Changing Your Career

Following Your Passion and Changing Your Career

As you read this you may be on a career path that no longer satisfies you and you're looking for a way out. It may be to follow your true passion or pursue a career path in a new industry, however, with the country's current economic climate you're understandably petrified by the thought of switching gears. Not now, you say. But occasionally you find yourself asking, "If not now, then when?"

Of course, more often than not embarking on a career change won't be easy, but if the only thing keeping you back is waiting for "the right time," then you're wrong, says Andrea Kay, author of "Life's a Bitch And Then You Change Careers." "There's never a good time when your life will be perfect and you won't have to worry," she says. "You have to make the decision that this is a good time and I will be strategic about my move." Here are a few ideas to help you create a strategy for changing careers.

Know When It's Time To Get Out

So many people complain about their jobs but few take action to change their situation. A key factor in switching career gears is knowing when it's truly time to get out, says Kay. "There are various clues. It could be that you work in an industry that is drying up or the thought of going to work makes you sick physically and emotionally, or you're just at a point in your life where you say, 'I've never liked what I do.'" If you're not happy at work, chances are you're as productive, which often means you're not as marketable, so if you're looking for change these may be just the signs you need to help you make that move.

Ask yourself, "Am I really ready?"

Changing your career can be daunting, especially if you're leaving behind a comfortable position or have financial obligations. It's a process that requires asking yourself some "deep soul-searching questions," says Kay. These include looking at your life and asking whether you are willing to truly put in the time it takes to switch gears.

This is not the time to say, 'I don't have time or money to go back to school,'" she adds. "That's what 90% of people say and my response to that is that you don't even know if you need to go back to school because it depends on the career you're going into." Look at what's going on in your life and find out whether you're willing to accept some of the setbacks (you may lose income, for instance) that may come with making the transition.

Follow your passion, but be practical

"When you ask 'What is your passion?' 99% of people can't even tell you what that is," says Kay. Finding your passion is the start but it's not very meaningful if you don't do the work to define what that is. "Some people are passionate about animals, but does that mean they should become a vet? Not necessarily. Does that means they should write about animals? Maybe." That's why it's important to define exactly what you'll be doing by matching your skills with your passion.

Assess Your Transferable Skills

One of the most important thing to do when considering a career change is to ask yourself the question: "What am I good at?" Is it communication? Do you have great people skills? Are you a skilled project manager? A skilled web designer? "You really need to ask yourself those kinds of questions to help you identify the 'What would I enjoy doing?'" part of your transition," says Kay. In most cases you will be able to use the knowledge you have in some form on your new career path.

She adds, "The key to making a change is to match up what is needed out in the world with what you have to offer. Your new career is somewhere where those two meet."

Research Your New Career

What looks good on the outside may not always be what is, career-wise. Do your research and find out exactly what it's like working in your chosen career path. Once you have narrowed it down consider requesting an exploratory interview with a human resources manager to find out what sorts of persons they are looking for. "Once you're clear about your direction," says Kay, "you can say, 'I amlooking for a role in this new direction.' Would you mind giving me some feedback about the kinds of opportunities out there."

Get Out There And Network

Kay defines networking as the process of "having purposeful conversations with people to give you advice on whatever you're seeking." Networking could mean joining a professional organization, joining an online group or being referred to a new contact who works in your chosen field by your college's alumni association. Once you have found someone, "ask them questions about whether you're a good fit and can they can refer you to other people to talk to. Remember you're not asking these people for a job, you're asking for information and referrals," she says.

Create a Circle Of Support

Whether it's getting a career coach or a mentor, getting support is one of the best ways to stay on track. Kay also suggests getting a "nag-buddy." "This is somebody that you have in your life who is very supportive of your new career search and will act as a sounding board; somebody who is really open to what you have to say and who will be there to hold you accountable. They're there to say 'Did you follow up on that homework that your career counselor gave you?' or 'did you check in with those four people that you were going to follow up with?'"

Creating a "Get-Ahead" Strategy For Your Career

Creating a "Get-Ahead" Strategy For Your Career

If the last couple of years have taught us anything it's that job safety is a thing of the past. The current job market requires a tremendous amount of self-determination, creativity and chutzpah. Like the vision board you may have mapped out for your life, from now on your career also needs guidelines. A "get-ahead" strategy requires careful planning and the use non-traditional routes like self-branding and social media. Here are a few ideas to consider as you plot your new course of action.

Cultivate Your Personal Brand

As clichéd as it to jump on the bandwagon of self-branding, it is truly a sign of the times, and unless you're ready to create an alternative model, it might be best to get on board if you're trying to stay competitive in the "me" economy. "Personal branding, by definition, is the process by which we market ourselves to others," writes Dan Schwanbel, author of "Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success."

Schwanbel suggests finding your passion and deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life. "The key to success, and this isn't revolutionary, is to be compensated based on your passion. In order to find your passion, you need a lot of time to think, some luck and you need to do some research online to figure out what's out there."

"To know if you've discovered your brand, you need to make this equation equal: Your self-impression = How people perceive you."

Be a Master at Managing Your Online Presence

Google Your Name: The first step to managing your online presence is to do a Google search of yourself. If there is something out there you believe is damaging, like your social security number, you can either use Google's URL Removal Tool or hire a Search Engine Reputation Management company to help you clean up your online profile.

Maintain a Presence On Networking Sites: How many times have you set up a profile on a networking site and totally forgot about it a few weeks later? You're doing yourself a disservice by not updating your profile and skills, especially on a site like LinkedIn, says Dianne Gubbin, a career coach and author of "Power Ladder: Network Your Way to Career Success."

For someone who's growing their career it's really important to put a web networking presence out there you're proud of; one that says who you are or who you want to be, she adds. "If you're looking for a job, would you rather be sending out a lot of resume's and falling into a blackhole of 'nobody's calling me back' or would you rather be findable online where you can be recruited versus having to go out and find a job?"

Create a strong Professional Network

The truth is more jobs are found through personal and professional networks than any other way, so seek out people outside of your immediate circle, particularly professionals who are more advanced than you who can pull you up, advises Gubbin. "It's about finding people who have been down those paths before who can introduce you to their peers and acquaintances because they're the ones who are going to help you get that next job."

Join a Professional Association

Even in the days of online networking, nothing beats a face-to-face encounter at, say, a luncheon hosted by a respected professional association in your field. Gubbin suggests you begin by taking a volunteer position at said association and then hopefully work your way up. "You'll learn new skills and at the same time you'll expand your circle of influence in places that you wouldn't normally have the opportunity within your current company," she says.

Get a Side Hustle

Whatever you choose to do call it: moonlighting, freelancing, side-hustle, more so than ever, people are having to think about the "what-if's" of their careers. 'What if I get laid off?' 'What if I can't support myself.' It's not to say you should take away from your main job, but you should be looking at your strengths as a means of earning extra income and updating your proficiency. "You should be developing skills that you can use if you do ever choose to start a company or should you find yourself in a situation where, from no fault of your own, you lose your job and can't get a job for an extended period of time," says Gubbin.

Hobbies turned into side-hustles are also a great way to boost your self-esteem and overall job performance. If it's inspiration you need, just think of Lisa Price of Carol's Daughter who started her business in her kitchen, after work.