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Naomi Rothwell-Boyd, February 22 2023

How Do I Find The Right Career For Me? Best Ways to Navigate a Change

Are you stuck in a career that no longer fulfils your needs? Do you find yourself questioning, "Should I seek a more suitable career?" It's time to take the plunge and guarantee your professional life is on track for achievement. But how do you go about changing careers? To make sure your professional life is headed in the right direction, it's essential to reflect on where you are currently and set achievable objectives.

Through careful research into different career paths, networking with professionals in related fields, and taking calculated risks when necessary; finding the perfect job can become achievable. Follow our guide on “do I find the right career for me” as we explore these topics further.

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Rank Your Priorities

Realising what is desired and essential for the next occupation can be vital to making a successful career transition. It’s important to take the time to assess your skills, interests, values, and goals in order to prioritise what matters most.

Whether you're considering a career change or just entering the job market for the first time, it's important to think about what really matters to you in terms of work. Identifying your personal priorities and ranking them is a great way to understand which jobs will be right for you in the long term.

When looking at new jobs, there are a few key factors to consider which will give you a good idea of whether they’re suitable for your lifestyle:

Work-Life Balance: Having an understanding of how much time you'd be willing to commit to work is essential. How flexible are the hours? Will there be enough free time each week for leisure activities? Be sure to factor this into your decision.

Finances: Working out what kind of salary range you’d need depends on how much income is needed to pay bills and provide for yourself or family. Take into account living costs, rent and other expenses when evaluating potential earning potential from any new role.

Family Time: If family is an important part of life, then try to find an employer who values work-life balance too, or that might offer benefits such as flexible working hours with remote working options.

Commute: One often overlooked aspect when it comes to job hunting is commute time. Consider factors such as distance from home, available public transport links or car parking (if required). A long commute can have an adverse effect on your wellbeing so make sure it’s taken into consideration before starting a new job.

By taking the time to rank these core areas according to their importance, along with any other criteria which may be specific to your situation, you’ll quickly get an insight into which roles best suit not just your skill set but also your needs outside of work too. It's important that we choose our careers mindfully and with purpose – so take the time now and make sure any decisions align with where you want your life to go in the future

Key Takeaway: Transitioning to a new career may seem intimidating, yet with a positive attitude and resolve you can realise your ideal job. Evaluating your talents, exploring job prospects, connecting with knowledgeable people in the field and venturing into uncharted territory are all key components to achieving success when pursuing a different career.

Assess Your Skills and Interests

Assessing your skills and interests is essential when considering a career change. Understanding what drives you and in which environment your abilities can flourish is a crucial factor when thinking of transitioning to a new career.

First, it’s wise to identify the areas in which you excel. This could include technical abilities such as coding or design, interpersonal communication skills, leadership qualities or problem-solving abilities. Once you have identified these strengths, make sure they align with the career path you are considering pursuing.

Next, consider your interests and passions outside of work - this can help narrow down potential job roles that might suit your lifestyle best. For example if you love traveling but don't want to commit to a 9-5 office job then perhaps remote working would be an ideal option for you? Or if there’s something specific that really gets your juices flowing – like art or writing – then why not look into ways in which those passions could become part of your professional life?

Finally reflect on the type of workplace culture that would fit with who you are; do prefer a more collaborative approach where ideas are shared openly or do thrive in competitive environments? Thinking about these questions can help ensure that whatever career move is made is one which suits both professionally and personally.

Eventually, it's about assessing one's self; grasping the components of our being to make informed and assured decisions for the future.

Evaluating your aptitudes and interests is the initial move towards discovering a profession that will be both satisfying and prosperous. By researching different career paths, you can gain insight into potential opportunities that may align with your individual talents and passions.

Key Takeaway: Evaluating one's capabilities, inclinations and enthusiasm is critical when settling on a professional way. Gaining an understanding of your strengths and preferences can help to ensure that any career transition is made with certainty. Reflection on workplace culture can also help ensure it aligns with who we are as individuals - because after all, there’s no point trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Research Different Career Paths

When it comes to researching different career paths, there are several important steps you should take. First, assess your skills and interests. Evaluate what you appreciate engaging in and the kind of workspace that would be most suitable for you. Weigh up the kind of occupation that could bring you fulfilment or gratification. Make sure to also consider any relevant certifications or degrees that may be necessary for certain positions.

Next, research the various career paths available to you based on your skills and interests. Look into job descriptions, salary ranges, educational requirements, and other important information related to each potential career path. This will help narrow down which options are best suited for your goals and lifestyle needs. Utilising websites like LinkedIn or Glassdoor, you can gain an understanding of what a job's daily duties are as well as the salary for that position across different sectors.

Connecting with individuals in the field who have experience with a certain job or company you're interested in can provide invaluable advice on transitioning from one role to another, whether within the same industry or changing industries. Reach out to professionals in the field who have experience with particular jobs or companies that interest you so they can provide firsthand advice on how their own experiences went when transitioning from one role to another within the same industry or changing industries altogether if applicable.

Don't hesitate to take a prudent gamble when pondering a new career direction. This doesn't mean quitting your current job without having something else lined up. Take time off if possible or look into flexible working arrangements so that you can explore potential opportunities while still earning an income until something more permanent comes along. This will allow some breathing room during the transition period while reducing financial stress at the same time.

Researching different career paths can be an intimidating task, but it is essential to finding the right job for you. Making contacts in your industry can provide valuable knowledge on available positions and also help build relationships that may facilitate career growth.

Key Takeaway: As an advanced level professional, it is important to assess your skills and interests before researching potential career paths. Use online resources as well as networking with experienced professionals in the field for more insight into different jobs. Don't be afraid to take a calculated risk when transitioning from one role to another - after all, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Network with Professionals in Your Field

Networking is a critical part of any successful career change. It’s important to reach out to professionals in the field you are interested in and ask them questions about their experience and advice on how to get started. By networking, you can not only gain valuable knowledge about the industry but also create connections that may be advantageous for your future career opportunities.

Start by researching potential contacts who have knowledge or expertise related to the new career path you want to pursue. Look up LinkedIn profiles, professional organizations, conferences and other networking events that may help connect you with people in your chosen field. Reach out via email or social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook if possible – don’t be afraid to introduce yourself.

When talking with these professionals, it’s important to come prepared with thoughtful questions that will give you an understanding of what working in their particular field entails day-to-day. Ask about job requirements such as education level or certifications needed; inquire about salary ranges; find out what challenges they faced when transitioning from one role or industry into another; explore which skillsets are most sought after; etc This information can provide invaluable guidance when deciding whether a certain career move is right for you.

Another great way of networking is attending relevant conferences and seminars hosted by local universities or business associations – here's where many experienced professionals congregate so it's a great opportunity for face-to-face interactions and exchanging ideas. Even just participating in online forums dedicated towards discussing topics related to your desired profession can open doors for connecting with knowledgeable individuals who have been there before - take advantage of these resources whenever possible.

Finally, remember that networking isn't only about getting advice from others but also giving back too - offer support wherever possible (e.g., providing helpful tips) even if it doesn't directly benefit your own goals at first glance. This type of generosity will go far beyond simply making connections and create lasting relationships within the community which could eventually lead down paths never imagined before.

Interacting with industry experts can offer valuable insight into potential career paths and establish strong connections. Exploring options by taking a calculated gamble can help ensure you make an educated choice about the best career for yourself.

Key Takeaway: Networking is essential for any career transition, so it's important to connect with experts in the area of interest. By doing your research, attending events and participating in online forums related to your desired profession, you can gain valuable insight into what working there entails day-to-day - as well as create meaningful relationships that could pay dividends down the road.

Take a Sensible Risk

When it comes to taking a sensible risk, it’s important to have a plan. It's not wise to just jump into something without considering the potential outcomes and consequences. Think of it like jumping out of an airplane: you wouldn't do that without having a parachute on your back.

Before making any big decisions, assess your skills and interests. What are you good at? What motivates you? Answering these queries could be instrumental in deciding which career routes may fit you best. Research different options available in the field before making any commitments - find out what kind of jobs are available and what qualifications or experience is needed for them.

Once you have an idea of which path is suitable for your career goals, begin networking with experienced industry professionals to gain insight into their journey and receive tips on how to make yourself a standout candidate. Once you have an idea of which path is right for you, start networking with professionals to gain insight into their career journeys and discover how to make yourself stand out from other applicants. Reaching out to those who have gone through comparable journeys could be hugely advantageous; they may even be able to suggest job openings or provide contacts that can open up potential chances.

Finally, don’t let fear stop you from taking risks when pursuing a new career path – take calculated risks but don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone if necessary. You never know what amazing things might come up if only give yourself permission to explore possibilities beyond what's familiar or expected. So go ahead and “bite off more than you can chew” - sometimes we need that extra push in order to reach our full potential.

Uncover how to change your career today with our quick assessment quiz even if you don't know where to start - TRY PATHFINDER NOW

Conclusion

Selecting the correct vocation can be a daunting task, but by carefully examining your abilities and passions, you can discover an occupation that will bring satisfaction. When figuring out your future, it's critical to order your preferences so that they line up with possible jobs. 

Take time to network with professionals in your field as well as researching different paths available before making any decisions. It may be tempting to jump into something new without considering all aspects of the change; however, if you take a sensible risk by weighing out pros and cons carefully beforehand then "do I find the right career for me" could become an easier question than anticipated.

Author: Naomi Rothwell-Boyd

Naomi is the founder of Tribe And Seek and an EMCC and CIPD accredited career coach specialising in career change. 

Her career advice comes from her work alongside ex-olympic athletes supporting corporate clients like Kraft Heinz, and creating leadership courses at the Duke Of Edinburgh's Award.

She also left a previous career in international development consulting behind, where she led UK corporate fundraising at Habitat For Humanity.


Written by

Naomi Rothwell-Boyd

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