Don’t Get Stuck In A Rut
July 13, 2009 by Darlene McDaniel
Filed under Jobs
Don’t get stuck in a rut. If you need a job and you can’t find one in your industry, consider changing industries. If you are struggling to get your phone to ring and/or get an interview, you may want to step back and evaluate your skill set. Identifying your transferable skills will help you
make a successful transition to another industry. However that is not the only thing you need to consider.
If you want to or need to change industries you may want to consider a few more things.
1. Go back to school for a specific trade or skill you need.
2. Find an opportunity to volunteer for a job within the new industry.
3. Set up an informational interview and find out the skills and abilities you need for the industry.
4. Consider taking an entry level position in the new industry.
5. Consider moving away from a chronological resume to a functional resume.
6. Network with people within the industry you are interested in,
7. Develop a strategy for making the change. Don’t assume just because you want to change you will make the change. Plan the career change.
8. Assess your reasons for wanting to make a career change. You should have clear reasons that you can articulate about why you are making the change. It can’t be just because you can’t find a job in your previous industry.
Last but not least, be flexible. When you are making a career change, things may not go as smoothly as you would like. As I stated, you may have to take an entry level position to successfully make the change. You may have to take a decrease in your salary. Flexibility will help you make a smooth transition. No matter what obstacles you find in front of you, if it is time for a change, determine that you are willing to take the chance and step outside of your comfort zone and go for it.
Image Credit: sxc.hu
Nice bullet list of options. The one that stands out most to me is the “going back to school” option. Not only is it very common given the economy situation it most certainly will get you out of the rut since changing careers is like physically moving from a bad situation to a good one. That is of course assuming that the new career has some long term projections.
Hi Mike, Thanks for stopping by bizzia Careers! I love the going back to school option too. So many people feel like they don’t have options. I say create options. School gives you the opportunity to create new options and possibilities. Feel free to stop by any time.
Darlene