Spring Forward (Making a Career Change)
“The world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air.” – Author:J.R.R. Tolkien
Spring cleaning and ‘springing our clocks forward’ means that we have officially arrived at one of my favorite times of the year. The spring season always brings a sense of change and rejuvenation as the weather warms up and the days get longer. This year, the season isn’t the only thing changing. The Great Resignation is still in effect as more workers look to change their vocation. The holidays are behind us and people are ready to become more active again so it’s no surprise that this is also one of the most popular times of the year for people to actively start looking for new jobs. It’s one thing to think about changing jobs. It’s a whole different thing to look at making a career change.
The idea of switching professions can be daunting, especially if you have years of experience in your current field or you have been in your job for a long time. There is just so much that goes into making such a big change. Do you have enough money saved to make a career change? Do you have enough experience or should you go back to school or get additional training? There are many reasons why one might consider changing careers. Maybe you just want to do something different. Maybe you’re looking for more money or more benefits. Perhaps you want a better work environment. It could even be something you’ve wanted to do all along, and this is the time to pursue it. Regardless of the reason, we’re going to give you some pointers on how to do it, now that you’ve decided to Spring Forward.
What Do You Want To Do / What Can You Do?
So you’re open to changing careers but now what? A good way to kick things off is by brainstorming ideas for career alternatives by researching career options. Start by listing your core values, skills, and desires. Discuss with friends, family, and networking contacts. If you’re having difficulty coming up with ideas, consider meeting with a career counselor for professional advice. Be honest with yourself. What do you really need from your work and what do you have to offer? To make a difference? To make more money? A better work / life balance? To find a career you actually enjoy?
It’s also possible that you may just feel burned out and need a chance to rejuvenate yourself again. Taking your time to find what your next step is gives you a chance to make the right move instead of just making another move. If you need to find a new career for health reasons make it your number one priority. Burning yourself out and having it affect you outside of company hours physically isn’t helping anyone. It’s okay to change..for you.
Seeing What’s Out There
Think beyond your current job title by considering your goals and how the skills you currently have now would be useful in a new role. Make a list of relevant transferable skills to add to your resume. Start looking at job titles you would like to pursue. Read the job description. What skills are they requiring that you don’t have? If you really want that position, and the skills are attainable, it’s time to get those skills.
Having a reference of ‘what’s out there’ in the job market is another great way to weigh your interests against opportunities available. Browse the regular spots like Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor, etc. to see what some of the top job listings are. The Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections program is another great resource to help you identify occupations that are projected to have more job openings. You can also look at employment, wage and transfer data, which can help point you toward career options you might not have considered
There’s a good chance that your current skill set will be a close match for job opportunities that you never knew existed. It’s also possible that you may stumble upon a ‘dream job’ that you’ve always dreamed of and wanted to pursue but the timing just wasn’t right. Here’s the thing, you’ll never stumble across it if you don’t start looking. As Ferris Bueller said best “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Don’t miss out on opportunities because you didn’t take the time to find them.
What Are You Missing And How Do You Get It?
Never miss a chance to learn and grow more as an employee and individual. Taking advantage of training opportunities, courses, or workshops help you find your career, further your career, or change it altogether. If the company you work for now offers professional development opportunities, take advantage of them. This is a free resource and can be valuable in reaching your goals.
Outside of work you can enroll in evening classes in person or online. The internet has made it very accessible to educate yourself on any topic imaginable. You also have the ability to attend events or courses from the comfort of your own home.The University of Phoenix and Southern New Hampshire University consistently rank among the top 5 featured schools with Online Degree Programs. As the old saying goes..knowledge is power.
What Are You Worth?
Employers always want to attract, hire, and retain employees who provide the best value. Think about yourself as a business with a product to sell and create a strategy for marketing your value in the workplace.Our 2022 Salary Guide is a great reference, and a good reminder, of what the market standard is for ERP related roles. Changing jobs or careers can be a stressful situation but never forget to hold yourself accountable to getting paid what you deserve along the way.
It’s our hope that as the seasons change so does your outlook on new and exciting job opportunities. With more and more companies looking to hire these days there’s certainly no shortage of jobs to choose from. Now it’s time for you to find the one that’s right for you. Good luck out there!