Let’s face it. In a world where things are constantly evolving, a lot of people will be switching careers and industries throughout their lifetime. With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the possibility of remote work, more people are looking at opportunities beyond what used to be the norm.
At Kejar Kerjaya, we believe in making informed decisions. So, here are some important factors that you need to consider when you are thinking about switching careers..
#1 What are your push and pull factors?
Before you start your job search, spend some time to think about and make a list of some of your push and pull factors.
Push factors refer to anything related to your current job or organization that is pushing you out. This can be anything from low pay, lack of development opportunities, stress, and poor leadership or management. On the other hand, pull factors are things that are pulling you towards the new opportunity or job. This range from better pay/benefits, bigger responsibilities, better work-life balance, higher flexibility, or better leadership.
You need to be clear about what your push and pull factors are before you start your new job search. This will allow you to filter new opportunities based on what you are looking for, and helps you to evaluate which opportunities may be aligned with your career goals. The more clear you are about what you are looking for in a new job, the easier the job search can be.
#2 What are your top transferable skills and knowledge?
Some of you may be considering to make an industry switch, such as from engineering to finance or from customer service to education. Whatever your decision is, have a think about what you are good at. A lot of people, especially younger professionals, feel like their skills and experiences are only valid within a certain industry. However, there are a lot of opportunities where you can use your skills and experiences across multiple industries. This is what they call as transferable skills, which is highly sought-after by employers.
For instance, as a customer support executive, you may have had experience working with customers to understand their concerns, help to troubleshoot their problems, and provide multiple solutions to them. The skills you use may be similar to how a teacher helps a student to overcome a learning obstacle in class, or how a consultant works with a client to understand their business’ problems. The context of the situation may be different, but the skills that are used are similar in nature.
#3 What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
With so many trends popping up every now and then, it can be easy to fall into the trap of following what’s in. Before you jump on the latest career wagon and switching careers, have a think about your career goals, both short-term and long-term. Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 20, 30 years? What do you plan to get out of this next job? How can this next career help you to achieve your long-term career goal? Where does it fit in the overall career plan that you have?
You want to make an informed decision about your career to ensure that you are constantly growing and developing. It would be an injustice to yourself if you make a decision without thinking about the possible implications it may have for future growth.
#4 Have you talked about your decision with someone?
More often than not, most people decide to make a career switch without talking to anyone. Of course, it is an individual decision, and ultimately, it is your own choice. However, talking it through with someone can help you to see things from a different perspective. You may also get some advice or support on where to start your next job search. Or, who knows, it may lead to new opportunities that you have never thought of.
And, if possible, have a chat with your current manager about your career growth. A supportive manager will want the best opportunities for their employees to grow and develop, even if it means leaving the team. If you have any concerns about your role (see push factors above), make sure that you have tried to solve the issues by talking to your manager. For instance, if you don’t see any growth opportunities, voice it out to your manager and see if you can seek out new trainings or projects to learn. If it’s an issue of work-life balance or stress, have you tried asking for more flexibility or support? Don’t straight away think about jumping out without trying to find a workable solution within the organization.
Who else can you talk to regarding your decision? A mentor or a career coach can come in handy to help you think through your decision in a structured manner. You may also seek out ex-colleagues or other professionals who have made similar career switches like you are considering to get their advice. You can also utilize platforms like LinkedIn to search for people who are working in the industry to ask for help.
A clear and informed decision can make the process easier.
As our final advice to you – ensure that you have taken all the necessary steps and think about potential implications of switching careers. Do not blindly follow any advice (including ours!) without thinking about how these may affect your life. After all, you are the only one who knows exactly what you are looking for. Other people, including career coaches, can only weigh in and give their suggestions or guidance. But ultimately, the decision is up to you.
Check out our career coaching packages and shoot us an email if you would like to find out more about our coaching packages.