Whether you want to turn your passion into a career or you are ready for change, there are many ways you can start a new career. It can be very difficult to start from scratch when you have never had a job, or to change career when you have been on one path for so long. Just because it can be hard, it doesn’t mean it is impossible. Some of these questions are particularly pertinent to those that have perhaps taken time out to have children, or who have held off from developing a career due to raising a family.
This is a collaborative post.
The difficulties that you may face are trying to find the right career to start, adjusting your mindset to know that it is okay to change, and potentially having to study and learn something new. It is always hard being a beginner at something, and that will often put many people off starting a new career. That, and think that they are too old or it is too late to start a new career.
This is never the case, you can start a new career whenever you want. Many people will even study, train and start a new career in their 50s and 60s. KiddyChart’s editor is a prime example of this, qualifying as a counsellor in her fifties, with an ADHD / neurodivergent focus.
Work is a huge part of life. You need to be able to pay your bills, put a roof over your head and eat. You want to be doing something that you enjoy, as you will spend a lot of time doing it. If you can consider the long-term impact of finding a career you love, as opposed to the challenges you will have to endure in the short term to get there, you will be much more motivated to find a new career path and give it a try. This is even more true if you are neurodivergent, and have an interest-based nervous system!
While it might not be simple, it can be done. A career change is something that you could seriously consider. It is also something that you might take some time to research and think about, to ensure that you are choosing something that is right for you. To help you on your journey, here are some top tips to get started with a new career or a career change.
1. Assess your current career
Before jumping into a new job, you must take time to assess your current career. This is vital if you have people who depend on you financially, as well as have commitments such as a mortgage and direct debits to pay for. You need to be sure that you are in a position to make changes, especially if your new career path requires study or taking a lower role to start with. You should also consider what you like about your current role, what you don’t, why you want to leave, where your strengths and skills lie, and what you want to work on. This will all be very helpful information when it comes to finding and starting a new career. If you are starting your first career out of education, then you may want to reflect on these things about your studies and skills outside.
2. Consider your passions
It is crucial that you work in a job that you love, or at least can tolerate. Too many people work jobs they don’t enjoy and it creates a stressful and miserable life for them. Working is something that you will spend a lot of your time and energy doing, so you mustn’t work a career that you hate. Instead, start to think about what you are passionate about. This might be hobbies or interests that you have, or it might be around your personality and skills, for example, you like to help people, you like to make things, you like to problem solve, you like to do manual things, etc.
3. Consider your needs
In addition to your passions, you must balance this with your needs. You should consider what kind of work will be accessible to you physically and mentally. Some people may not be able to work on their feet all day or travel far for their jobs. You should also consider what your salary requirements need to be so you can continue to live the way that you do and be comfortable.
4. Conduct research
You should research as early in the process as possible. This will help you to understand the different industries and markets that you can choose to work in. It will also help you to learn what kind of roles are available, what they entail, what their day-to-day tasks involve, how people already in that kind of work feel, what qualifications and skills you need, and more. You can search for job listings and network with people to help you deepen your understanding. This is an important thing to do, so you can ensure you are making an informed decision and the right choice for you.
5. Acquire new skills
Once you have conducted research and have a better idea of the industries and roles you want to pursue, you must consider what skills and qualifications you need. There may be some jobs which you are already qualified for or have transferable skills that make you a suitable candidate. However, there are going to be others where you will need to train and learn. One of the most common industries you will need to train to enter will be healthcare. Thankfully, with advancements in technology, you can now obtain a masters in public health online. This can help you get closer to the career you want, without making too many sacrifices.
6. Create a plan of action
Once you have acquired all this information about your new career path, you need to make sure you do something with it. If you create yourself an action plan, you will be able to see what you need to do to reach your goals. This is a great way to ensure you stay on track and start motivated, as it can often get hard. It will also help inform decisions you need to make, especially financial ones.
Changing jobs is a big and scary thing to do. Make sure you follow these top tips and give it a lot of thought!
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Thanks as always for coming to see us.
Take care,
Helen
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!