In the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are considering or actively working on changing their career path.
The impacts of the pandemic have been wide-reaching and many people have felt they are lacking control over their jobs or work environment. It could be that they can’t travel overseas for work, their workloads have increased, or they have extra responsibilities at home that are taking up time and brain power.
People are working harder and with many people working at home, work lives have blurred into home lives. There is a feeling that because you are at home you must be available outside your normal working hours or can do more tasks. It is understandable that a lot of people feel like now is the time to look at other jobs or potential career paths.
Many people have been seeking advice on completely changing their career, rather than just changing jobs. My advice to them is that it can be extremely helpful to take some time to map out how you will achieve this.
Of course, not everyone is able to plan their career change. Sadly, many people may be forced to do it quite suddenly, for example if they are being harassed or bullied in their workplace, or if they’re suffering from burnout.
If you are able to, take some time to think about what you do and don’t like about your current work. Is it that you don’t like your boss or the team you work with? Or are there certain tasks you don’t like doing and others you enjoy? Where can you see yourself working, or what would you like to be doing?
Information shopping, or reality testing, can assist in setting your expectations and helping you plan. Find people who have the job you want to learn more about and see if they will answer some questions. What do they enjoy about their job? What is the most stressful part of it? How did they get into the industry?
You might need to consider if you will initially need to go down a salary level in your new job and if you can afford to do this right now? Or is it better to wait another six months? Will you need to upskill with a new qualification or accreditation because that is what is expected of people entering that profession? Do you have skills that are transferrable?
Talking to others will also help you build a network, either on LinkedIn or real life. Often, people get job interviews because of people they know alerting them to vacancies or suggesting they put their name forward.
When you land a job interview, it is perfectly normal to be nervous or anxious about it. To help yourself prepare, have a think about what questions might be asked during the interview and practice your answers out loud. You could even record yourself and, when playing it back, listen for how confident you sound or think of ways you can make your answers more concise.
Bring yourself to the table - show the interviewers who you are and what your personality is like. They are looking for someone who can do the job but also fit in with the team.
Often when people are feeling nervous, they can talk fast and stop breathing which sends their brain into panic mode. Slowing down your breathing will make sure you don’t run out of breath and help you concentrate on what you’re saying.
During the interview and afterwards, check in with yourself. Did you feel a good vibe from the interviewers? Do you think you could work with them if you got the job?
Tips for people considering a career change
Reflect on what things you enjoy doing, what skills you enjoy using, and what you can bring to a new role. Spend time researching your potential new job.
Speak to other people working in the roles you are considering and build a professional network.
Practice answering potential job interview questions out loud.
Be patient. It may take a few attempts to get into a new industry.
Joanne Orchard is a Wellington-based Ignite support provider who has more than 15 years’ experience working with people in a range of industries, including corporate, government and community sectors.
If you would like to book a one-on-one session with Joanne, explore the individual support subscription options for Ignite or ask your employer to consider employee subscriptions for your workplace.
Contact hello@ignite.org.nz to find out more.