Are you considering a career change? Perhaps you’ve been on your current career path for a while and you think it’s time to do something different.

Here are 10 tips to help you get your dream career.

1. Decide if you really want to change

Making a career change is a big step. Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.

List all of the reasons you want to change and then see if there is any way that you can resolve those issues within your current career. For example, if you want more money, is there a way to get a promotion or earn more doing the same thing but for a different organisation? If your job is too stressful, can you reduce the stress by changing the way you work?

2. Analyse yourself

What are the most important values in a career for you? Is a big salary important? Or flexible working hours? How important is prestige?

Then list your interests. What are your hobbies? What other things do you like to do when you are not working?

The review your job skills. List out everything that you do and the skills that support it. Rate them based on how good you are and how much you enjoy it.

This should give you a pretty good idea of the types of career that may be of interest

3. Research the market

Before you start applying find out what the options are. Check out what is going on in your chosen industry, whether it is growing or not. Subscribe to industry relevant magazines, check the newspapers and, of course, scour the web for news. Start of with the list of possible careers from Step 2 and narrow it down.

If you have decided that you want to work for a specific organisation then contact them to find out what opportunities may exist. Try to get to know someone within the organisation that can keep you up to date.

4. Polish your CV

Your CV is your foot in the door. The chances are that you will be one of many applicants applying for any job and your CV needs to stand out maximise your chances of getting that all important interview.

Keep you CV simple. Focus on the skills that you have gained in each role and turn any negatives into positives (failures can be valuable if you have learned lessons from them) but be careful not to lie about your previous experiences or skills. Tailor your CV for each application to focus on the area that potential job deems important.

5. Prepare for the interview

OK, so your CV has got you in the door. Now make the most of the opportunity. Find out about the organisation. What are their goals? What is their vision? Research their industry and history. Think up some good questions to ask and make a note of them to take with you.

Understand the role in detail. How do your skills and experience relate to the role and make you a good candidate? What unique skills or traits do you have that make you an outstanding candidate? Think about why you want this job and be prepared to answer that question.

Practice the interview. Ask a friend to help you, get them to ask you questions that you think your prospective employer might ask and practice answering them. Consider some of the general questions that might be asked such as your greatest strengths and weaknesses, and practice answering these as well. Ask your friend for feedback.

6. Final Preparations

Check on the dress code. If in doubt go for professional. Don’t forget the little touches such as clean shoes, haircut, clean nails etc. Be careful of overpowering perfume or aftershave.

Make sure you have the right date and time.

Make sure you know where the interview is and how long it will take for you to get there. Make sure you are there in plenty of time.

Take along your notepad, a copy of your CV and any other paperwork that you may need during your interview.

7. It’s OK to be nervous

Interviews are stressful and it’s natural to be nervous. The people interviewing you will understand that and will make allowances for it. Be yourself and try to be relaxed. If you have a lack of self confidence check out our report ‘5 tips for improving your self confidence’. Humour can be useful to deal with the stress but be careful about a nervous laugh.

8. Make a good first impression

You should have already prepared yourself to look your best so now enter the interview with confidence, give a firm handshake and good eye contact.

9. Show enthusiasm

Employers generally want to employ people that are enthusiastic. Show your enthusiasm. This will be easier because you have already researched the organisation, you have considered the questions you may be asked and have practiced answering them. You know why you want the job and you know what skills and experience you can bring to it.

10. Success guaranteed.

If we learn from something then we never fail. You may not get the first job that you go for, or the second. This doesn’t mean that you have failed or that you weren’t good enough for the job. It just means that someone else was better ON THAT DAY.

Make sure that you learn from each experience. What went well? What didn’t go well? If you have been advised that you did not get the job then ask the organisation if they are prepared to give you feedback on how your application and interview went. Refine you approach and move on.

Summary

Decide if change is really what you want. Analyse yourself, what you want, want you are interested in and what you are good at. Research the market and understand the options. Polish your CV and tailor it for each job application. Prepare well for the interview, do your research, practice and consider the questions you will be asked. Understand what you bring to the role and why you want it. Make a good impression, be enthusiastic and be yourself. Learn from your experiences and refine your approach.