By Kevin M
Now might not be the best time to make a job or career change, but does that mean you have to sit where you’re at and just tough it out until better times come along and open up the doors of opportunity? Well, don’t go quitting your job, but there’s plenty you can (and should) do right now to get yourself prepared for the day when…
Start preparing yourself now for the place you want to be when the economy starts to creep back—many of the best opportunities will come as the elevator begins to rise, and pre-positioning yourself for that moment is something you don’t have to wait to start.
Preparing for the career
Even though you may not be in a position to enter your chosen career or business right now, there are specific areas you can work on now that will speed entry when the time comes.
Network and make connections that will help you make the move when the time comes. Even if you have no contacts presently, begin reaching into the new field any way you can. The internet offers networking opportunities in nearly any business you can imagine. This will be a way to collect valuable contacts—or even job prospects—before you even leave your present job.
Enroll in any training or certification programs needed. Some careers and businesses require certification or completion of training in order to enter. Often such programs can take months to complete. If time permits, now might be the perfect time to begin. In fact, now may be the best time if you already have a steady paycheck; that may not be the case if you wait until you enter the new field since certain fields bar entry until you have satisfied the requirements.
Add or update skills that will enhance your marketability for a new job or career. Most careers and businesses have certain skills that are specific to the field. Find out what they are and begin learning them. Will the new field require public speaking, different computer software, use of unfamiliar equipment? Find out what they are and begin learning them, it’ll shorten the learning curve when you finally make the jump.
If it’s a new career or business, look for part time work in that field so you can gain experience and make some contacts. If you’re anxious to jump in and get a leg up on your new career or business, one of the very best ways to do it is by taking a part time job in the field. Not only will you get training and contacts, but working and earning a paycheck—even a small one—will make the transition real. If you’re having difficulty landing a part time job, try looking for one during the industry’s busy season when opportunities will be more plentiful.
Find a mentor and learn all you can. Enter a new field and one thing is absolutely certain: you will make mistakes. Many of those mistakes can be avoided if you can become friendly with someone who’s already working in your desired field and who is willing to share the dos and don’ts of the trade. Avoiding mistakes can be a career saver.
Preparing outside the career
Not all preparations are related directly related to the new career itself. Many will be in the area of preparing your personal life for the change ahead.
Motivational techniques—books, cd’s websites, seminars to keep the juices flowing. If you’ve been on your current job long enough you may be in that dreaded state of going through the motions. You know the job well, and you find it boring. That’s not a good state of mind to enter a new career. Start working now to find sources of motivation that will get your fires burning and have you ready to step up when the time comes. Getting and staying motivated is critical in any production related career.
Cutting you’re living expenses to be prepared for a drop in income, should that be the case. More often than not, a career change brings a lower income. Start preparing your finances for this now. Much of the cost of living is habit; adapt your thinking and actions to a lower income and that’ll be one less hurdle you’ll have to deal with when the career change comes. The better you can manage on a reduced cash flow, the greater the likelihood of success in the new venture.
Saving up money and paying off bills to get yourself financially prepared for the move. Much of the risk and anxiety that comes with career change can be reduced by a large bank account. If you normally have $5000 in your savings account, be purposeful about increasing it to $10,000, or even $20,000, if time and income permit. The more savings you have behind you, the more confident you’ll be when you strike out into the unknown.
Start a diet and exercise program. Energy level is an overlooked factor in career success. People who have it are usually more successful than their peers because they have greater capacity to produce. Equally important, in starting a new career or business, you’ll absolutely need greater energy to deal with the stresses of managing a new venture. All of that is better accomplished if you’re in better physical condition.
Build up your social network. If you’re going into a new venture, you’ll need strong social support. Any time we step outside our comfort zones, there will be stresses and unpleasant surprises. Having family and friends nearby can help insulate us from that stress.
Still feel like the bad economy has you stuck in a going nowhere job? Now you’ve got plenty to keep you busy while you’re stuck. Get enough of these action steps line up in the right direction, and the day to make your move might come a lot sooner!
Good tips. Getting prepared financially for a job change or loss is key these days. Men change jobs on average every 4.5 years, for women it’s 3 years.
Even if you like your job now, start planning for your next move now. Not if it happens but when.
Gone are the days working for one company for 20 or 30 years.
Good point, I suspect few are really taken by surprise at a job loss. Many play the denial game until the last minute, desperate to continue living “nomal” until it’s too late. Preparedness is lost in the denial phase.