Recruitment Tips for Changing Career Direction

If you’re considering a change in career, then it can be an extremely daunting concept. Finding a job is difficult and time-consuming - let alone when you’re entering a completely new job market. However - changing your career certainly isn’t impossible, and with these recruitment tips for changing career direction, you’ll be well on your way to a new job in no time. 

Identify why you want to change 

It’s important to figure out why it is you want to change direction for your career. Are you unhappy with your current job, or is it the sector as a whole? Are you excited for the prospect of starting again or does it make you anxious?

Are you feeling unfulfilled? Unsettled? Will a change in career help those things?

When you know why it is you want to change your career - then you can begin to take the steps towards changing it. 

Understand what direction you’re chasing 

Once you’ve identified why it is that you want to pivot your career, it’s time to understand what direction it is that you’re looking to change your career to. 

What is it that you visualise yourself doing? Think about what you’d like your job title to be and what you’d like your career to look like, and then you can start forming the path to get yourself there. 

List your skills and capabilities 

Before you start applying for new jobs, it’s important to get a good understanding of what you can bring to a prospective job role. 
As such, list the skills and capabilities that you currently have, including any specific certifications or qualifications. It’s particularly important to identify which of your skills are transferable, and which could be utilised appropriately within a different career path. 

This is not only a great exercise for you to determine how quickly you could adapt to a new job role, but could be particularly useful when speaking to recruitment consultants, and while prepping for any prospective job interviews. 

Consider work experience 

If you don’t have any specific experience in the market you’re looking to transfer your career into - then it might be a good idea to consider some work experience. Securing some work experience would not only build your CV, but could show excellent initiative to prospective employers. Work experience is also a fantastic opportunity to get a flavour of your chosen industry and see if a career change is really for you. 

Assess the market 

Before you take the leap to apply for jobs within a different industry, it’s important to assess the market and see which types of opportunities are available within your desired sector. 

Naturally, there are a number of things to consider with any job - but particularly when a career change is involved. It’s important to look at your financial commitments, as well as what the typical salary brackets are for job roles you could feasibly interview for based on your previous work experience and transferable skills. 

Look at the typical job titles that are available in your desired work sector, which types of skills are essential and desired and whether companies will consider applicants without direct experience. 

Go for it 

If you know that you’d regret it if you didn’t pursue a change of career, then you have to go for it. With the help of a good recruitment consultant, some expectation management and the patience to wait for the right opportunity, you can make sure that a successful career change is on the horizon.