Switching careers is usually a decision made after a lot of consideration. However, the mass layoffs and job instability that came with the COVID-19 crisis made taking a different career path an inevitable choice one for a lot of people.
If you’re among the many who lost their jobs without prospects for a new one, take this opportunity for you to re-evaluate your plans and explore other possibilities. Here are some practical tips you can use on your journey to start a career in a new line of work.
Finding Something You Enjoy
According to author Gretchen Rubin, you need to ask yourself one simple question first before switching careers. What did you enjoy doing when you were 10 years old?
Why 10 years old? At that age, you were already grown enough to do cool things while still young enough to be doing what you felt like doing as Rubin explained.
You can then return to those activities and see what you can do with them today. One example she gave was that of a woman on her podcast who really liked cleaning as a kid and is now a professional personal organizer.
Using Your Connections
Many job experts recommend job hunters to expand and use their networks to look for opportunities. With the ongoing pandemic, you’d have to get a little creative with your networking techniques though.
Use online platforms like LinkedIn and even Twitter to get in touch with successful people in your target industry who might be inaccessible to you outside these means of communication.
Of course, you can also work with the existing network you’ve already built over the past years. One way you can do so is by making the fact that you’re searching for a job known to these people.
A lot of job positions aren’t listed publicly but your colleagues can point you towards the right openings if they know you’re looking for opportunities.
Acing Job Interviews
Once you’ve got your foot in the door, there’s one thing left for you to do: ace your interviews. Making a good first impression is a must and can make or break your chances of getting your desired job.
According to research, hiring managers aren’t fans of ‘humble braggers’. This means you should avoid common humblebrags like saying you’re a perfectionist or too hard-working, especially when asked about your weaknesses.
It’s also important that you do some research about the company that you’re applying to first before coming in.