Making a career change can be a daunting task. Are you asking yourself what are my reasons for career change? Have my goals or values changed? Is there a new area you’re interested in pursuing? Has there been a change in your situation, are you looking for a pay increase or more flexible working hours, has restrictions made you evaluate your options now that working from home is more widely available.

Trying to understand the reason or reasons you want to change careers can be hard but if you can figure this out it will make your decision easier, but in the mean time here are our top tips to help you prepare for a career change

1. Make note of your accomplishments – keep track of your wins at work and this will make it easier to talk about accomplishments and keep them fresh in your memory when you want to discuss them with potential employers.
   
   
2. Learn new skills – join in webinars about the industry, look at upskilling and seek out any courses that may be available. Build on contacts within the industry via LinkedIn and through meeting people at seminars/webinars and training.
   
   
3. Identify your transferable skills - Transferable skills can be used to position your past experience when applying for a new job—especially if it’s in a different industry. Click here for our advice on how to highlight your transferable skills.
   
   
4. at are your options? Be realistic! - Look at other areas for careers that will allow you to use your skills. Network with peers, friends, and others to help identify new opportunities. If you’re finding this difficult you can always get professional advice.
   
   
5. Use social media – LinkedIn is a great community to build contacts and network. There are always helpful articles or links to direct you to new learning opportunities.
   
   
6. Research the job market - Look at the jobs and what the role is specifically and identify if your skills & experience are suitable. Google the companies and see if you can see yourself working with them. Can you volunteer in your new industry to gain some experience?
   
   
7. Be prepared for set backs - It won’t always go to plan – but once you have done your research and you are prepared to stick to it, you will be through the toughest part.
   
   

Next week we will look at updating your CV to suit your career change.

At Turas Nua our key objective is to support employers recruitment processes and to assist jobseekers in finding full-time sustainable employment. Our screening process ensures that we can source potential candidates for you with the required skills, the right attitude and a willingness to learn. Whether you're looking for one team member or running a large-scale recruitment drive, we can provide you with all the help you need. Contact us on recruitment@turasnua.ie or click here to find out more.