7 Ways to Reboot Your Career

If you want to change your role, get ahead in your career or take a new direction, it’s important to know what the job trends are so you can build new skills and develop existing ones.

The Australian Government provides invaluable information on where it predicts jobs will be in the near future. These insights are provided for those thinking about their next career move, whether you are in the mid stage of your career or a school leaver.

The insights shared by the Australian Government here, state that “employer needs can change quickly. Workers who are willing to learn, gain experience and build their skills will be well placed to find and keep a job”.

The number and type of job openings available in the future will depend on things like:

• Turnover (workers leaving their job to do things like study, move to another job, care for a family member, retire or travel)
• Demand for goods and services
• Demand for resources
• Changes in technology.

 

There are 7 ways you can reboot your career to make the most of these opportunities.

1. Identify your strengths and weaknesses

By better understanding your strengths and weaknesses you can identify the opportunities most relevant tor you and understand which skills you need to work on. There are a variety of free online tools that provide a good starting point to help you do this. Take this VIA Institute of Character survey to identify your strengths.

2. Identify the factors that are important to you

When making a change it’s important to consider factors that fit your current and desired lifestyle, including the location you’d like to work, your salary, job security, work hours, flexibility and the general fit with your life goals.

3. Training and Development

The Australian Government’s projections expect there will be many new jobs for Professionals, Community and Personal Service Workers.  Some of the jobs expected to grow the the most are:

• Registered Nurses
• Aged and Disabled Carers
• Accountants
• Electricians

If you are interested in pursuing any of these types of roles or have identified weaknesses or skills that need to improve in step one, then it might be time to consider enrolling in relevant training to help you up-skill. This may include a short course, TAFE or tertiary qualifications. TAFE Victoria now offers many free courses which you can find out more about here.

4. Set Goals

Making a change requires making a commitment to yourself. By setting one or two goals related to these steps or your desired change, you are more likely to take action. It may also be a good idea to share your goals with a friend or colleague who will help keep you on track.

5. Create Opportunities

Many new opportunities can be created by talking to your network. Once you’ve set your goals, consider who you can talk to within and beyond your industry. This is a very good time to seek a mentor to help guide you. This may be a family member who’s had experience in the career path you are considering, or it may be a friend or colleague who’s had experience that can help inform your choices.

Also consider the many opportunities available via volunteering your time and expertise for relevant causes. You can search volunteer roles here via Seek Volunteer.

6. Have the Right Mind Set

When I talk to clients about preparing for making a change, I encourage them to be curious.  Being eager to know and learn something when you are in conversations with others has a wonderful way of inviting others along on your journey with you. When you are in conversations at networking events with professionals who can point you in the right direction, they are more likely to create opportunities for you when you are open to learning and curious about what they know and can teach you.

7. Take Action

I do a lot of work with clients who struggle with the mindset I described in step six because they feel stuck. I understand that it’s sometimes easier to stay where you are. It’s so important to me that you know the possibilities waiting for you when you follow these steps and decide to take action.

Taking the time to reboot your career represents an exciting adventure and is time well spent on helping you live the life you’ve imagined for yourself.  By being open to where these steps can take you and remaining curious and positive, you will be pleasantly surprised with the possibilities available.

Source: https://joboutlook.gov.au/FutureOfWork.aspx