At one point or another you may have found yourself thinking about switching jobs, or even careers. Maybe you want a new environment, a new experience or a new lifestyle — but you tell yourself not to be silly trading years of hard work just for something… new. Midlife crises are normal, you think — but not all of them result in a mid-career switch.
Practically, there are indeed many career switch cons — but choosing what you truly want for yourself is never wrong or an impossibility. In fact, you might find it helpful to know that there are ways in which you can make that switch easier without jumping in head first.
Keep in mind that, like many things, learning to be smart about it can heavily improve your chances of success instead of jeopardising your career!
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Text: Abigail Wong/The New Savvy
As the saying goes, those who fail to plan are planning to fail. While this is not true in every case, planning beforehand can get you a long way. Better be sure than sorry, right?
So how exactly do plan for a mid-career reinvention? By going back to the basics. Grab a pen and paper, and write down all the facts:
- Is money a big factor? If not, then there is more room for you to take bigger risks. Otherwise, maybe you will have to take things slowly, step by step.
- When are you planning to retire? If you have a decade and more ahead of you, then you can be more flexible on your reinvention and can make bigger changes. If you only have a few more years before retirement, consider opting for a smaller reinvention.
- Do you have a lot of resources? What kind of resources do you have?
Based on your answers to questions like these, you should be able to create a timeline. This timeline should serve not only as your schedule but as a reminder of your goals. Set a deadline for each goal/task, and reward yourself with little somethings whenever you cross a certain number off the list. Such habits help boost your motivation and determination to face the other tasks ahead.
Learn from the stories of other people – those you know and those you can read on magazines and books or the Internet. Many tend to underestimate the power of listening to others’ stories, when really, they are not only a good source of motivation and inspiration but they can also serve as guides as you plan and make decisions in your new career path. So don’t be afraid to ask a friend or invite a colleague to lunch to discuss these ideas.
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Identify the new skills you need in order to survive and succeed in the new course of work you are about to undertake. Your approach on developing these skills varies depending on your background knowledge and your current level on each skills. Consider the following options:
- Take formal classes: While this is not always necessary, this is the best way to go if your new career path requires some sort of certification. This is probably the most costly option, but it’ll benefit you in the long run.
- Take online classes: This is an option if your schedule is more complicated, as it relieves you of having to be physically present. Some online classes are free while others require payment; you have to research to find the free ones. Once you do find these, it would be better to enroll early so you can save yourself a spot.
- Get a sideline job: Make sure you can develop the said skills in this job. This is a good option if you have some free time and want to earn while you are learning.
- Read up: This is less costly and perhaps less time consuming than going to classes, but this means you have to have the patience and determination to really absorb and understand these, to really finish these books, and to practice the skills that they teach you.
On the flip side, you should also be able to identify your current skills and to bring to mind the past lessons you’ve learned from your former career. Do this no matter how irrelevant you think your past career is to the new course you are taking.
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You can’t do it all by yourself, and that’s the truth you have to accept, especially if you are in the midst of a career reinvention. You will have to ask for help from others one way or another, so always take the opportunity to expand your network effectively and fill it with skillful people from various fields and expertise.
In order to succeed in a certain field, especially one that is new grounds to you, you have to find the right people. If you are planning to start a new venture, this is a necessity; you’ll need a lot of people working for and with you, and network can fill these positions or at the very least help you find qualified people who will.
Networking is not as difficult as you might think; in fact, it is a practice you can do on a daily basis! Here are some tips to help you become a better people person.
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You are in a new field, and you are probably thinking that there are many people more qualified than you. But do not be limited by such thinking. More than certifications and past experiences, persistence, enthusiasm, and dedication pay off.
Accept that there will be rejections and failures on your journey to reinvention, and that is okay. Instead of seeing them as mere setbacks, perceive them as stepping stones towards the realisation of your goals and learn from them instead. Ask yourself: what did I do wrong this time? How can I improve to increase my chances of succeeding?
More importantly, you have to stop doubting yourself and start believing in your capabilities. Stop thinking it’s impossible – everything is impossible if we keep on thinking it is. Just do it and see for yourself! This is perhaps the most important step because you have to be able to be confident and project this confidence so that others – family, friends, colleagues – will be even more willing to help you get to the top. Surround yourself with people who will support you and at the same time, are willing to correct and guide you along the way.
Gif from GIPHY
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