Things to consider before making a career change:
Many people find themselves, at some stage in their life, thinking about making a career change. On average, people change careers 5 times in their lifetime. It is a big decision and not one to rush into. There are many things to consider before making the move.
Firstly, you need to ask yourself is it a career change or a job change you want? Sometimes, moving jobs can solve many issues. It could be the culture or attitude within an organisation that is making you unhappy rather than the actual work you are doing.
Next, do you want to use the knowledge and transferable skills you already have in another career or do you want to return to education and retrain into something completely different. If the latter is the case, then you also need to think about finances and the cost of returning to education.
Quite often people think about leaving their jobs, but have absolutely no idea what other careers they would be interested in. So, take some time to think about the other careers you would like. It is a good idea to complete a few careers interest tests to find out what other careers may be suited to your personality, skills, and interests. It is so important that you enjoy the work that you do. Think about the type of person that you are and what you are interested in. This will help to guide you in making your decision.
Set yourself goals and a plan. Allow time for the process. For example, if you are thinking on switching to a career in I.T., then a plan could be to complete a short, evening course in I.T. first to see if you like it before committing to further study. Make small steps that will get you to where you want to be.
Take your time and research the options available to you. If returning to education, check out the courses available on www.fetchcourses.ie or www.springboardcourses.ie to see if something interests you. Many of these courses are part time and have low fees and allow you the opportunity to upskill/ retrain while remaining in employment. Other useful websites to help you research courses are www.qualifax.ie or www.careersportal.ie .
If you are thinking of a career change and would like some advice and support, contact McCullagh Careers today at info@mccullaghcareers.ie or 0872120527.