Why you are Right to Change your Job and How to do it the Right Way
If your job makes you feel frustrated or bored to death, then you are not alone. If you are stuck in a position where you are not being challenged, or there are few opportunities for growth, then it leaves you with a single option, to switch your job. The era where people stuck with a company for life is over. To stay relevant in the job market, you need to re-invent yourself again and again. It might seem a bit scary to leave the security of a stable job to search for something new, but ships that don’t leave the shore never get anywhere. Sure, there will be storms along the way, but nothing good in life comes easily.
The journey to a better future begins with a simple step –
Set your Sights on the Target
Make sure you have a clear idea of what your next job is going to be. For example, if you are working as an IT professional then it makes sense to switch to emerging technologies like Big Data, artificial intelligence and machine learning among others. The top 13 skills in high demand, as listed by the Forbes Technology Council, are related to technology, meaning the tech sector is a good bet for a new career!
Take a MOOC and Get Certified
Once you set your sights on your dream job, the next step is to acquire skills needed for it. Say you want to become a data analyst.It is touted as the sexiest (and highly paid) job of this century, so it’s an excellent choice for you to consider. If your potential job demands skills you don’t have, consider enrolling in a MOOC.
MOOC’s or massive online open courses are online courses offered but the likes of MIT, Harvard, Microsoft, Facebook, you get the picture. You can take classes on everything and anything you want, from data science to artificial intelligence and coding to web development. You can browse hundreds of courses on websites like EdX, Udemy, Coursera, Udacity and many others. Companies like Salesforce, Google, Microsoft also offer specialized certifications in a variety of fields. The internet has made sure that you can learn anything you want without leaving your couch. So don’t mope about your lack of skills, take a MOOC and get certified.
Build a Portfolio
A certification is helpful, but companies will only invest in you if you can apply these skills to solve problems. A portfolio will showcase how creative and skilled you are. Create an account on GitHub, and put your work for all to see. In case you are a newbie to a field, this is where MOOCs will help. Most courses provide users with a couple of portfolio projects. Once you are no longer a beginner, contribute to open source projects in your spare time.
An impressive portfolio will speak more about your competence than any degree you might have.
Build a Network
You have probably heard this one, right? It is a standard tip but an essential one nonetheless. A majority of new hires, excluding fresh graduates, are by referrals from employees, both past and present ones. Connect with your friends and acquaintances working in the field you want to join. They will not only help you get interviews but also inform you of new developments in the industry. If you do not know anybody who works in your desired area, then LinkedIn is your best friend. Don’t be shy to ask for advice or a referral.
Take Practice Interviews
Practice makes us perfect, and interviews are no exception. You need to take mock interviews because of two reasons. You have probably not faced an interview for more than a year, and you need some practice to be at your best. The other compelling reason is that your skill set and professional achievements have changed since your last interviews. You need to work your new experiences and skills into your answers. You can take online mock interviews with industry experts on InterviewBuddy. You will face a mock interview that will mirror your actual in-person interview experience. Mock interviews will give you a chance to gain confidence and polish your communication skills.
Switching jobs can be a rewarding experience if you have the right plan and preparation. The most crucial part of this journey is not to lose hope. Whenever you have second thoughts about your decision to take a risk just remember these lines by Mark Zuckerberg,“the biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks”.
InterviewBuddy connects students, job seekers & people looking to scale up their career with industry experts to practice interviewing.
