Want a Career Change in 4 Simple Steps?
A career change can feel daunting. Even just thinking about it can leave you feeling paralysed, overwhelmed by options and not sure which direction to start looking in. This is especially common due to the post-pandemic boom in remote working opportunities. With the ability to work from your laptop. With the opportunity to work from anywhere in the world, you are not simply faced with the decision of what industry to spend the next 5-10 years in.
You are faced with so many more decisions. So I have broken it down to show you how to change careers in 4 simple steps.
When you follow the steps below, you can begin to pull apart the overwhelm and make some educated decisions about your career options.
The first step
Take a look inward.
This is the first part of my 1-1 coaching and online course, also the part that most people forget. Look at yourself, who you are and what is important to you.
For one client of mine, the importance of altruism and conservation was what was important to her. Yet for another client being strategic, dedicated, and within a diverse team environment was most important.
These considerations make a potential career more than just a ‘job role’, and have a huge impact on people and their happiness at work. So, step one of your career change is to consider what you want beyond the job description.
What is important to you? Read another of my blogs on values to delve deeper into this.
TIP: Build a list of what you do want by reflecting on what you have had and didn’t like.
Take a list of things you didn’t enjoy in a previous role, and flip it. It's an easy way to start. This is the first step of how to change careers in 4 simple steps.
The second step
Do you want to work remotely, or in an office? What hours do you want? What salary? You get to build the life of your dreams here so you have a clear sense of the direction you want to go in.
I refer to this stage as adding the filters, like when you go to ASOS (other stores also available), you know you may want a dress (the job), but if you don’t add the filters, for example, the size, occasion, length, material or colour - you could come out with the wrong thing, even if you’ve already bought the dress (or got the job). This can be the difference between a happy / unhappy role because your job is more than just the job description.
If you think about your current, or previous role, how much of the actual ‘work’ do you remember vs. the people, team, fun, commuting? Some of the filters you apply will align with your values. For example, a hybrid approach with flexible hours is aligned with my value of freedom. Some of your ‘filters’ will be fixed and non-negotiable, like your dress size, and some will just give you a clearer idea.
The salary quest is always useful to consider. Rather than thinking you need more than, or the same as you had before, if you are changing jobs you may need to take a temporary pay reduction. Don’t strike it off right away. Instead, calculate your cost of living and then what you could live off (rent, bills, outgoings, insurances, memberships, groceries & living expenses) and subsequently look at progression as to what you might move to in 2-3 years. This is the second step in your career change journey!
Your Q&A!
The third step
Write down your strengths. Ask other people what your strengths are. Write those down too. When you want to change careers using these 4 simple steps, it’s vital to think about what you are good at, because people are happier when they are working to both their values AND their strengths. According to Gallup’s research, simply knowing what their strengths are can make an someone 7.8% more productive. Plus people who use their strengths every day are 6 X more likely to be engaged on the job.
Ask people.
When something feels easy, it’s often because it comes naturally to you. However, you often miss your strengths because they feel so natural, so it’s easy to believe that ‘everyone can do it’. Ask three people what they would say your biggest strengths are. This will highlight the strengths you have that you may not be aware of because they come so naturally.
Do a strengths test.
If you’re interested in knowing your strengths, you can do a CliftonStrengths® (formerly StrengthsFinder®) test. This one costs £20 but free ones are out there if you Google it. This is also a part of my Career Change with Clarity and Courage programme.
A top tip when completing a strengths test: Don’t overthink each answer.
In short, knowing what you’re good at naturally - and therefore what your strengths are - will also help you towards discovering your dream job and is the third key step in your career change.
The fourth step
Look at jobs that align with your skills. Hit a few job websites and look at different roles - which job descriptions, companies, or organisations resonate with you. Use some of the filters to narrow down your search accordingly. There are also various websites, like Prospectus, that can shed more light on different industries and job roles.
This brainstorming is the second section of myCareer Change with Clarity and Courage programme and works well when you come back to it at different times.
To start, grab a pen & paper or open a document on your laptop. Secondly, begin adding all the jobs you have considered, the jobs that have been at the back of your mind, the jobs your friends do that sound interesting. Also, don't hold yourself back here - think freely and dream big. You're not sharing it with anyone so if you have always dreamed of being an astronaut, write it down.
Now you should, at least, have a list of a few jobs to begin exploring as the fourth step in your career change!
In summary, when looking at how to tackle your career change in 4 simple steps, the first step is to look inward at who you are. The second is to think about what you want beyond the job description. The third is to consider your strengths and what comes naturally to you and the fourth, is to brainstorm job options.
If you are interested in finding out more about working with me, click here to book your FREE call to check out my signature programme that takes you from overwhelmed and stuck, to confident, happy and in a job you love, and therefore, one which makes you excited to wake up every morning.
I hope you enjoyed finding out how to start your career change in 4 simple steps!
Sarah is a Career Change Coach. She helps women breakthrough and pivot in their career. Whether you're not networking, developing your own work or side hustle! Stop feeling like you don’t know where to start and reach out!
Sarah has a Masters in Psychology and is both accredited by and a member of the British Psychological Society. She has experience working with the military and corporate sector in recovery, transition, leadership, and mentoring.
