Testing out new careers!
The idea of starting an entirely new career in a field that you have never done before can feel really daunting. For example, if you're currently in marketing but you want to run your own yoga studio. There are things that you can do to bridge this gap and test out this career idea. Doing so without taking a big risk and leaping in, especially without the certainty that you know you will love it. Here is how to decide and test your dream career!
It’s a bit like dipping your toe in the water to see whether you like the temperature without jumping in.
However, you don't always need to pivot entirely from one full-time job to another full-time job. Instead, think of it as something you could do alongside your current job, even if only to start with.
Reflect on the things that you have always been interested in, something you might have considered when you were little. Maybe it's something you would do if the salary wasn't an influence? For example, you may be interested in music, theatre, dancing, becoming a personal trainer, coaching or counselling, social media manager, humanitarian aid, dog walking, or conservation. Maybe it’s something creative, designing jewellery or clothes, maybe you’ve considered being a teacher. The list of options is endless.
The key to this is a mindset as much as it is strategy and execution.
So instead of looking at this as a full career change. Think about how you could incorporate this into your life as it currently is.
Is volunteering a couple of evenings an option, could work to give you time to focus on this? Could you also make a profit from this? If it’s coaching you wanted to explore, could you just work with 2 clients and coach in your spare time? What volunteer opportunities are there to explore humanitarian aid? Is there at least a week a year you could give to support this cause?
Being intentional about how you spend your time in the testing phase is what will lead to a fulfilling, fruitful dynamic career.
A couple of benefits of doing this is
Ø Exposes you to a new industry to test it out without such risk.
Ø Allows you to have a side passion project that will give you focus, drive and something that is yours.
Ø Will enhance your skill set.
Ø Could open doors to get into that career full-time if that is something you choose to do.
Ø Enhances your network, you don’t know who you may meet and what doors of opportunity may open.
Ø Can help remove the ‘all or nothing’ feeling in your career.
That last point is an important one in how to decide and test your dream career. When your career is your main focus, it can be a little all-consuming. It can be what defines you and your emotions / general mood. When it’s going well, that’s great but when it isn’t that can feel more important because it’s your one priority. You may find yourself thinking about that thing that didn’t go well at work like that arsey email your manager sent you, that deal that didn’t close well after you have finished your workday. This is when work begins to have a negative impact more widely, whether this is in your relationships, friendships or home life.
Therefore, having that alternative focus can reduce the impact that work ups and downs can have. It can help manage your perspective & focus if you have another passion to be concentrating on.
Maybe you want to try tutoring and counselling, imagine you’re having a bit of a crap day at work, and instead of just sitting at home, dwelling on it, or even just feeling a little low energy you are logging on to tutor someone? Helping someone else? Designing something to sell on Etsy so that you can go on holiday with the additional income!
To conclude, in this blog 'how to decide and test your dream career' there are many alternatives and unique ways to test decide and test your dream career path without committing immediately and fully.
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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.