Career change strategy
The words career change easily roll of the tongue, from then on it becomes very complex. Think skills, expertise, personality, time of life, geographical limitations, strengths, weaknesses, values, education, qualifications, team skills, leadership skills, soft skills, literacy skills, numeracy skills, employment history and much more...
Career change and/or career development (at any stage or level) need to be carefully managed to get the right outcome for each person. The 21st-century employment market has grown highly competitive and sophisticated. Inadequate knowledge and preparation can result in lost opportunities, frustration and rejection. People often settle for less with a resultant loss in income, job satisfaction and career path.
Career change is about getting a "good outcome" not simply finding a new job...people often confuse the two. It's about moving into a completely new sector or occupation and certainly involves challenging your personal comfort zone.
Professional assessment and intensive research are required to identify current transferable skills, or to develop a strategy to gain the necessary skills and additional qualifications.
Identifying companies and sectors that have growth are also critical to a person's long-term career prospects.
As previously stated career change is a complex process to get right and may require a number of steps over a period of time to properly finalise. Specialised career and strategy planning to effectively manage the process is the key to a satisfactory outcome.
ACMA has also developed an extensive online library of over 150 career development/job search resources and tools that ensure clients have access to the latest international and local vocational information, plus current occupational research and technical methods in order to systemise and accelerate the career management/job search process.
Career development success is achieved not just in knowing the right strategies, but in applying them in a consistent, systematic and proven manner...building a satisfying career is much easier if you have the right guidance.
A typical job seeker's approach is often haphazard and unfocused, blended with a complete lack of career management knowledge. People report applying for numerous jobs and not getting a reply, let alone an interview or a job. A huge amount of time and emotion are expended for little or no results, leading to disappointment, loss of income and self-esteem.
Career change is a specialist field managed by experienced and tertiary qualified professionals (contrast this with the above paragraph).
It can be a highly rewarding life-transforming journey or a disaster...it all depends on how you manage your career change and transition process.
A career change can be likened to a fifty-piece jigsaw puzzle! You have to get all the pieces fitting perfectly or nothing will be achieved.
A clear strategy, involving self-discipline and personal resilience is the foundation of a successful career change.
Wow! You make it sound so hard (people say). Well, that's the inconvenient truth...failure is easy.
The willingness to listen and learn from a career management professional is the key to success. Tips from good-hearted family and friends can quickly sabotage your career change. Everyone knows a little about job search, but only a professional knows A LOT and what is relevant to you.
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be" - William Shakespeare
ACMA creates successful career paths through detailed individual assessment, research and job market analysis, combined with expert personalised coaching.
Note: A Career Development Association of Australia research paper found that when professional career guidance occurred that the participant was 2.67 times more likely to secure a job.
All program services can be delivered via our interactive online cloud-based career management "Career Talk" system and/or "one-on-one" in our Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Cairns or Auckland offices.
