Are you currently rethinking your career and looking for new roles that provide a greater work life balance? More flexibility and meaning? Something that aligns closer to what you value the most?
Most of us know that feeling when we find ourselves stuck in a role we don’t like, or feel that our careers are bringing us down. That we are no longer inspired to do what it is we do and yearn for something else. The signs are obvious and sometimes overwhelming. A change beckons, but what change? What now?
How do you not only prepare yourself for a career change but make it happen?
An experienced Career Counsellor can guide you through the process of
making your career change happen by working through these 5 Steps to changing careers
Get in touch now to see how Career Voice can help you change careers and find the role that reflects the TRUE YOU!
Step 1
Explore your options and discover your opportunities
It is easy to arrive at the conclusion “I don’t want to do this anymore”. The answer to “what do you want to do?” is much more difficult.
Many people fall into the trap of “looking for an exit” when instead they should be looking for an entry into a new and exciting career.
An experienced career counsellor can help you with this part of the process and work with you to:
- Build your self-awareness – understand what your motivators and values are.
- Understand your skills and qualifications – what are transferable skills to new careers, and what gaps might exist.
- Provide market insights – what is the market looking for and what opportunities are out there.
- Explore retraining and up-skilling opportunities – understand those skill gaps and identify how to close them
Equipped with this knowledge and self-awareness it puts you in a much better position to know where you want to go, and how to get there.
Step 2
Market and promote yourself
Changing careers can be difficult especially if your working background doesn’t speak to the new career you are looking to embark upon.
Presenting yourself to prospective employers in new industries can be challenging to get their attention, especially in the face of competition from other job seekers who might be more ‘obviously’ closely aligned.
Again this is where an experienced career practitioner can provide valuable insight and guidance in promoting yourself and getting noticed, working with you to:
- Update your Resume to target your desired industry and presenting yourself as a serious, competitive candidate to a prospective employer – highlighting the experience and transferable skills you bring with you
- Enhance your linked in profile to build out the story of you and the journey that you have been on and where you want to go
- Understand alternative channels of promotion such as networking events, both offline and online, as well as other channels to engage with your desired industry
Step 3
Find those opportunities
A great resume and a new swagger are not enough, you need to land that interview.
Finding and applying for roles can be time-consuming and sometimes daunting. Rejection anxiety is a real thing that also needs to be overcome when changing careers and this is where support from a counsellor can really help.
- Job Searching – Where to look for roles, both the obvious channels such as Seek and Linked in, as well as engaging with recruiters and networking. Being ready for the opportunities when they arise
- Application process – working with you to address selection criteria and give you the knowledge to write cover letters that sell you
- Overcoming Rejection Anxiety – encouraging you to promote your transferable skills and emphasise your strengths
Get in touch now to see how Career Voice can help you change careers and find the role that reflects the TRUE YOU!
Step 4
Conquer the interview process
Interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience for many.
In fact, many people who are highly experienced and successful in their careers interview poorly. They are good at what they do, but when it comes to selling themselves in a pressure situation they lack confidence and preparation to excel.
When changing careers you need to make a strong impression. The right preparation is essential if you are going to succeed.
An experienced career practitioner can help you with the following:
- Interview Preparation – helping you get ready for the interview, knowing what questions to ask, and helping you confidently and convincingly present yourself to your new employer
- How to answer behavioural based questions – This is now a format used across many industries and for many roles. By having a winning formula to answer these questions you will feel confident and able to give concise, clear, relevant examples.
- Mock Interview sessions – practice makes perfect and mock interviews with a professional counsellor can help ease nerves, highlight areas for improvement, provide encouragement and build confidence
Step 5
Responding to the offer (or offers)
Knowing your negotiables and non-negotiables is essential in responding to job offers.
Perhaps you have one offer, or maybe more, but you have to make sure the offer is in line with your expectations and if not how to communicate to your new employer.
Negotiating – Learn effective tools in negotiating to ensure you are moving into a role that is what you are looking for.
Turning down an offer – If you decide not to move forwards once offered, you never want to burn your bridges.
Starting a new role
The first 30-90 days in a new role are important and can be planned for to really succeed. Take your onboarding into your own hands and make it truly personalised for you to achieve success
- 30/60/90 Day Plans – Helping you look at all the factors in your new role and map out how you will succeed in these.
- Elevator Pitch – How to articulate your new role and what you do is incredibly useful when communicating within your organisation and externally. Have a great pitch so you are confident in presenting yourself.
- Goal Setting – Work with a career practitioner to set goals now you are in your new role and be held accountable to these.
These 5 steps represent an effective process to changing careers and you don’t have to do it all on your own. Get in touch and we can help you start the process of changing careers today!
Online Booking now available!
Let’s get in touch!
Contact us now for an obligation free discussion as to whether career coaching is right for you.
About Nia Lloyd
Nia Lloyd
Graduate Diploma in Career Development
Certificate IV in Human Resources
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management
Nia is an experienced career practitioner who is passionate about helping people find their ‘true fit’, move through a career transition. re-entering the workforce or even if they just need someone to talk to.
For over 15 years Nia has worked in Human Resources, Recruitment and Career Counselling, bringing together a wealth of experience from a diverse number of industries to help people with their careers.
Nia is a Professional Member of the Career Development Association of Australia.
Career Coaching
Career coaching is for everybody. No matter what your industry or position. Finding meaning in your career is important at any age and life-stage.
Are you looking for clarity in your career or just want to talk to someone about your options?
Land The Role
If you have been applying for roles with no success, this program will look at job search strategies, resume, cover letter and social media.
Over two sessions these areas will be looked at with a personalised approach to help you land that role!
Changing Lanes
If you are looking to change careers and not sure how or even where to, this program is for you.
The program is 3 sessions, and we will explore your expectations, barriers, motivation set goals you can achieve.
Career Advance
If you feel stuck in your current career or current role then this three sesion program is suitable.
We will explore your strengths and current situation and strategies to get you to that next level – once we have identified what that next step truly is!
Interview Coaching
Behavioural based interviewing is now common place and you can prepare thoroughly for interviews!
With my extensive experience in recruitment, we will look at strategies for interview preparation to nail the interview. This is 2 sessions, each 45 minutes