Dear Annemarie

Do you have any suggestions how I could make a career change over to a Research Analyst role, or incorporate it with my 10 years Information Technology experience?

- Marleen G.

Dear Marleen,

Whenever considering a career change, one strategy I like to adopt is the principle of ‘starting with the end in mind’. This involves finding out specifically what your target role entails, the [minimum] qualifications required, the person specifications/characteristics, any other helpful information and then planning out the steps you need to take to get you there.

In your research it’s important to find out whether:

• you need to undergo further professional development and if so what is recommended;
• does this require extensive study or could you complete shorter courses to build on your existing knowledge, qualifications and experience?
• there is necessary demand and opportunities in this field; and
• you have the qualities, characteristics and talents hirers will be looking for

Gather further information about the role and industries by sourcing people already working in the role and conducting informational interviews. Also consider:

• Speaking to lecturers/tutors teaching courses in this field; or educational institutions who should be able to provide further information and/or additional people/organisations you could speak to;
• Seeking professional organisation’s (that Research Analysts are members of) and consider adding them to your network. They will certainly be able to provide you with further information and possible contacts.

Once you have an understanding of what is required then you can map out a plan of action steps you need to take to get you to your ultimate goal of becoming a Research Analyst.

All the very best, Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go.

Annemarie

This fortnight’s question comes from Moira, when she asks

Dear Annemarie

I am in IT and have been for 10 years and have been a Project Manager for the last 5 years. I have known for a long time this was actually not my vocation and I needed to be in a position where I am working with people, in a team and helping people on a daily basis. I have finally made my mind up to do something about it this year and am trying to move to a role in social care work. I would like to secure a role on a scheme or project working with the elderly / vulnerable adults where I can play my part in bringing about a real difference and raise the profile of services available and bring about efficiency and effectiveness.

– Moira.

Hi Moira,

Building up your skills in your ‘preferred’ job is certainly a recommended move, so well done! This information can be used within your resume to demonstrate relevant transferable skills and abilities and more importantly your achievements and successes. How you have contributed and made a difference within your work is extremely important so should be highlighted within your resume. And, the resume (generally a job seeker’s most powerful and influential marketing tool) is often where the issue lies.

My initial question to you would be: [click here to read more]

All the very best, Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go.

Annemarie

Hi Annemarie

After a recent retrenchment (from a job I didn’t really like so it’s great timing really), how do I go about finding out what the ideal career is for me? I have no idea where to start.

– Penelope

Hi Penelope,

I’m sorry to hear about your retrenchment. Taking the opportunity to consider your future career options is a very good strategy as studies have proven that people perform at much higher levels (and feel quite motivated and fulfilled within themselves) in comparison to people who are working in jobs they dislike.

There are a number of things you will want to consider when discovering your ideal career. Assuming that you have had a number of jobs or work experience throughout your career, ask yourself:

Q: What specifically did you not enjoy about your previous role?

Generating a specific list of the tasks and functions you didn’t enjoy in your last job will provide you with a good checklist of tasks to avoid as you consider your options. So many people I work with say they dislike their jobs, however when asking the above question and getting really specific about it, uncover that only a few certain areas of their job were disliked, or the environment/setting rather than the entire industry or role itself.

Q: What was it specifically about these roles that you have enjoyed and could see yourself doing in future roles?

Quite often clients disregard their previous roles although it may not necessarily have been the job in its entirety that they did not enjoy, but rather certain elements (such as a specific activity, the work environment, selected colleagues etc).

Q: What are you particularly good at?

What are your skills and strengths? What comes naturally to you? And, more importantly, would you like to use these skills and strengths within your future role?

There may be skills that you would enjoy performing, however that you are not necessary skilled at, so therefore this would be something that you could put on your Career Action Plan as a possible future Professional Development opportunity.

Q: What are you interested in?

For instance, in our Career Directions Program, participants are provided with six General Occupational Themes and are ranked according to the selections they make during the assessments.

Here are two of the General Occupational Themes:

The Realistic occupational theme’s interests involve working with machinery, computer networks, athletics and working outdoors. Some jobs may include Landscape/Grounds Manager, Horticulturist, Mechanic, IT/Network Administrator and the list goes on.

The Conventional occupational theme’s interests involve organisation, managing data, accounting, investing or working with information systems. Some jobs may include Financial Analysis, Accountant, Bookkeeper, Administrative Assistant and the list goes on.

Q: What are your career values?

This is something not many people consider when thinking about their careers, and is possibly the most important element, because generally when someone is no longer happy in their role, it means that one or more of their career values is not being met.

Values could include: accuracy, imagination, risk-taking, status, competition, influence, service to others, stability, efficiency, practicality, and the list goes on. What’s important to you in terms of your career values, Penelope?

I hope this has given you some idea of how to get started with your career exploration. If you would like support in discovering your ideal career I can highly recommend our Career Directions Program or our Purposeful Careers Program. All the very best, Penelope.

Drop me a line at info@a-e-c.com.au and let me know how you go.

Annemarie