Switching careers is something many people do but it’s also something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. How do you make this switch successfully?
First, you have to look at why you want to make the switch and then you have to determine how you’re going to go about making the change. If you are going to make a career change, here are three steps you should take to make sure the transition goes smoothly:
Experiment, Test, Try Out
Learning what you might like to do is an important first step in making a career change. So start doing things you think you might like doing. For instance, as a firefighter you might be interested in fire code compliance, or in talking to the public about fire safety. Start observing things like smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, physical obstructions, potential fire hazards and the like whenever you enter buildings. If you like doing this, you can then plan to explore the possibility of becoming a Fire Inspector.
On the other hand, you might find that you don’t like it. However, the key here is to do the activity, see how it feels and then put a plan of action in place. If you do it this way, you already know if you like something before you plan any career changes. That takes away the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not you’ll like doing something else.
Put It All Together
By experimenting with other things before you make a career change leap of faith, you’ll often meet new people and experience new things. You can pick up information about the kinds of opportunities that are available. Each piece of information is a dot in the puzzle. Eventually all the pieces will come together, and you’ll be able to join the dots.
In our firefighter example – once you know the work interests you, you can ask around and see what opportunities are available for Fire Inspectors. When people know you’re interested in becoming one, they may put you in touch with other Fire Departments and companies that are looking for Fire Inspectors.
Decisions, Decisions
Once you’ve experimented with things you’d like to do, and connected a few dots, you should have a better idea of your available options. It’s also possible you’ll find even more connections and opportunities opening up as you explore your way closer to a career change. In fact, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the availability of choices and options!
What is the answer? How do you know which is the right path to take? What should you do to be successful with your career change? Many other people have changed careers and done well with it. You’ll find your way, too. If there is a demand for Fire Inspectors for instance, you can plan to do the training, get your certification and, hopefully, finish joining your dots.
At the end of the day, changing your career successfully is not a single decision, or a single change. Rather, it’s a somewhat intricate process with a lot of twists and turns, and to’ing and fro’ing. However, if you plan things correctly, you should be able to embark on a new career very successfully.