Switching careers is a daunting process. We all know it’s not easy to get a job, so when you’ve gone through the long process of becoming qualified for and landing one, it can be frustrating to realize it’s not the line of work you want to stay in. And starting over is never easy.
The move to a new career requires some work, but once you land a job you’re more interested in, it’ll be worth everything you put into it. If you’re not looking to go back to school, there are plenty of roles out there that require different kinds of training. If you’re interested in becoming a personal trainer, for example, you can take training courses online that come with an ace study guide and practice exams for your certification. To become a flight attendant or a massage therapist, the process looks a little different. But regardless of what direction you want to head in next, here are a few universal tips as you begin your journey to a new career.
Network, Network, Network
This one took me a while to get behind, but I’ve since realized it’s one of the best free resources we have when it comes to getting a new job. Networking can be anything from a casual conversation about somebody’s work at an event to asking for a referral to someone’s company, but it all starts with some friendly chat. Navigating these conversations can be intimidating at first; you might be thinking, do I sound desperate? Do I sound like I’m using this person for help getting a job? But in truth, people want to help a lot more than you’d expect, and most people are happy to give you any information you’re looking for about what their career and company is like.
So use your connections. Talk to your friends and peers about their jobs if you think you’re interested in their line of work. Get an honest opinion on what working in that role or for that company looks like, and decide from there if you’re interested in pursuing it further and if you may eventually return to them for a referral. But it all starts with a simple, casual conversation.
Do Your Research
One thing I learned as I entered the professional world is that there are so many kinds of jobs and careers out there. It’s easy to cling onto a few titles or lines of work. Law, finance, medical – we all have a list of careers that come to mind first when we think of desirable jobs. But in reality, there are millions of roles out there that need to be filled, and most of them you probably don’t even know exist, let alone what the day-to-day looks like.
So take quizzes online about careers that align with your skills and interests. Network, like we mentioned above. Research what kind of jobs are out there and what each entails and develop a list of some that sound appealing and attainable to you. You could also start by researching companies or brands you know you like and seeing if they have any openings in roles you could land. Either way, it’s important to gain an understanding of the types of jobs that you feel you’d be interested in. It’s probably a much longer list than you’d expect.
Consider Education & Credentials Needed
Of course, you can’t just land a new job without fulfilling the requirements for that position, so it’s important to take into consideration what’s attainable for you as you build a list of potential new careers. Are you interested in getting a formal education for a new job? Would you go to college or get a graduate degree for a position? If not, don’t fear. There are plenty of jobs out there that don’t require you to enroll in a university.
Personal trainers are a great example to use for those interested in a career switch that doesn’t require hundreds of thousands of dollars and a new college degree. As we mentioned above, if you research the process of becoming a personal trainer, you’ll find that the process involves studying, an exam, and then hopefully a certification. This can all be done on your own time, and though you could technically take the exam without going through a study course, we recommend opting for a little guidance, like the ACE study guide or the equivalent for a different role. And again, personal training is just one example of a new career that doesn’t require a new degree. There are thousands of other options for roles that require you to pass an exam or take a single course to get certified.
Volunteer or Shadow
Once you’ve narrowed down your list to some attainable careers that you’re interested in, you should check out what a day’s like on the job, if possible. Many jobs allow shadows, meaning you’d spend the day just hanging out with someone in the position you’re interested in to see what their day-to-day tasks and schedule look like. And some jobs are available as volunteer work, so you could actually get to experience what it’s like taking on that role before you decide whether or not you want to pursue it. Whichever it is, if you have the opportunity to experience that line of work in one way or another before committing to it, we recommend doing so. It’s a lot easier to tell if a job is for you when you’ve actually spent a day or two doing it.
Find Online Materials
If you’ve done the networking, researching, and hopefully even the shadowing, and you’ve found a career you’re interested in pursuing, it’s time to find materials online to help you land the job. Of course, what’s available to you online depends on the job you’re after. Continuing with the example of a personal trainer, there are numerous websites and courses online dedicated to preparing people for the exam and certification. You can find ACE study guides, courses to pass the NASM exam, and guidance through the entire study process to keep you on track.
The ACE study guides and practice tests are just one example of the materials available online for a major career switch. You can also take courses online to become a massage therapist or a real estate agent, among other things. And regardless of what the official certification process looks like, there will likely be plenty of materials online to get you there, from guided studying to practice tests and even one-on-one mentoring.
Don’t Doubt Yourself!
As we’ve mentioned, switching careers can be tough. It’s intimidating to leave what you know behind and try something new, especially if the new role requires more than just an application. But it’s also well worth it. We spend most of our day-to-day lives working; we have to, in order to afford to live, but that doesn’t mean it should be miserable. If you’re unhappy in your current position, just know that there are thousands of other jobs out there waiting for you, and with the internet on our side, you’re more equipped than ever to go make one of them yours. Utilize free materials online, enroll in a course that’ll help guide you through certification preparation, and even when it’s tough and intimidating, just remember it’ll be worth it once you land yourself a job you’re passionate about.
Amanda Dudley is a lecturer and writer with a Ph.D. in History from Stanford University. After earning her doctorate in 2001, she decided to pursue a fulfilling career in the educational sector. So far, she has made giant strides by working as an essay writer for EssayUSA, where she delivers high-quality academic papers to students who need them.