Nothing beats confidence. If you're considering exploring a new career path, don't let self-doubt or other people tell you that you can't make it happen. Instead, pull out that notebook, and come up with a plan. In an uncertain economy and social environment, now might be exactly the right time for a change. Remind yourself of this as you move forward in your next chapters.
If you hope to change careers with style, the first thing you'll need to pack is your confidence with those career goals for the sake of your mental health. For tips on how to do this, read on.
Know Your Reasons
No matter what your current or future industry, the first thing to do when changing careers is to identify your reasons for doing so. Be honest with yourself. Are your new goals about a bigger income? Is a new graduate degree program simply to dodge student loan payments? Are you changing careers to follow a new passion or chase a new dream? Is this something you've always wanted to do?
Like it or not, people are going to ask questions. Moving from a childcare worker into nursing, a truck driving job, or financial advising might raise eyebrows, but it will also entail questions. To make a move with style, be ready with your reasons.
Maybe you lost relatives to the global pandemic, and it was the nurse practitioner who made the difference for your family. Since then, you've done research on how to get a Nurse Practitioner degree to get into nursing specialties, patient care, and even face the pediatric nursing certification board. If the reason you're considering switching careers is because of a life experience or newfound passion, be ready to say it to the world.
Be Prepared
Don't sign up for a doctoral degree, bachelor's degree, or even a certificate program in any field without first doing some research. You'll want to think about, not only the immediate plan, but the future. Advanced nursing practice licensing requirements, rules around the national council licensure examination, potential scholarships, how many years of experience it will take for you to run a woman's health department, and more are the sorts of things you'll want to know ahead of time.
Different countries work differently when it comes to advanced degrees. In the United States, you can generally expect a higher salary based on the level of your degree. The completion of a master's degree program will mean more than an associate degree program, and so on. This rule is not the case in every field, so doing your homework will matter here.
Even if you don't plan to go back to school at all, the same rule applies when switching careers in any field. If you're thinking of starting your own business, for example, look into Go Wholesale for affordable refurbished supplies that could get your startup running faster. If your new career goals include taking out a mortgage for a business space to open your own practice, start asking around as soon as possible for referrals for knowledgeable brokers and realtors. The more prepared you are going in, the better you'll do as you get started with your new career.
Never Look Back
Many people underestimate the massive role a career plays in our lives. For the sake of your mental health, moving forward into a new career is a good idea. Your overall state of mind will be better if you're working in a field where you can use your leadership skills, certificate work, clinical hours, and more for positive purposes that you're passionate about. While finding the confidence it'll take to push forth with new career goals, remind yourself that the bigger picture will pay off. Don't look back when things get hard. Instead, take a break for time to reassess before moving forward again.
At the end of the day, it's your life, and how you spend it should be up to you. If you're set on changing your career path and hope to do it with style, believe in yourself. Regardless of what family members, co-workers, or even your own self-criticism tells you, finding a career you're happy with is one of the best things you can do for yourself. If a lack of confidence rears its head, fake it. Before long, you won't have to. Happy next chapter to you!
