Even though switching careers can be exciting and rewarding, it can also be intimidating. Sometimes, as you finally seize the long-awaited chance, the new position still requires you to step outside your comfort zone. So it’s normal to experience even the smallest amount of restlessness. But don’t let that discourage you!
Let’s discuss the typical difficulties that arise when starting a new career and how to use them as a springboard for personal and professional development.
Workplace & Mindset Change
Whether you’re changing jobs or industries, each work environment is distinct in its own way. The profiles of people, the scope of work, the pace, the organization of work, the time, and the location all require some adjustment time. For example, assume you are transitioning from a stressful to a healthy work environment. As funny as it may sound, this is a cultural shock. In what way? You must adopt a new mindset to align your professional and interpersonal skills with the company vision and culture. This also entails breaking old habits that no longer benefit you in this situation.
Tip: Observe how your team works and seek guidance to become acquainted with the company culture as soon as possible.
Acquiring New Skills
A new or similar position in another company usually entails the acquisition of new knowledge and skills. For example, you could be learning to use a new task manager or online tools, mastering the scrum framework, or learning about industry news. Of course, this becomes more intense if you begin from scratch in a business sector with which you have never interacted. Working and studying at the same time can be agonizing. It takes a lot of discipline and time management skills to effectively balance both.
Tip: Take the time to plan and set priorities properly, and you will succeed.
Financial Risk
You may be dissatisfied with your current job and no longer see yourself in that position. However, you would only leave your job after first securing compensation. On the other hand, current business obligations don’t allow you enough time to prepare for or attend a job interview, so you find yourself in a vicious circle. This can be a stumbling block unless you are daring or have enough savings to afford a month or two of vacation and dedication to job hunting.
Tip: A part-time job would provide an excellent balance of income and free time while looking for a new job.
Competition
Statistics show that a person’s working life includes five to seven career changes. Today’s fast-paced lifestyle and the benefits of remote work, both with domestic and foreign companies, quickly change these figures. This means that most people come into frequent contact with the competition due to frequent changes in the workplace. Maybe you don’t belong to this group, and you’ve been in one place for a long time. Without researching the market, you feel the competition thrived through a more dynamic career. That may overwhelm you.
Tip: Check out the competition’s skills on LinkedIn and use that data to boost your own.
Network
Your professional network is extensive if you’ve been in the same industry for a long time. This gives you an advantage in terms of recommendations and insight into open positions in other companies. On the contrary, this circle is small or nonexistent if you are fresh out of school or starting in a completely different industry. Good news! You can still progress and attract recruiters’ attention. But, your path is much jumpier than those with broader acquaintances.
Tip: Don’t hesitate to contact your potential employer’s team via LinkedIn.
How Does Fake Interview Help You Get Around These Obstacles?
Changing careers requires courage. This is not to say that you should indulge in a completely unsuitable role in terms of your knowledge, skills, and natural talent. However, you can meticulously prepare your job interview presentation to avoid these stumbling blocks.
Fake Interview is an excellent way to practice for an actual job interview with the assistance of an expert mentor. Not only do you practice the best way to present yourself and your knowledge, but you also break the ice and employ tricks that appeal to recruiters based on what is written between the lines. Did you know that character and responsibility are the often deciding factors in hiring a candidate, casting rich resumes aside?Takeaway wisdom: Accepting discomfort can lead to personal and professional growth and new learning and development opportunities. Remember to be gentle with yourself and to have faith in the process.