Your first job does not necessarily have to be your dream job. More often than not, people find themselves stuck in the wrong profession the first time around. What do you do when faced with such a situation? Do you give up all hopes and accept this as a brutal blow of fate and carry on? You do not even have to wait to know the right answer to that question. If you, for some reason, hate going to work every single day and feel that you are capable of doing much better in your professional career, it is time to switch.
Career Change – Do Not Rush into it or Delay it Unnecessarily
It is quite possible that the career you are in right now is the one that you have always wanted. It is also possible that it is only after being in this profession that you have started realizing that you do not want to do this anymore. Relax. You are not alone. There are thousands of young professionals who look for a complete change in their career and successfully make the transition too.
Here is a list of five things you need to do before you change your career:
- Ask Yourself ‘Why’ and Answer Honestly – You need to truthfully analyse why you do not want to be in your current profession anymore. You need to know which part of the job bothers you the most. Ask yourself if it Is it the long hours or the lack of rewards or the general disinterest that has caused you to consider a change. Once you have found your answer, it is time to move on to the next step.
- What Do you Really Want to Do – It is possible that you already have something in mind as to what you want to do next. On the other hand, there is also a chance that the only thing you do know now is that you want is a change. If faced with the latter, you need to identify you skill sets first. Assuming that you take your career seriously, having a plan and knowing how to go about it is always a good idea.
- Analyse the Future Prospects – Changing your career at any time in your professional life can be challenging in itself. The challenge only gets more difficult with time. If you have been a professional for a number of years and devoted yourself to a particular profession, you need to be extra careful about making a switch. While we do believe that it is never too late to do what you want, we strongly recommend that you be as sure as possible about the new career that you are choosing to follow.
- Get your Ducks in a Row – A new career means you will need to start over and you need to prepare for that. There is a lot of unlearning that you need to do before you begin to learn or do something new. Ask yourself if you are prepared financially and mentally for a challenge like that. If you have completed step 1, 2, and 3, you need to now start the real prep. if you are quitting a lucrative job for a venture of your own, chalk out the plan, talk to an expert and take help wherever you think you might need it. Your aim should be to make your plan as fool proof as possible.
- Believe in Yourself – Be prepared to give your best to whatever it is that you are planning to do. You might not reach the pinnacle of success as soon as you start over. You might stumble once or twice, hit a roadblock or two, face disappointment here and there; but you never must give up.
Changing your career might seem difficult but it is definitely rewarding if you find your true calling. It is truly gratifying to be able to successfully start over and find a profession that you want to be in for the rest of your career. Follow the steps listed above and prepare yourself for a change that will bring you the professional success you truly strive to achieve.
