Taking Control of Your Career

Every had a moment at work where you looked around and wondered how you got there? Perhaps you had never expected to be with that company, working in that job or involved in that industry.

No, it isn’t a sign of amnesia, more likely it’s an indication that you have lost control of your career.

Some people map out their futures at an early age and then follow their plans to the letter. But, for others, everyday life takes over and they find themselves almost falling into jobs without any real thought or planning.

Sometimes, this approach works. You are lucky to have stumbled upon something that you enjoy, are good at or for which you are well paid.

But when you have the realisation that you’re in the wrong job or career, or you haven’t progressed as you’d hoped, it’s a horrible and helpless feeling. You need to do something…but what?

Here are seven steps that can help you to regain control of your career.

Accept Responsibility

You can’t change the past, but you can certainly influence the future. No matter how you managed to find yourself in a career dead end, acknowledge that it’s up to you to find your way out.

Decide What You Want to Do

The easy bit is knowing that you want to make a change. The tricky bit is knowing what that change is. Think carefully, make a decision and go for it.

How are You Going to Get There?

It might involve studying for a qualification, gaining more experience, working harder…or all three. To reach the promised land of your chosen job, set yourself goals to help you along the way.

Include Others

Don’t be shy about your plans. Tell your partner, relatives, friends and, if it helps to achieve your ambitions, tell work colleagues. Sharing your intentions with those around will feel empowering.

Stick to the Plan

Your desperation to do something different could lead you to apply for any job that helps you escape your current situation. Resist this urge and only go for positions that interest or excite you – or you’ll find yourself in a similar predicament before long.

Be Flexible

While clearly defined goals are important, be prepared to tweak them every now and then. On your career journey you may discover other opportunities that appeal to you more than your original target.

Don’t Give Up

Taking control of your career should lead to a more rewarding working life – but it won’t happen overnight. Stay positive in the face of any rejection of disappointment and continue towards achieving your hopes and dreams.

Low Cost Ways to Retrain

With Coronavirus continuing to dominate everyday life in the UK, some people will find themselves with more spare time. That may be a result of being unable to work from home or because their social lives have come crashing to a halt.

Regardless of the circumstances, the current ‘lockdown’ provides an opportunity for anyone who is interested in retraining but usually wouldn’t have time.

Learning something new in order to change careers isn’t always easy. Many qualifications, degrees and some professional awards can be expensive.

But while a lack of finances can make finding the right course more of a challenge, it shouldn’t mean that it’s an impossible task.

Here are four ways to retrain without breaking the bank:

Sign up for a Course

There are many organisations providing short courses (sometimes free) on a wide array of subjects. Visit the websites of Future Learn, Open University, Reed and others to find out more.

If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging (and long-term) then online degrees are also available. The Open University also excel in this area and, depending on your income, you may not have to pay a penny.

Gain Some Experience

Volunteering is always a good idea but it’s even more important in the current climate. There are all sorts of ways you can make a contribution to your local community or some other good cause.

As well as the satisfaction of lending a hand, a volunteering role on your CV can demonstrate work experience in your chosen field and how keen you are.

Train Yourself

Not every job or career requires a degree or other formal qualification. Sometimes, showing how talented you are is more important.

Anyone interested in freelance writing or photography could start a blog or build a portfolio. When it comes to finding work, showing your previous efforts is far more likely to be of use then a certificate. And if you do need any help with the theory behind your role, there should be enough articles online to answer any questions you have.

Have a Side Hustle

Most career changes don’t happen overnight. In many cases, they are slow processes, coming after a lot of hard work and a few setbacks along the way.

That’s why starting off slowly, and working your chosen career as a second job, can be a great idea. You gain valuable experience while still having the security of your boring old full-time role.

Deciding on a New Career

A career doesn’t have to be for life. Many people, for all sorts of reasons, decide that it’s time to do something different with their working lives.

And it doesn’t have to happen in your 20s. Many people make the big switch in their 40s or 50s. But more about that another time.

Whatever age you are, here are five steps to help set you on the path to a happy new career.

Identify what Motivates You

Before deciding what you’re going to do for a living, you need to work out what you want out of a new career. For some, it’s all about the money, while others want job security.

Others are following a dream or turning a hobby into a profession. Then there are those who want a sense of fulfilment and get a kick out of helping others.

Recognise Your Talents

Everyone has skills and abilities and knowing what you are good at should play an important part when deciding on your next role. Some talents are immediately obvious while others require a bit of thought.

Examples may include soft skills like assertiveness, negotiating or presentation skills. Hard skills, meanwhile, could be speaking a foreign language, bookkeeping or being able to use a specific IT packages.

Try Different Things

It’s ok to have a list of possible career choices – options are always a good thing. But to help you to make an informed decision, it’s not a bad idea to dip your toe in the water.

Volunteering, studying, reading online profiles and making contact with people or organisations relevant to the career you are interested in are all great ways of helping you decide what you want to do.

Decide if Your Career is Achievable

Having dreams is great but it’s important to keep a sense of realism when choosing the next step in your working life. For example, if you’re in your mid 40s the chances of a career in professional football are looking unlikely.

Take a step back and be honest with yourself. If you have any chance of making it in the career you have in mind then go for it. If not, then it’s time to reconsider.

Work Out How to Get There

For some professions, a degree is a must. The only decision to be made is whether full-time study is required or if there are part-time alternatives.

Other career paths are not so straightforward. Sometimes, getting your foot in the door at a suitable organisation is every bit as useful as a qualification. As mentioned above, volunteering can also be a great way of starting out in a particular industry.

Consider Other Factors

Many of these factors will be financial. Will changing careers involving starting in a bottom of the ladder position with a lower salary? Or how will your fund your studies and support yourself and any other dependants.

There are a host of potential sacrifices. If you’re studying and working at the same time, when do you plan to spend time with you other half and your kids? And are you prepared to scale back on you social life and leisure activities?