When the existing job loses its charm or does not exist, "Plan B" can provide immediate and exciting opportunities. If you are considering changing careers, there are some unsuitable factors in your current job. Determine what it is, and you won't make the same mistake again.
Have you always wanted to change your profession or position? Do you always wish you had done something else, lived in another place and worked for another organization? Well, now besides dreaming, we must act!
Drake Beam Morin, a career management/employment agency based in Boston, said: Nowadays, the extremely tight labor market makes enterprises more and more willing to consider accepting job seekers who change careers. However, even if you are not fully prepared to jump around, you can start planning now, because you never know how long your current job will last. In his book Be True to Your Future, Elwood N. Chapman called it "Plan B", that is, a well-conceived strategy aimed at "providing an immediately exciting opportunity when the existing job (Plan A) loses its charm or does not exist".
Whether your career change is your own choice or forced by the situation, a successful change depends on a series of steps:
1. Don't let your thoughts scare you. Chapman wrote that when everyone starts thinking and talking about "Plan B", they will feel scared. They are afraid of endangering their present position; They worry that they may be exhausted or spend a lot of money on education. But most enterprises realize that managers must be prepared for possible changes. Some companies even claim that people who explore other career paths become more active in their existing jobs, bringing a new atmosphere to the workplace. Therefore, if these enterprises hear that a manager has devoted all his personal time to self-development, they will only welcome it.
As for the academic requirements related to transfer, salary reduction and career change, these are all up to you. Plan B was made by you. If you don't like it, you can not do it.
2. Think about what's wrong with your current job? Sometimes, people do jobs that are completely unsuitable for them. Drake. Light beam. This is the case with Pamela Cooper, a career consultant of Moline Company. She found that going to work every morning made her feel sick. Fortunately, Cooper said, most managers got rid of the occupational environment before it had such a great physiological impact on them. However, if you are considering changing careers, there are some unsuitable factors in your current job. Determine what it is, so that you won't make the same mistake again.
Imagine your "dream job". Some people already have ideas in their hearts, while others don't. If you are not satisfied with the present situation, but don't know what you want to do, Cooper suggests you ask yourself what you like in your current job or what you like in your previous job. Brainstorming for answers can help you understand what you like, which in turn can give you an idea of your ideal career. What fields are you generally interested in? Can you determine the specific responsibilities in these areas? Is there any job that you are particularly interested in?
4. Clear your vision by looking in the labor market. Du Fei, President of High Achievement Company and host of the radio program "Pure Relationship". Dr Duffy Spencer said that we all dream of having a perfect job. But too often, our dreams don't match the reality. Our imaginary job may not exist at all. Even if it does exist, research on the job market may show that the job is poorly paid. But Spencer said that before you think about salary and job opportunities, you must make sure that you really want the job.
5. Know your priorities. With Richard. Widmer co-authored The Transition: A Seminar on Career Management from Harvard Business School Club in new york. Lindley. Mary Lindley Burton pointed out that any market research should pay special attention to the most critical issues for you. For example, if you value the balance between work and family, you may want to avoid working 60 hours a week. Burton also advised people to question their assumptions about work and the job market. For example, some people may think that changing from enterprise to academic will make them in a more relaxed and friendly working environment, but this is often not the case.
6. Conduct interviews to get information. Mico Zinty, who used to work in the MBA Career Center of the University of Maryland and now serves as the global best practice consultant of the American Institute of International Management, suggested that managers should arrange informative interviews to learn more about the jobs they think they want. Every job has its shortcomings, and managers should talk to people engaged in this kind of work and find out its negative factors. Ask the question: What do you usually do in a day? How flexible are you in determining the work content, arranging the work schedule and progress? How much time do you have to plan your work? Does your position require long hours of overtime? You must also check the skills and abilities required for the position to see if the position is suitable for you, Jin Ti said.
7. Interconnection, interconnection, interconnection. Burton suggested that managers make a list of "all the leaders they know" and contact people who work in their fields of interest. She pointed out that today's business culture allows such a wide range of interconnected activities. For example, five years ago or 10 years ago, it seemed abrupt to contact the relevant people on your college alumni list, but now it is not surprising. Besides, informative interviews can add new people to your network, and they may help you pursue your dream job. Chapman believes that you must become a "professional information magnet", not only to meet people in your field of interest alone, but also to participate in group activities to understand what is happening in this field and what role you may play.
8. Determine the pros and cons of job-hopping. When you create Plan B, you should have a job, even if it is only a "temporary" job. What if you lose your job? Spencer advised people to accept any existing job and make an ideal work plan at the same time. If you are at work, she encourages you to keep the status quo and build a matrix to weigh the pros and cons of change, so as to evaluate your status quo. For example, suppose you are considering leaving business to become a teacher. On the positive side, you may feel more fulfilled by doing so. If it is negative, the salary may be greatly reduced, and you must go back to school to get a certificate. A financial manager recently left a company in new york City, sold his house in New Jersey, moved to his summer house in Maine, and became the financial manager of the local campus. At the age of 58, he worked for a company facing restructuring pressure. He believes that this change has satisfied his long-term dream of a simpler, safer and more fulfilling life. For him, the sacrifice is worth it.
9. Get all the training you need. Ginti suggests that you can determine your skills and abilities more comprehensively through self-assessment. If Plan B needs new skills, you must know how to make up for it. You must start to implement the family self-study program, or sign up for night classes at the local university.
10. Be able to show your value. Plan B will blossom and bear fruit at this time-if that's what you want. Your plan may lead you to find another position in your current company, or you may find another job. In either case, you must pass the interview, Burton said.
The person who gives you your "dream job" believes that you have the ability to make changes. "It's not enough to say' I've always wanted to be …' to a future employer," said Gindy. In the interview process of "ideal job", you must explain yourself in an effective way-that is, self-marketing. Burton suggested that people anticipate several questions they will be asked in advance and be prepared to answer them to explain how their past professional background or volunteer leaders gave them key skills. For example, your previous job may not include budget responsibility, but you can mention that you held a position of managing funds in a voluntary organization.
A woman's career change
Pamela Cooper is a new employment consultant of Drake Beam Moline Company. She is an authority to help managers make major career changes. She relies not only on seniority, but also on personal experience.
Shortly after she got her degree in psychology, she became the youngest professor at the University of Connecticut. When she was in college in Pennsylvania, she didn't think much about her career, but she liked teaching and felt that the position of professor was naturally suitable for her. That's not true. This position involves a lot of research work, which she is not good at. "I'm like a square nail hitting a round hole," she said. After teaching for three years, she finally admitted that she was not suitable for the job. The signs are obvious: one day on the way to work, she had to stop and get off to vomit.
After considering the factors she likes and dislikes at work-she especially likes dealing with people-she decided to find a position in the human resources department of the company. After studying in 1 year, she spent some time providing free consultation, and she got a position of junior human resources. After half a year, the department manager left, and she took over as the manager and was promoted all the way.
Later, she left the company and became a full-time mother. The company is laying off staff, so please ask her to guide the decision. "The last person I fired was myself." At this point, please ask her to contact the company that guides the introduction of the new job and suggest that she subcontract the work. However, when she and her husband adopted two Russian children, she had to choose between career and family again.
1 year later, she returned to a new employment agency, working four days a week and often working from home. She said that she was very satisfied with her new life.