Not Happy with Your Job? Make Some Moves: Your Career Makeover Guide
What is a Career Makeover?
Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut? Are you ready to make a few changes in your life? If so, you might be ready for a career makeover. A career makeover can refresh your professional outlook, invigorate your career, or give you’re the confidence to explore the job market to find a more fulfilling career.
What is a career makeover? A career makeover involves revamping your outlook, job skills, and career goals to improve your existing job or give you the qualifications and motivation to search for a better job. An effective career makeover begins by making a complete assessment of your current job, expertise, and career goals.
Reasons to Try a Career Makeover
1. You’ve outgrown your current position.
Maybe your skills and qualifications have changed since you started your current job, or maybe your job is no longer compatible with your lifestyle and goals. Either way, a career makeover can match your job to your experience, training, and talents. If you have completed further education, received specialized training or certification, or have gained substantial experience in your field, you are a perfect candidate for a career makeover.
2. You want to advance to a different position.
Do you ever feel like your career opportunities are at a standstill? A career makeover is the perfect opportunity to boost your job status and advance into a more desirable position. Many people stay with their current jobs due to a fear of failure, but a career makeover can give you the confidence, knowledge, and motivation to finally make that leap toward a more fulfilling job.
3. You want a job with better benefits/salary/location/schedule.
A career makeover can also help you if your current job does not match your needs in terms of benefits, salary, location, and schedule. Most job seekers know that salary isn’t everything, but considering these factors now can help you recognize great job opportunities and avoid unfavorable ones. If you have specific needs for health benefits, retirement, job location, or family-related issues, you need to consider how these factors will influence your career choice.
How to Achieve a Career Makeover
1. Assess your goals.
Make a list of the things that are important to you. Do you need to express yourself creatively at work? Do you need a job that provides stability? Look for similarities on your list. Are there any patterns or parallels among the items you listed? Try to think of ways that these goals and needs might affect your choice of career. The first step in finding your dream job is to discover what drives you, fuels your passions, and fulfills your sense of purpose.
2. Boost your credentials.
Ask your current employer if they offer tuition reimbursement for continued education. If not, obtain a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify for government grants or student loans. Many community colleges, technical schools, and universities offer workforce-training courses that could help your career makeover. Which courses should you take? Look for classes that offer certification in your field or those that can improve your job skills, such as English, accounting, or management courses.
3. Increase your career network.
Networking can be the single-most important step of your career makeover. Career contacts can offer mentoring, advice, and leads on job opportunities. Who should be part of your career network? Your network can include friends, family, current coworkers, former employers and coworkers, and more.
4. Update your professional image.
While you only get one chance to make a first impression, the image you project each day can have a major impact on your career. Your professional image involves far more than mere outward appearance, although you should always strive to look your best. Your professional image also includes your communication style, nonverbal signals, leadership qualities, and projected confidence. How do you measure up? Take note of the areas where you are strongest, but also consider the areas where you could make improvements.
What Can a Career Makeover Do for Me?
1. Improve your job marketability.
Today’s job market is becoming increasingly competitive, so it is absolutely vital that you maintain an edge over the competition. A career makeover will help you discover your strengths, update your job credentials, and give you the professional image to make you a desirable to employers and hiring committees.
2. Increase your network.
A strong career network is more important than ever. Building contacts with potential mentors can give you an important edge over other potential candidates.
3. Enhance your resume.
After you have completed your career makeover, your resume will need an update as well. Prepare a standard resume that showcases your unique strengths and talents, details your accomplishments and credentials, and highlights your experience. Now, as you approach each potential employer, tailor your resume to showcase how your goals and abilities would be an asset to the company.
