The past year of the pandemic has made people reflect on what they value in a workplace and in their job. For many, that means considering making a big career change.
If this sounds familiar and you’ve been thinking of making the leap to a new career yourself, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a few steps to help you get started.
1. Focus on your transferable skills
Start by writing a list of your skills and strengths. Make them broad and not specific to the domain or industry you’re currently working in. These could include skill sets like communications, analytical skills, project, or people management. How can these be transferable to other careers you’ve been considering?
When we reflect on ourselves, it can sometimes be easier to identify weaknesses than strengths so if you’re struggling with this, ask a few close friends or colleagues how they would describe your skills. And if you have access to your previous performance appraisals, this is another great spot to look at!
2. Identify what matters most to you
What motivates you about work? What is most important to you in a workplace? What are your work pet peeves? What qualities did your best manager have? Do you want to make lots of money or have a better work-life balance? Do you want to move up or move laterally?
These are all questions you should be thinking about when evaluating your next career move. As a best practice, we recommend putting this into writing. This is a great way to help you articulate what exactly you’re looking for in your potential new career and workplace
To spark some ideas, read our blog with trends we found candidates are looking for from employers in 2021.
3. Reach out to someone working in the field you’re interested in
Learning from someone who’s actually working in a role you want to be is one of the best ways to figure out if it’s for you. First look at your existing network and see if you have any strong (or weak!) ties or mutual connections with someone in a role you’re interested in.
When you reach out to someone whose career you admire, be mindful of their time and direct about what you’re looking for. In your initial message, highlight what you find particularly interesting about their work, and what you want to discuss with them.
4. Research what jobs are out there
Find job postings in roles you’re interested in and see what skills and experience is listed in the posting. In your research, you’ll see what patterns in common skills employers are looking for in candidates. Check if the skills you’ve already identified as your strengths show up in these job postings.
If you’re not finding the right jobs to apply for or aren’t having luck getting interviews, take a step back and break down your search into different stages to try to understand the root of the issue. Read our blog with 13 job search tips that will help you land the job you want.
5. Connect with a recruitment agency
The job hunt can be stressful and sometimes it can be hard to know where to look or even what exactly you’re looking for! That’s why connecting with a recruitment agency can help make the process more efficient and provide you with someone in your corner right from the start.
The right recruitment partner helps effectively communicate your value on the market, provides strategic advice, connects you with qualified opportunities based on your needs and aspirations, and keeps you informed at every step along the journey.
As a candidate with ML6, you can expect all of this and more. From intake to offer, and beyond, we help provide you with a job search solution that’s tailored to your interests and desires, and motivations. Learn more about our process by reading our blog about what it’s like to be an ML6 candidate.
To learn more about career opportunities and how to find a career and job that’s best for you, get in touch with our expert team of hiring professionals today!
About ML6
ML6 is a recruitment and talent advisory firm located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). We provide customized solutions to support our clients throughout the employee lifecycle. We help our clients attract and retain talent by advising on people programs, processes, and best practice
