Any discussion and forum on the state of the job market ultimately devolves into a discussion of meeting the growing challenge of getting laid off. Big tech, cutting down on optimistically made decisions to enlarge their workforce during the pandemic, gently bidding goodbye to the talent in their midst, from newcomers to old hands. The addition of AI into the mix is not helping matters either. More and more people are increasingly seeing new developments related to technology seeping into their own industries, threatening established salary structures as well as job security. Employees and would-be employees alike are struggling to cope with being ‘let go’, trying to hang on, and finding new opportunities that can match the compensation and the perks they are used to. On the other hand, a few other pioneers are taking matters into their own hands entirely, to jump ship between industries before AI renders them entirely obsolete.
The decision to switch a career you’ve trained for and gained many years of experience at, is not a small call, and its impact is not limited to the person who makes it. Switching careers is not just a matter of switching between changing interests and preferences—it’s also a financial and investment decision that can affect your children, your partner/s, and anyone in your life you may choose to care for.
A financial decision aside, preference and desire are also key components to be considered when considering the next step in your career and the industry you want it to be in. Your preference in choosing careers is like a puzzle picture made up of many different pieces, each not vastly dissimilar to the other but bringing different things to the table nonetheless. These are your VIPS—values, interests, personality, and skills. These will likely share common themes that keep them interconnected and important to you. There are of course many different theoretical and conceptual tools that can help you identify what your preferences lie. An MBTI test will help you figure out what circumstances would likely be appealing to you on a day-to-day basis. Online assessments and career counselling sessions can also help you identify your preferences, as well as the career avenues that are open to these interests. Any career decision can only follow a self-assessment of this sort.
However, major life decisions can’t depend on basic consultations and preferences alone. Whatever your preferences are, they should be capable of earning you a livable wage, or at least contribute towards earning one. It’s important to explore the options available to you, which will likely reveal more than you would have ever believed. A true deep dive into what you want to do going forward likely requires that you become an expert of sorts. Here are a few useful sources of information you can investigate:
- Talk to professionals employed in the industry.
Oftentimes, there is no better source of information than word-of-mouth, which is why it’s the single most important promotion a brand can have. Talking to like-minded individuals – as well as those who have different mindsets – to gain a more grounded understanding of the new career you are considering. They will provide you with information that individual research simply cannot provide.
- Attend industry events
Industry events are often overlooked when researching careers. These are often interesting entry points into the industry/career you are considering, especially because they often tend to feature a cross-section of the industry—from those just starting out, to the people currently at the zenith of their careers. This can help you gain an idea of what career development in the field looks like and help decide whether it’s a part you want to take. A few industry events to look out for include conferences, exhibitions, seminars, meetups, and workshops. It will also help you make connections that could play well out in your future career.
- Look it up online
That said, looking up information on the interwebs is also an important source of information, primarily because of the different types of information it can provide. The internet offers industry analysis, company reports, discussion forums, chat groups, insight videos, and many more.
Taking the big leap after considering all the information at hand is where most people falter in making career transitions. Making a plan of action helps you break down this impossible task into smaller, more manageable steps. Switching careers is not as simple as applying for a different sort of job – it is common to find that you need to invest in yourself. This can take many forms, be it attending classes, retraining, earning new qualifications, or creating new interpersonal networks. Going back to school or starting out as a newbie is an intimidating prospect for most, especially if you’re used to being considered an expert all this while. Learning something new, however, can also be an incredibly rich and rewarding experience.
Making the switch will also entail professional decisions, from resigning from your old job to deciding on how you want to enter into the working space in a new career path. Making the connection into a new industry will likely be rocky at worst, and awkward at best. Internships, volunteer work, part-time work, accepting related projects in your ‘normal job’, and taking on freelance work – are all likely avenues to navigate the space between careers. It’s important to keep your expectations realistic when embarking on your journey. It would be helpful to have a support system in place to help you with the emotional highs and lows which will be an inevitable part of the journey.
(Theruni M. Liyanage)