{"id":9515,"date":"2019-08-14T14:46:19","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T18:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brainstation.io\/?p=9515"},"modified":"2020-05-21T10:44:17","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T14:44:17","slug":"perfecting-the-pivot-what-you-need-to-know-before-changing-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/perfecting-the-pivot-what-you-need-to-know-before-changing-careers","title":{"rendered":"Perfecting the Pivot: What You Need to Know Before Changing Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

One <\/span>University of Phoenix survey<\/span><\/a> found only 14 percent of American workers believe they have the perfect job \u2014 and more than half want to change careers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And the younger people are, the more they\u2019re looking for a switch: Nearly 80 percent of workers in their 20s said they wanted to change careers, followed by 64 percent of people in their 30s and just over half of people in their 40s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, there are opportunities out there like <\/span>BrainStation\u2019s diploma programs<\/span><\/a> which are designed to equip individuals with the skills they need to transition into a new career. But whether you\u2019re a Product Manager with a burning desire to get into <\/span>User Experience Design<\/span><\/a>, or a Writer wondering about going back to school for <\/span>Web Development<\/span><\/a>, pivoting to a totally new career is bound to be a daunting process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re planning on taking the plunge, what do you need to know?<\/span><\/p>\n

We asked for some advice from Gwen Elliot, a Course Producer for e-commerce giant Shopify and an Instructor at the University of Toronto\u2019s school of continuing education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do Your Homework<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re mulling over a career switch, it helps to do some in-depth research on your field of choice \u2014 and Elliot says it\u2019s crucial to figure out answers to a few key questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first big one is whether or not it\u2019s a growing industry. Passion projects are one thing, but you\u2019ve also got to pay the bills, right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen switching from TV to online education, I discovered the e-learning industry is on track to hit $331 billion by 2025 and continues to expand,\u201d Elliot says. \u201cCheck out<\/span> Google Trends<\/span><\/a> or find research or media interviews with experts for the industry you\u2019re interested in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She also recommends figuring out whether or not a particular company you\u2019re interested in is doing good work in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn North America, we\u2019re in a privileged position to get to choose our career,\u201d Elliot explains. \u201cWhen making a career change, do the research to find out how the company can impact people\u2019s lives and if it aligns with your values.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Look Inward<\/b><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a lot of panic and anxiety that can come from a career change, but it\u2019s important to go with your gut.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elliot says it\u2019s crucial to reflect on what you can bring to the table \u2014 and remind yourself that you should feel excited about what you have to offer. \u201cYes, it\u2019s great to receive benefits and perks from a company, though I find it more rewarding when you can see how you can make an impact,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

And the best way to get a sense of the right move? Meditation, according to Elliot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not joking,\u201d she adds. \u201cSwitching careers can be a stressful and potentially scary time in your life. Take 10 minutes in the morning and\/or evening to calm your mind before going into a new day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She recommends checking out the <\/span>Calm App<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Declutter the Mind<\/span><\/a> as a good starting point into learning how to clear your head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask for Advice<\/b><\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re looking into a career switch, you can feel totally alone \u2014 and like you\u2019re lagging behind the pack. \u201cI certainly did!\u201d Elliot says. \u201cSo I channeled that energy into reading, taking online courses, and meeting experts in [the] industry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019re also bound to have lots of questions about your chosen field, and it\u2019s important to remember that\u2019s totally normal and okay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no harm \u2014 and only insight to gain \u2014 from networking and reaching out to potential mentors to get answers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAsk anyone and everyone to find out,\u201d Elliot recommends.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cut Yourself Some Slack\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

At the end of the day, switching careers is a big decision that might not go quickly or smoothly. But if that\u2019s the case, give yourself a break.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have super high expectations of yourself to crush it right away, you may be setting yourself up for burnout,\u201d Elliot warns.<\/span><\/p>\n

So if needed, take a breather, and remember that your career as a whole is going to be a long and winding road \u2014 but that\u2019s all part of the fun, isn\u2019t it?<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to make the jump into a digitally-focused career, BrainStation offers diploma programs in <\/span><\/i>UX Design<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>Data Science<\/span><\/i><\/a>, and <\/span><\/i>Web Development<\/span><\/i><\/a> designed to help professionals transform their careers.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Looking for a career change? Here’s what you need to know as you prepare to jump into a new career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":9516,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[343,336,158,157,97],"tags":[325,841,405,111,227],"yoast_head":"\nPerfecting the Pivot: What You Need to Know Before Changing Careers | BrainStation\u00ae Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking to make a career switch? 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