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This has been an unprecedented year, leading many of us to reflect on what we are doing with our lives. This has affected everything from our own self-image to our careers. More people have set goals to get fit, to try new diets, or to have a go at training in a new profession. With so much time to reflect, it has been a time to see if we are truly happy in what we are doing and, if not, to change it to new career paths.
If you find that you are unhappy in your current job or have been made redundant and forced you to rethink what you want to do as a living, then why not consider an entirely new career path? Changing careers can be scary, particularly if you have been doing something for many years, but it could also be one of the best things you will ever do, learning new skills and meeting new people along the way.
Steps to change career paths
You may want to change career paths for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your career ambitions have changed or your values have changed. You might want more flexible working hours, earning more money, among other things. But before making a decision like this, it is necessary to evaluate well where your career is and where it could go. To get started, read the following tips to think about your interests, options, and consider alternative career paths and only then make the decision to change career paths:
1 – Assess how satisfied you are with your work
To monitor your feelings about your work well, keep a diary with your reactions to your work . After a while, read and look for recurring themes. What aspects of your work do you enjoy? Which ones don’t you like? Are your grievances related to work, company culture, or the people you work with?
2 – Think about your interests, values and abilities
Review your past successes, volunteer work and projects. Think about how the skills gained from these experiences help you identify the skills and activities you prefer to have. Determine if your values and skills work with your current career.
3 – Consider other career paths
Search for career paths that work best with your profile. Use the internet, talk to your friends, family and work contacts. If you’re having a hard time thinking about which career to choose, you can also seek professional help. Find, for example, a career counselor.
4 – Seek help from professionals in the field
Talking to people in the field is the best way to find out about it. Try to arrange lunches or conversations with professionals in the field to get a better idea of what work is like. A good source of this type of contact is your fellow college students. LinkedIn can also help you find people willing to talk about their jobs.
5 – Get a shadow job
A shadow job is an opportunity to observe a job firsthand when thinking of changing career paths. Spend a few days or hours with someone who works in one of your fields of interest. Again, look for volunteers to be observed among your fellow faculty.
6 – Volunteer, freelance or intern to get a ‘taste’
Look for volunteer or freelance work related to the field. For example, if working in editing is of interest to you, try working for your city’s newspaper. If you want to work with animals, volunteer at a kennel.
Career paths to consider for more fulfilment
Here are some career paths to consider this year.
A lawyer
If you are a confident and intelligent individual who has a passion for learning and wouldn’t mind training up in something new, why not consider law? There are so many paths to take in law, from criminal lawyers to experienced truck accident lawyers. It’s up to you to do your research and get qualified – it could be the best career move you ever make.
A writer
One of the good things about being a writer is that it can be done anywhere, so it is a good option if you want to work from home. It is worth looking into the many freelance roles out there and doing a few trial pieces before applying for the big jobs. If you did want to pursue it as an office role, many companies hire an in-house writer, or you could try writing for magazines and newspapers.
A fitness coach
Whether you have always been a fitness fanatic or have recently discovered a new love for it, why not make your next career a fitness coach? You would need a few different qualifications for this, so take a look online or head to your nearest training center to find out what is best for you. You will need to be physically fit and willing to work hard to make a career of this.
A chef
If you love cooking and want to take it a step further than regular dinner parties, why not look into becoming a chef? You could start by helping out in a local coffee shop as you slowly build up your skills and then move to larger restaurants and work your way up slowly. There are several courses out there to help your cookery abilities, and it would never hurt to practice at home in your spare time too!
Conclusion
These are just a few ideas of new career paths to consider. Remember, it is never too late to find the career you want. Put in the work and find out how to achieve it, and you could be on the road to success in no time.
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