We have been discussing about career change and various scenarios of reasons why career change is often the best choice for a lot of us or factors that could lead to a career change. However while you are at it, always think things through. Changing careers is not a piece of cake or as we would put it locally “Khane ka khel nahi hai…” There is a lot of thought process that should ideally go in to a career switch decision. There are lot mistakes that one can easily make while doing so and here we deal with those mistakes. These are 7 career switch mistakes that are easy to make and equally easy to avoid:
1. Changing Career just because you feel saturated in the current JOB:
Your current job may be a result for you to think of other avenues to look for as a career. But the point is, are you making a career decision based on your current experiences in your current job? You could be saturated or as they put it ‘reached a plateau’ in your current job, which could be easily broken with a job change or changing the way you approach the current set of problems around you. Deciding to change a career merely based on this factor is surely a mistake any one can easily make while thinking of a career switch.
2. Doing it since you think the new career has more money:
Monetary gains lead people to take huge leaps and sometimes they reach a new height and sometimes they fall to great depths. So tread carefully if you are thinking to switch a career simply for M O N E Y. We often forget money is a by-product of our efforts, expertise, abilities and execution of those is a way which is really of some value to someone else who is ready to pay for it. So are you skilled enough to really command decent revenue from your new career? Answer that, think over it and then take the career leap. Money can be good in the new career, but are you good enough for that career?
3. Changing Careers just because everyone around you thinks it is the right choice:
Changing career because others want you to or others told you so or others think it is good for you, is never going to work unless you feel the same. Are you feeling it is the right thing to do while choosing a career? If yes, go ahead, if not so, then it is a common mistake while changing career that you are making.
4. Changing Careers without having anyone to guide or mentor you:
How do you plan to succeed, heck even start off in your new career? It is not the same when you started off in your old career. You could be a newbie who had time on his/her side to learn the ropes, but at this time it very well could be that you are at a stage in your life where you are responsible for others’ well being around you as well. Kids, Family, Loans and a lot more… you will need to speed up that learning curve and climb the ladder sooner than later this time and it is crucial to find a mentor for that. Someone in your new career who is experienced and honest to guide you through the new career is vital to have around. If you do not, then well it is indeed a mistake.
5. Not learning about the new career before leaping in:
Just as a mentor is essential to guide you in a new career, your own readiness to learn about it is equally important. You should research and get some firsthand information about your new career before you take the plunge officially. Get to know the good and the bad things about your new career, especially the bad part since those are often too hard to handle. Apart from the overall scenario of your new career, your own skills also need to be enhanced and certain skills need to be newly acquired. You have to be up for it for your new career change to be smooth and subsequently, rewarding.
6. Forgetting to plan for contingencies:
This is the biggest thing people often overlook. Planning finances for a year or so is vital before a career change. Usually you would be starting with a lower pay-scale in your new career and also could be subject to a few months of training which may or may not be paid. Once things settle down and you are comfortable in your new career, things will be as usual like appraisals and other perks may follow; but the initial phase is often difficult, mentally as well as financially. So you should plan for it.
7. Not getting your family or closed ones on board:
In a country like ours where loved ones and family has a huge role and influence in our lives, not getting them in confidence about your new career change and its challenges is a crucial mistake that you should never make. Let them know, that the initial phase will be tough, it could include long work hours, research at home, less pay; you could be under-stress too and it is at times like those, that it is them who would be important as to how supportive they are or not to your new career.
Career change is exciting and it can often lead to great opportunities for growth, both personally and financially and could also lead to a more satisfactory professional life. However all this can be ruined if you make these 7 common career change mistakes, while deciding a new profession. Hope it helps you make a better decision; feel free to leave your thoughts.
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