Career transition is not just about trying something different. It is a choice to change your lifestyle. You rethink things like how you feel when your day ends, how you want to spend your time, and all this relates to your long-term goals.    

So, if you plan to quit your job to make a career transition, here are a few things you should consider! 

 

Ask Yourself The Reason Behind This Transition 

Ask yourself what’s bogging you down in your current job:   

• The culture of the organization 
• The people you work with 
• Or is it something else?    

It could also be possible that you love your job, but you want to build something new or experiment with a different sector. Hence, it is crucial to be radically honest with yourself and think everything through. Before you leave your job and make a career transition, find ways to experience what your next position may feel like. Think about: 

• Is it better than what you are doing now? 
• Is it worth your commitment?    

If you can take time off your work to focus on what you want to try next, do it. Use your weekends or post-work hours to experiment with the industries or roles and network with individuals already pursuing what you are interested in picking up. Remember that it can be challenging, but it helps you form a mental image of the life you want to build.    

Assess What You Want To Do Next 

While some people know what they want to work or do, if you do not know it yet, just take a step back and assess yourself. It is hard to understand where you're going if you aren’t aware of where you are. Find answers to these questions: 

1. What’s your end goal? 

1. If you keep doing what you do today, will you be closer to your ultimate goal? 

1. Will your 80-year-old self have more or less regrets due to your current choices? 

 

Don’t forget to write down the steps you need to take to make your future self proud and the problems that you may encounter while on the path to achieving it. Try to approach these questions with awareness, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment. Career transition has no formula. It is more about tinkering and figuring things out on the go.    

Understand When To Transition 

Career transition and hiring processes rely on experience. Most recruiters will nudge you towards a role very similar to your current job, even if you may have the skills to transition to a different sector. But you just need to find one hiring manager/recruiter who will understand you have what it takes to take on the new job role. Remember these things while transitioning: 

• Expect multiple rejections 
• Be realistic, but also dream big. Both can coexist 
• Every micro-action you take compounds over a period of time 
• Have urgency in actions and be patient to witness results 
• Have a backup plan 
• Set a timeframe in which it should work out. If it doesn’t rethink your goals   

You can change your industry, function, and geographical location, but changing all three can be difficult in one go. So, go for gradual change. It is much more sustainable.    

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