Career change strategies
Published:Wednesday | May 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Glenford Smith, Career Writer
Are you thinking about getting into a brand new career? Perhaps you've run out of patience trying to get a job in the area you were trained for in university. Or, maybe you've simply become bored and dissatisfied with a career in which you don't see a future.
Either way, you'll find the following tips very helpful in making the transition.
1. Have a financial cushion, if possible. If you are currently employed, save up to a year's salary ideally, but no less than the equivalent of six months. One of the most important lessons all new entrepreneurs are taught is 'never run out of money'. It's the same if you're changing careers.
The more excited you are about your next career move, the greater should be your preparation for delays, mistakes and failure.
2. Become a strategic networker. One of the most important clichés in career and business success is 'your network determines your net worth'.
Most people don't consciously build and maintain quality relationships with people who can help them advance in their careers. Anyone can do this, yet, very few actually do it.
Having a great résumé is good. Talent, passion and vision are necessary to start over in a new career. But, your network is even more critical.
Offer to assist leaders in the field you intend to enter. Volunteer your time, experience and knowledge in exchange for learning from them.
Don't get caught in the money trap, however.
Some people fail to launch a second career successfully because they underplay the value of learning and experience. They absolutely refuse to do anything for which they won't get paid. But the law of life is give, and then receive.
3. Become an expert in your new field. 'Good enough' is most often not good enough when starting over. You have to be among the best. Read, study and practise everything that the leading experts and authorities in your field have put out.
Excellence is the product of long, arduous and disciplined effort to learn and master a given field. Perhaps you will need to return to school for the necessary qualification.
Whatever it takes, just do it.
4. Do what you are. If you were a teacher and you're starting over as a career musician, start practising your music career immediately.
Get in a band or form one. Play at church, school, or at community functions.
You don't have to wait till you attend music school or get your music degree before thinking of yourself as a musician. Start practising your art, right at the level you're at.
5. Persevere through setbacks. No career transition is smooth. Very few things will go as you planned. And, most importantly, it will take you longer than you think to establish yourself in your next career.
So you've got to persist. Change what's working, try new things, but never give up. Everyone fails when they start something new. Learn from your failures, but don't let them discourage you.
With resilience you will eventually win.
Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and success strategist.