Are you reading this while you're supposed to be working? Shame on you.
Just joking, but have you ever considered why your day at work is so mundane that you find yourself scrawling through social media and reading articles to pass the time? Perhaps it's time to consider if the career you're in is the right one for you.
With that in mind, we spoke to recruitment expert Vinny Kelly, Managing Director of Tactical Talent Recruitment, a Dublin-based recruitment agency, to get some words of wisdom on changing careers. Vinny has been guiding people through career changes since the marathon bar decided it wanted to become a snickers.
If you're still reading, then a career change is probably something you've thought about already. You find that heading into work is a struggle, you're losing a little bit of passion for your role and you've started to look for a way out.
Deciding to change careers can be a daunting time and many people don't know where to start. Here are some tips to point you in the right direction.
Talk to others
If a particular career interests you, reach out to friends or family members who already have experience of the industry and may have some useful contacts.
Vinny says “at Tactical Talent, we’ve helped many people successfully navigate the journey of making a career change. More and more people are taking their career in a new direction. You shouldn’t underestimate the power of a lateral career move for professional growth.”
Assess your interests
As the old saying goes, "if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life."
Countless people, from fashion designers to novelists to radio djs, have made new careers out of pursuing their passions.
Having a natural interest in your chosen pursuit can only lead to a greater level of happiness in the workplace.
Take a course
If you have a particular interest, why not pursue it through an evening or weekend course?
Vinny advises to "research some classes at your local university or community college. It could be the first step on the road to a new life of job satisfaction."
Choose your moment
Changing careers can lead to a lot of upheaval.
"Make sure not to jump ship too early or without undertaking the right amount of research. Such a big life decision requires a fair amount of patience," according to Vinny.
Identify your transferable skills
Just because you are leaving one career, that doesn't mean you can't transfer the skills you have acquired over to your new one.
Vinny says that "anything from leadership, creative thinking and technical skills can help kickstart your new career and your people skills could be your greatest asset. Many of the clients we have at Tactical Talent have leadership and interpersonal strengths at that top of their wish list for their next employee. The “War for Talent” has recommenced and employers are increasingly open-minded when it comes to transferable skills”
People who make the brave move to take a change in career direction rarely regret it and only wish they had done it sooner. Why stay in a career that that leaves you unfulfilled when the perfect role could be out there for you?Contact Tactical Talent for advice or send your CV to jobs@tacticaltalent.ie
