Take These 7 Small Steps To Make a Big Career Move

Take These 7 Small Steps To Make a Big Career MoveTake These 7 Small Steps To Make a Big Career Move One of the biggest fears many people face when it comes to career development is how to change or transition careers without getting pigeonholed into one industry or field. Believe it or not, changing careers isnt as difficult as you may think. To make things a little less intimidating, here are 7 small steps to make a big career move.The first part making a career change is figuring out where you want to end up. Setting a goal will help you hold yourself accountable and will give you something to work towards. Research suggests that you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams, simply by writing them down . This is because writing goals creates a physical reminder of what youre working towards. Physically writing your goals down forces both sides of your brain to work together, stimulating a more powerful response and a greater ambition to meet those goals.You might think that the first step to furthering your career is to have a great resume, but in order to create a resume that will best serve you, you need to decide what you want to gain from it. A truly great resume is catered to the jobs that youre applying for. If you dont know what kind of jobs youre going to be applying for, you cant utilize the correct wording and phrasing to ensure that you align with the requirements of the job.Youve given yourself a better idea of where you want to end up and what kind of jobs you want to apply to, so now its time to figure out how you can reach your goal and what path is right for you. Conducting informational interviews/meetings is a great way to gain industry insight, make new connections, and get inspiration from others who are in a role youre interested in. Ask questions about their path and if they would do anything differently when they look back upon their career.Once youve got a better idea of what roles to explore for yo ur big career change, look at relevant job descriptions and take note of common requirements. According to a 2015 study done by the National Federation of Independent Business , 48% of small businesses report there are few or no qualified applicants for the positions they are trying to fill. While its possible that this is the case, its also possible that candidates are not marketing themselves correctly or putting the correct information on their resume. Do some research on what businesses are actually looking for in a candidate and pay attention to trends of required skills or experience in your industry. Here are some important questions to think aboutThe more research you can do on knowledge, trends, skills, and training, the better. You want to get a better understanding of what potential employers and recruiters are looking for in candidates within your new field so you can mold yourself into the perfect candidate.This step might sound the most intimidating of them all, but i ts actually the most fun This is where you get to explore your new field and different opportunities that will make you happy. Think about taking on projects more directly related to the industry or career youre trying to transition towards. This could mean something different for everyone, but here are some questions to ask yourselfThere are all sorts of networking and informational events , so do a quick google search and see whats happening in your area. You can add these industry events to your resume to highlight industry knowledge.If youre not using current job postings to help you write your resume , youre doing yourself a disservice. See how industry professionals talk about jobs and utilize that in your document. Using industry jargon will also help you appear more professional and knowledgeable about what you do. Scan the job description that youre applying to for keywords and phrases that are used repeatedly. Those are what you want to integrate into your resume so th at it aligns with the position youre interested in.Making a big move or career change is scary, but its not impossible. People change careers all the time, and as long as you highlight your industry knowledge, achievements, and what you can bring to a new company/industry, youll be successful. Take the time to figure out your plan, do some research , and add relevant experience to your resume