How to Kick Start a Career
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Knowing where and how to start is a huge part of success throughout your career path. Starting a new career may seem daunting for people just entering the workforce or considering a career change. Fortunately, knowing a few things about how to get into a particular industry will ease the stress and optimize your search, so make sure to catch up with the information and tips below so you don’t have to jump in blindly.
What should you know before starting your career?
Starting a career takes drive and confidence. Despite the background you’re coming from, whether you’re fresh out of college or just wrapped up a certification or technical diploma, it may seem overwhelming to start a career, especially if there isn’t a specific entry point.
Fortunately, this scenario allows you to get creative on how to start your career; from growing your network, sending resumes to the companies you aim to work for, finding a mentor for guidance, or setting up informational interviews to get insight that eases the task of starting your career.
Aside from your chosen strategy, there are a few checkboxes you should be aware of before starting a career. These will enhance your profile and set you up for success, so make sure to consider them before starting your career.
Solid resume: Make sure you have a compelling resume in which you highlight your skills, education, and accomplishments. Source a recruiter’s advice on writing a resume and get a solid and well-organized CV that gives you more chances to stand out for hiring authorities.
Transferable skills: Even if you don’t have any former employers or formal work experience, you’ve still acquired a skill set over your academic career, internships, or seasonal jobs. Once you’ve identified the industry you want to enter, strengthen any hard or soft skills you have that are transferable to this field.
Teachability: Starting a new career requires you to be willing to learn on the job. Even if you have a degree or knowledge about the industry, there will be many things you would only learn in the labor market, so be sure to remain teachable to succeed in your career.
Tips on how to start a career after school or college
Starting a career the right way requires you to tailor and follow a plan that increases your chances of succeeding. If you’re about to start a career, here are a few actions to ease the ride and help you navigate the process.
Research industries and careers
You may believe this part is covered if you’re a college student or graduate. Still, even after receiving your degree, you should continue researching the jobs and industries that align with your interests and skills. Research options across different sectors, and be sure to read job descriptions so you know more about responsibilities, required education, and qualifications.
Grow your skill set
Learning new skills is a must when you’re kick-starting your career. It’s about adding more elements to your professional toolbelt and making you a more specialized worker for your desired role or industry. Even if you believe you have a broad skill set, look for certifications or training that will make you a more valuable profile for hiring authorities.
Optimize your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is such a powerful and versatile tool for starting a career right. Job-seekers can benefit from having an optimized profile. Aside from growing your professional network and looking for job openings, having your LinkedIn profile set to be industry-relevant will allow you to stand out for recruiters who use this channel to source candidates.
Find a mentor
As mentioned at the beginning, getting a mentor is a very efficient method of getting into specific industries, such as real estate. Mentors are valuable for more than just kick-starting your career; they can also help you with long-term career success. Reach out to industry professionals whose work or role you admire, that way, you’ll gain insight and advice from their experiences and expertise.
Gain work experience
Volunteering or interning are the most compelling ways to prove your formal work experiences when starting a career from scratch. Since most of these opportunities don’t offer monetary compensation, you should try them while in college or on weekends in whatever free time you have.
Gain as much insight and counseling as possible for your future endeavors. One of the biggest perks of internships and volunteering is to shadow working professionals, which helps clear potential doubts about specific jobs. Their experiences will help you make well-informed decisions when you start your career.
Starting a new career from a different industry
Starting a new career isn’t a process exclusive to people coming out of college or just entering the labor market. Career changers go through a similar approach when they move to a different industry or try a different career path. Although they have more experience in the job market than a fresh grad, they’re also prone to feeling overwhelmed when starting a new role, obtaining a new title, or pursuing additional training for a career change or getting into a completely different industry to one they’re used to.
How do you know when to start on a new career path?
As mentioned above, prepping for a career change is a complex process that will give you second thoughts about how convenient it is for you. Nevertheless, you can monitor a few aspects to be more confident of your choice.
Start by paying attention to your emotions; if you notice the tasks that used to make you happy are stressful now or you lack motivation, then starting a new career in a different industry or role can be a smart move. In case you need additional reasons to be more convinced about making a career change, here are other signs to check.
- You minimize your work or believe it is worthless.
- You feel stagnated or undervalued in your current position.
- The company values are no longer aligned with yours.
- Your daily routine causes boredom, stress, or other negative emotions.
- Other careers seem more attractive or fulfilling to you.
Starting a new career as a career changer
If you’ve already decided to start a new career in a new industry, you most likely know career transitions can be overwhelming, but once you get things flowing, you’ll realize it’s easier than expected. Here are a few steps to get the ball rolling and start a new career.
Evaluate your interests, values, and skills
Similar to when a fresh graduate starts their career path, when you’re starting a new career by making a career change, you must start identifying and evaluating your interests. Make a list of your hobbies and the tasks of your current job you enjoy. Use them to gain focus and narrow your search by looking for positions and industries that fit these subjects.
Compare your background and work experiences
An essential part of how successful you’ll be starting a new career relies on how your background matches the industry you’ll be joining. Even if they don’t look alike on paper, you can find transferable qualifications for your new role. This way, you’ll know if your previous experiences will make you proficient at it or if you need to take training before landing the job.
Complete the research about your desired options
Once you’ve narrowed your career search, get to know their ins and outs: salary expectations, required education, career path, work environment, and related industries. The more details you have about your choice, the easier it will be to start a new career. Use this information wisely when evaluating whether your education and qualifications fit the role.
Partner with a recruiter
Working with a recruiter can improve your job search without hurting your financial stability. Even though they’re not a mentor per se, a specialized recruiter in the industry you’re interested in can guide you through the transition and help you optimize your resources, find new companies and positions, grow your reach as a candidate, and learn more details about a job opening.
Apply for the jobs you’ve listed
After all your research, it’s time to make moves to actually start a new career. Apply for the roles and companies you’ve researched. Practice for job interviews and encounters with decision-makers, and make sure your resume, cover letter, and applications reflect your experience, skill set, and value as a candidate.
Whether you’re starting a new career fresh out of college or as a career changer, you’ll have to do the research, develop a strategy, and put in the work to make it happen. Following a game plan will keep you motivated and focused on your goal, making the process less stressful. Remember, every effort pays off, so keep up the work and stay tuned to any trends that can set you up for success on your career path.
Contributed by Luis Arellano
