If you’re feeling stuck in a rut with your current job, switching careers could be a welcome change. There’s lots of reasons why looking further afield could be a good decision. Maybe that’s better pay, an improved work/life balance, or more fulfilling work.
Taking the plunge can feel daunting. Afterall, it’s a big change, and often requires you to get out of your comfort zone. The good news is that sometimes the grass is indeed greener on the other side. Building up the confidence to take the next step could be one of the best decisions you make.
And to help you along the way, here are four top tips.
It’s perfectly natural to doubt yourself. And when it comes to switching careers, you might find
negative thoughts like these become a little overbearing. Leaving behind what you know, only to
dive headfirst into a new environment can be unsettling.
It’s important to remind yourself of the bigger picture and why you’ve made this decision – often to improve your life and the life of your family. There may be times when you feel uncomfortable, but these will be short lived as you develop and grow into your new career path. It’s also worth remembering that everyone starts somewhere, so the majority of people are willing to help and support you along the way.
Try reframing the situation by focusing on what could go well, rather than worrying about what could go wrong. Of course, it’s easier said than done to just ‘think positive’ at the click of a finger. So try writing down all the good things that could happen from changing careers and revisit this time and again. Doing so could help you feel more motivated and reassured.
Acquiring new skills is part and parcel of switching careers. It can be a rewarding process as you learn these, helping your self-development. And you might already have more skills than you give yourself credit for. You may have leant these in your previous job, or you might just naturally have
them – not all skills can be easily taught.
For example, do you:
The point is that skills aren’t necessarily just knowing how to use computing programs or being quick with numbers, sometimes they’re less obvious but equally important. So have a good think about what you consider yourself good at, and what skills support this.
Take professional sports people for example – they tend to be self-motivators, great at goal setting and have positive mental attitudes. These skills can also be applied to financial advice, where they can go a long way in building client relationships. Sometimes it might not be immediately obvious how a skill can transfer over to a new career, but with time it can present itself.
There really is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to switching careers. But what you can do to help yourself is be as proactive as possible. This might involve brushing up on your knowledge in your spare time, networking with people, or signing up for industry newsletters.
Of course, certain professions like financial advice will have specific qualifications to work towards. But that’s not to say that valuable information can’t be gathered elsewhere. A genuine eagerness to learn can also make a great impression on new colleagues. Changing careers isn’t something everyone does, and might even be a once in a lifetime experience, so really take the opportunity to make the most of it.
Whatever way you look at it, it will take time to settle into a new career. You’ll need to be realistic around your expectations, and at what point you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of what made you switch in the first place. Doing your research and creating an action plan of what’s involved can help ensure your expectations are kept in line. For example, that might include the years needed to gain certain qualifications, or the amount of studying that’s involved.
Having a support network in place can help greatly here. Whether that’s family or friends, they can be invaluable in helping you ride out any bumps along the way, providing encouragement when you most need it.
We understand what it’s like to switch careers. That’s why we’re well versed in providing all the support and training you need to successfully make that leap of faith. In fact, we’ve already helped many people from varied backgrounds become fully qualified financial advisers.
You need absolutely no prior experience whatsoever so don’t let that hold you back. Click here to take a new path today.
Find out more about the opportunities with M&G Wealth Advice Academy, check out their Featured Company Profile page.
You can also connect with M&G Wealth Advice Academy by editing your profile and updating your connect with featured companies preferences to start a conversation.
Read another article from M&G “What skills does the Financial Adviser of the Future need?” to help best understand this role within finance.
Read a real-life career changer story in the article “From Sports Person to Financial Planner” below.
