepreneurship, where she would have more control over her livelihood.
Holdsworth believes that once you've found a career path that interests you, informational interviews are a great way to get an inside look at positions and what kind of candidates are landing (and they can also help you land a job).
She recommends adding the following two questions to the list of questions above:
If you were looking for a person for this position today, what would the candidate be like?
What skills does a candidate need to get this job?
Johnston agrees with this idea. “Job seekers who invest effort into informational interviews during the transition – and I'm not talking about just one interview – are more likely to get the job they want than job seekers who only apply online,” she said. “I myself have seen informational interviews open completely unexpected doors for my clients.”
<em>I hope this helps you)</em>