In the turbulence of the last several months, who hasn’t thought about starting a new career? Nearly every industry has changed significantly. Some have dropped off the face of the planet, while other industries have been booming with the new state of the world. Entire businesses and industries have been created from scratch simply due to the effects of the pandemic. It’s no wonder so many people’s work lives are changing.
In my case, the field I was going to pursue when I moved to Minneapolis (theatre) has completely stopped. Like many people, I have found myself in a new career, at least for the time being.
I actually got my current office job about .02 seconds before the pandemic hit. I had planned on getting my foot in the theatre door on evenings and weekends for a long while and letting my day job support me for the time being. Though it’s not the way I planned it, I’ve had a lot of peace about throwing myself fully into my day job.
Maybe you know it’s time for you to leave your current field. Or perhaps you have no choice due to the current climate. Maybe you’ve just realized that life is too short and unpredictable to not pursue your passions. I’ve got some tips for you on making a career change, even if it’s just for this season while the world gets back on it’s feet.
Get Crystal-Clear on Your why
If you are changing your career in order to pursue your passions, getting clear on your why should be pretty easy. Because you want to do what you love for a living! But that’s not the only good reason to change careers. Maybe you’ve experienced burnout in your current field, or you just want a new experience. Heck, there’s nothing wrong with a career change for the sake of a pay raise!
Just be prepared, if you are changing industries, you will probably asked why by your future employers! Have a good answer prepared! It won’t be enough to just say “I was laid off” or in my case “theatre got canceled this year, soo…”
Getting clear on your why will also help you when you’re lacking motivation to fill out yet another application. While you may be driven to job hunting by necessity, I’d encourage you to think of a more complex and positive reason to keep at it. Think of all the doors you could be opening for yourself! You could meet so many interesting people and learn new things. Even if the job your applying for doesn’t end up being your permanent position, it could give you the connections you need to find your perfect fit.
Maybe you’re changing careers because you want to move! That’s always been super interesting to me! If that’s your case, be sure to check out this post about moving to a new city by yourself.
Work Backwards?
Are someone who has a strong vision for what you’d like your next career path to involve? You don’t have to know all the specifics, but maybe you have a salary range in mind, or a location, or an idea of the kind of people you would like to work with. Having at least some kind of expectation for your next job is essential (especially I’ve found in people my age) so you don’t settle for less!
Things might be different for me simply because of the industry I come from, but I know too many people my age who go on a job hunt and end up taking a position that doesn’t fit their vision. If you don’t have any expectations for your new career, you’ll accepting standards you won’t be happy with.
So what are you supposed to do with your vision then? Work backwards! Think about what it looks like to have the kind of career you want. Then think one step backwards. Then another, and another, until you’re at the place you’re at now. Make sense?
So if your career change vision involves you eventually being the CEO, think about what that CEO’s last step was that got them that result, and then work backwards. Soon you’ll have your first step towards being a CEO! Perhaps you don’t care what you’re career looks like as long as it allows to you to work 10hrs a week and be home with your family. Work backwards to get that result!
Things will probably go wrong. In fact, I would definitely count on things going wrong, but if you work backwards, you’ll always have a direction to help you get back on track.
DON’T ASSUME ONE CLEAR PATH
Speaking of things going wrong, you’ll want to get it in your head right away that there isn’t only one path to the job of your dreams. If there was, that would be super boring honestly! Think of how many inspiring stories there are of people pulling themselves up by the bootstraps to pursue their passions!
If your goal is to earn a full-time income while only working 10hrs a week, there may be many ways to get there. You might have to try a couple before you find the path that works for you, but that’s ok! First you could try asking to work your full time job remotely. If that doesn’t work, you could try freelancing. If that doesn’t work you can try starting your own business and being your own boss. Think of it as being creative on the journey to your results!
In my own job hunt, my vision involved three things: 1) earning an adequate full-time income 2) being located in Minneapolis 3) letting me capitalize on my organizational and other type-A qualities. I never once thought I would be working in the trades industry, but it turned out to be the perfect opportunity!
Ok, but how on earth am I supposed to format a resume when I don’t know what path will get me to my vision? I’m glad you asked!
What Should I put On My Resume?
Hear me out, but your resume shouldn’t actually be about you. The most important thing to keep in mind when you’re formatting your resume is showing how you will provide value to the company. If you write your resume just to brag on yourself, that’s exactly what employers are going to see.
I think sometimes young professionals are nervous to pursue a new career because of their lack of experience. I totally get it! Not understanding the lingo or nuances of an industry you are trying to break into can make anyone feel self conscious. Please try to understand this though: employers would rather have the right person who is teachable instead of the wrong person who already has the knowledge.
So when you’re putting your resume together, use examples of how you are that “right person” even though you may not have the experience yet. Try to answer these questions on your resume:
- Is this the right character and attitude for this position?
- Do I demonstrate that I am eager and willing to learn?
- How have I overcome obstacles or challenges?
- How will I be a good fit for the culture here?
- Do I show potential to be an integral part of this company?
Please make sure you check out these essential resume tips to go more in depth about having a winning resume.
More resources for your job hunt 🙂
How To Get An Administrative Assistant Job
Why Creative People Are Best Suited For Business
