Step-by-step guide to changing careers
June 20, 2018
By Brian Maynor
“I’m hanging in there.”
If this is your typical response when someone asks, “How’s work?” it may be time for a career change. Merely surviving isn’t living life to it’s fullest. In fact, it’s barely living life at all. When we feel stuck in a job simply because it pays the bills we feel stagnant and that feeling spills over into the rest of our life, robbing us of a sense of satisfaction and joy.
When we’re tired of feeling stuck or merely surviving it’s time to make a change, but that can be utterly terrifying. Fortunately, there are ways we can approach this major life change with confidence and a sense of security.
Here’s the step-by-step guide:
1. Write down our career plan. When we put pen to paper, we solidify our goals and establish a clear set of actions. We can also establish deadlines for each phase of the plan to help ensure we continue moving forward.
2. Evaluate our options. It can be easy to feel pigeonholed in one career, so to break that mindset we need to broaden our perspective. A good place to start is by looking at our industry as a whole, and choosing five positions within it that we find interesting. Try not to let social norms influence the choices. It doesn’t matter if the job is right for everyone; it just has to be right for us.
3. Realistically weigh the pros and cons. Changing careers is a big deal, and that means we have to honest and realistic about not only our strengths and weaknesses, but also threats, opportunities and competition. We also need to decide if we’re willing to relocate for the ‘right’ job or go back to school.
4. Find a mentor. Spending time and talking with someone in the position we find interesting can offer invaluable insight and guidance not only on the job itself, but also the best way to get there. This inside view may change our mind or solidify our commitment to pursuing that position, or change how we go about it.
5. Research the salary potential. We all have bills to pay, but money isn’t everything. If the job we want pays less, there are other ways to compensate for the lost income. We may need to evaluate the perks as well as the cost of living expenses, especially if we’re considering relocating for the job.
6. Prepare our tools. Today job hunting requires a lot more than just a well-prepared resume. We need to Google ourselves and see what comes up, because employers will. This might also mean updating our social media pages, both personal and professional. We may also need to curate a portfolio of our work, especially if we’re looking to highlight certain aspects of our experience that may not be immediately reflected in our resume.
Changing careers is not something that we should undertake lightly. It’s not like we’re just looking for a new job. There is a big difference between feeling stuck in a career that doesn’t make us happy and experiencing temporary frustrations. These steps are designed to help us see if we’re ready for a new career, or just a change in the one we’re in.
I’m always excited to hear from you, so please email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
