How to change careers successfully and find your dream job
Changing jobs can be a daunting thought, but chasing your dream role is not as hard as you might think if you prepare and manage your expectations, say experts
Anyone who has toyed with the idea of a major career transition is likely to have had doubts about stepping outside their comfort zone.
The drive can be a yearning for a higher salary level, a lack of fulfilment in the current position, or an urge to explore a new industry. Whatever the motive, such a move may not be as difficult as imagined, recruitment specialists say.
Angela Spaxman, a Hong Kong-based career advancement coach, says the starting point for her is the assumption that there is a perfect role for each person. She says the transition is best performed at a steady pace meticulously over several years.
The secret to a successful career transition is research, she adds. “The first, most important research topic is to know yourself. What do you love to do? If you didn’t need the money, recognition or achievement, what would you do? What are your biggest strengths? What keeps you motivated?”
Ask yourself what it takes to get where you want to go – what sort of education, skills, training and experience are required, Spaxman says, instead of focusing too much on what qualifications employers may be looking for. Consider the challenges and what traits, strengths, preferences and types of mindset nurture success.
It is also important to consider the downsides and limitations to the transition you have in mind. For instance, in the case of a transition to self-employment, many people are seduced by the prospect of freedom and flexibility. “But are they really willing to earn less money, or to have less day-to-day certainty about their income?” Spaxman asks.
