Our careers take a huge slice of our day and we often find ourselves thinking about what else could we be doing. With so many choices and options, unfortunately, most would still choose to stay on what is relatively familiar. Sometimes we feel that innate calling of doing something else. We have that biting feeling that leads us to contemplate the concept that we should be doing something else. Switching careers often has to do more with self-actualisation, or the ability to seeing one’s self achieve their higher potential. Switching to a different career altogether can be nerve-wracking but once the resolve has quickly taken over, there is no choice but to make the necessary considerations to accommodate one’s choice for the switch. One should go about the career switch with absolute resolution and of a clear mind. Considerations need to be carefully made by highlighting existing learned skills to be successful. Positioning oneself is key to get the most coveted job. Understanding one’s role in the company they would like to be affiliated with needs to be approached with the utmost focus and introspection. All jobs have underlying universal skills, regardless of work, these skills remain constant and most sought after. Here are universal skills that can be highlighted when switching careers.

1. Effective Communication Skills

The ability to communicate is something that will set you apart in the corporate world. The ability to reason and get your message across is crucial. It is how perfectly laid out company plans can be executed properly. It is on how it is communicated that one can understand its crucial role in the execution of a company’s vision and mission. Delicate messaging and sensitivities are important skills a company looks for when hiring. Remember that managers need to see objectives on plans. Objectives when properly positioned can result in maximising influence and hold on the workforce. Someone will have a difficult time influencing if from the start they lack the skill of conveying the message.

2. Ability to Work in Groups/’Team player’

Depending on the work it is sometimes classified as an individual or group. Group work needs team players for it to be accomplished successfully. Too many cooks in the kitchen can ruin the dish. A company needs you to see that you can play a supportive role through your ability to share and foster growth within the team. Collaboration is a valuable skill and can be displayed concerning how relationships are fostered and created within a team. Helping others achieve their full potential is a skill and always considered a valuable skill.

3. Initiative

We often hear proactive versus reactive. Being proactive requires the ability to see an existing issue and address the issue before it becomes a problem. It is important to note that aside from just being a regular employee, we need to see the organisation that we would like to be affiliated with as our own business. Only with this mindset will we be able to see loopholes and address them. A conscious effort is needed in focusing on the bottom line and how these solutions will help the overall goal. This is what is called initiative. If one is reactive, you would be grappling for a solution to the detriment of the team or company. On the other hand, taking initiative means seeing ahead and addressing the situation before it becomes a problem. This skill is gold. Contribution to the overall bottom line will have multiple rewards and can only be achieved through team members who are able to take the initiative.

4. Time Management

Time management goes beyond the time clock concept. Time management simply put means efficiency. It is one’s ability to understand which work needs to be prioritised and why. In the corporate world, one’s ability to manage time and assess jobs for its critical level is needed to ensure effectiveness. Efficiency and effectiveness go hand in hand. With daily demands in the workplace, the ability to assess importance results in effectivity. Juggling several projects, critical thinking needs to be exercised to have that advantage in terms of strategy and leverage. Delayed reports can be detrimental as you could lose your hard-fought position in the market.

Self-fulfillment involves how we see ourselves including the work that we do. For us to be fully actualised, we need to be able to sleep with the choices that we make. Switching careers can be terrifying however there is a reason why we are being led to look at other options. Recognising these feelings is the first step followed by a clear examination of our skills and where we would like to see ourselves in the future. Switching careers might just be what you need to achieve that long term personal goal.

Need guidance in switching careers? Contact MRS V today.