Professional success largely depends on your ability to make good use of your network of contacts. This is especially important when you change jobs. It is people who can become an important factor that will accelerate your transition to a completely new profession.
It is very important to establish first contacts with people who work in an industry related to the new profession as soon as possible. Already at the time of making an informed decision to change, you should look for people related to the industry in your environment.
It is important that you do not stop you from making these contacts because you are not yet working in the profession. It will be even better if you start building a network of industry contacts before you even start working in your profession. And if this change is connected with completing the education, it is even more necessary to get to know the industry in advance to make sure that the investment in education is necessary.
NETWORKING
Look among your relatives, friends, and acquaintances for people who work in the industry or have clients from the industry. However, these are not always only people related to the industry. They can also be friends who have contact with people who know the industry. Start with the closest circle and gradually build your network of contacts.
Talk to someone who is already practicing this profession. Schedule an interview and prepare some questions in advance that will give you more information about actual work in this profession. Ask what the working day looks like, what challenges you have to consider and what you need to do to be successful in this profession.
It is very important to be specific about your questions – don’t ask general questions or you won’t learn anything. Think about what might be the hardest aspect of your new job and ask how the person coped with it. Try to get to know the industry and learn as much as possible before the meeting, so as not to ask about the obvious or those that you can easily find on the web.
Also, take a look at the lifestyle of people working in a given profession – consider whether this style will suit you in the long run. Also, check what is the career path in a given profession – what opportunities will you have after a year, and what after a few years of work? Find out what the next career ranks are and if they are of interest to you.
BUILD YOUR NETWORK THROUGH EVENTS
At this stage, you should already know where the people who work for the job you are interested in meet most often. Follow industry events and try to participate in them whenever possible. Thanks to the Internet and social media, you can quickly see which industry meetings are taking place in your around.
Informal meetings can also be a valuable source of contacts for you. Find out where people who work in the profession you are interested in spend their free time. Meeting people from the industry at informal meetings such as sports events, culinary workshops or activities for children can be more effective than business meetings.
However, remember not to ask the newly met person about the possibility of a job. In such situations, it is more important to establish relationships and obtain information about the industry and profession.
Also, find out if there are any organizations associating people practicing your dream job. It is a great idea to apply to such organizations and offer help or cooperation. Thanks to this, you will gain trust and meet the most important people in the industry. Industry organizations often associate companies that operate in the industry – so they may have information about new jobs.
TIME FOR SUMMARY
You now know all the steps to change your profession. You know it is important to understand why a career change is necessary. At this stage, you are also aware of the importance of your professional potential. You have already determined what qualifications you need to complete. You also understand the importance of a network of professional contacts and a good knowledge of the specifics of the industry. Time to put together all the steps you need to take to get your new job done.
PLAN ALL THE STEPS AND MARK THEM IN THE CALENDAR
The big mistake of people changing jobs is to act without a plan. Changing jobs is a long process and in order not to get lost, you need to plan each step well. Treat this change as an ambitious project and appoint yourself as a project manager.
Each project ends with a specific result – so you have to specify exactly what result you want to achieve. Set a realistic end date for the change of occupation.
Then break the project down into smaller parts. Set smaller goals that will be needed to get results. This can be, for example, completing your education, acquiring an important skill or participating in an industry event. Break these smaller goals down into individual tasks, and then into individual steps. The smaller the tasks you define, the easier and faster you will do them.
Merely writing down goals and tasks is not enough – they still need to be entered in the calendar. Remember to take into account your current life situation when writing your schedule of tasks in the calendar. It is better to pursue small goals consistently than impose an ambitious plan that will be difficult to implement.
CONSISTENTLY FOLLOW YOUR PROFESSIONAL CHANGE PLAN
It is consistency in pursuing your goal that is the ingredient that will allow you to change your profession successfully. That is why it is so important to identify a strong argument for changing your profession. This argument will motivate you to take the first step, which is to analyze your professional potential. By getting to know the industry, you will find out which qualifications are valued in the industry related to the new profession.
Contact with people from the industry will allow you to penetrate the industry unnoticed and maybe even get a job. If you plan everything well and stick to the set path, you will certainly implement your career plans with success.
Good luck!
