If you’re feeling burned out and unmotivated at work, you might start dreaming of a career change. Yet many people give up these dreams because they worry about being underqualified. The reality, though, is that people change careers all the time, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t join that group. Here are a few ways to fight your fears about changing career fields.
Assess Your Strengths
If you’re drawn to a specific career, odds are good that you have some relevant experience, even it wasn’t gained on the job. Maybe you took stagecraft in high school or spent your weekends in a buddy’s woodshop. You might have had a lawn mowing job as a kid. Draw on what you know, and then figure out how to present those experiences to a potential employer.
Get Your Foot in the Door
You may not be qualified for your dream job yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start down the path. Read through job descriptions for both the job you really want and those that might be feeder positions lower on the ladder. Then apply for the job that best matches your identified strengths and develop a plan to gain the skills needed to move up.
Talk About It
If you’re feeling underqualified, you might stop yourself from applying for jobs in the field you want. Yet every time you let your fear win, it grows stronger. You can break this cycle by talking through your fears with your spouse, a close friend, or a mental health professional. That person can help shift your thinking from a fear mindset to one based on facts.
Changing careers is always a bit frightening, but it can also be exciting. Assess your strengths, focus on getting your foot in the door, and talk out your fears, and you may end up in the career of your dreams faster than you can imagine.
In the Market for a New Career?
When changing careers, it helps to have someone in your corner. To learn how OneSource Staffing can help you find your next role, take a look at our job board, and then join us today.