Going through career struggles is not a unique experience. Everyone comes to a crossroads in their work when unsure what to do next. They might not even know if the job they have is the one they want for the rest of their lives. That said, career changes are not as unusual as they once were. No matter what you do, you can explore a different career. So how can you determine your next job and roles? Here are five crucial steps to help.
What Do You Want to Do?
Before anything else, you need to work out what you want to do. Consider your dream job and whether or not it’s viable, given your current situation. Even if you can’t do that, you can always look for careers adjacent to this or at least in the same industry.
Work Out Your Key Skills
Even if you don’t have experience in the industry or niche you want to work in, you may still have key skills that you can transfer when considering previous experiences and jobs.
Take some time to understand your hard and soft skills and determine how you could apply them to a new role in a different career. Expertise with computers or project management could open up more doors than you think. You can also consider any other skills that aren’t related to your career. Think of everything you can do and consider how these skills could benefit your new role.
Research the Industry
It is also worth taking time to research the industry you’re interested in. If you want to become a trucker, understanding recent trucking trends can give you an idea about the industry’s health. If you want to become a copywriter, look at how AI has impacted rates and work availability. However, don’t be put off by information that seems bleak. There is always going to be work; you may just need to dig deeper to find it.
Reach Out to Anyone You Know
If you know anyone in your preferred industry, contact them to learn about available jobs or what employers are looking for. They may not be able to help you get a job, but they can put a good word in for you or even put you in touch with someone who can help. This approach is often better than cold emailing, but you may still need to do this. These networking email templates make the process less awkward and give you a better chance of finding work.
Apply for Jobs
The final step of the initial process is to apply for jobs. By this point, you should have adjusted your resume to include all the relevant information and tailored it to cover the most desirable industry skills. Remember that job searches can take a long time. You may get lucky with the first attempt, but it’s important to persevere if you’re serious about a new career.
Next Steps
These steps won’t get you the job you’ve always wanted, but they can help you move in the right direction. Understanding what you want from your career and taking action to make things happen is the first part of the process. From there, you can feel more confident and comfortable applying for new roles and improving your situation.
