7 Tips to a Successful Career Change

If you’re reading this, you’re probably at a crossroads in life. Chances are, you took up a course or stream that you’re no longer interested in. Maybe you took it up because your parents asked you to. Maybe you did it because your friends took up the same course. Or you picked something simply because you didn’t know any better. But you made a choice, and it wasn’t the right one. Where do you go from here? Do you continue down the same road? Or do you cut your losses and try something else? Would your parents be okay with this switch? What if your next choice isn’t the right one either?

Here’s the thing – you’ve realised soon enough that this isn’t the right choice. You’re one of the lucky ones who decided to actually question your choice instead of accepting your fate. You didn’t live with a mistake for years on end, only to realise too little, too late. The good news? There’s still enough time for you to switch lanes and get on the right track.

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Take Some Time to Think

First, take a deep, calming breath and think about what you really want. Where do your interests lie? What do you really enjoy doing? What are your hobbies? Make a list of everything you absolutely love doing. Then, think about which ones you’d actually love to do every day for the rest of your life. If you’re lucky, you might just be able to pick one calling and pursue it. If you can’t pick just one, there’s always a test to help you with it. But this time around, take your time to make the right choice. Don’t just jump from one fire into another one. Evaluate your options. Make a list of pros and cons for each one. And, finally, pick the one that works best for you.

Selecting the Right Stream

Selecting the right steam has a long lasting impact on your future. Identify your interests and think about which ones you’d actually love to do every day If you’re studying in India, you have three main streams to choose from after Class 10. You could go for science, commerce or arts (humanities). Wondering where each stream would lead you? Take a look!

If you’re looking to switch between these streams, here’s the glitch. You could move from science to any of the others. But commerce only allows you to switch to humanities. And if you’ve chosen humanities, the other two doors are sealed shut for you. So how do you go about correcting a mistake and choosing the right path?

Do Your Research

You have finally decided to change your stream or course. But, do you have enough information about it? If not, how do you get the scoop on your new course? Ask your college seniors pursuing the same course. They can guide you right according to their own experiences. Ask your teachers for guidance and suggestions. When all else fails, there’s always Google! You can work on gaining knowledge about that particular field by reading blogs and watching Youtube videos.. 

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Be Focused

It’s almost impossible to stay focused when you’re at a crossroads. But the second you make up your mind about what you want to do or what you like, stick to it. Choosing the correct stream improves one’s professional path significantly, so seek advice from friends and other sources but make your own decision. There is no such thing as a good or bad stream, and there are several options in every field. Your friends might convince you to try out their streams, so all of you could be together. But this choice affects the rest of your life, and friendship can’t be your biggest deciding factor. Therefore, you must choose wisely.

Watch out for Those Tests!

Some courses like fashion designing, law, architecture, CA, etc., require you to take an entrance test to get admission. Look up the exam names, dates and application procedures online. You could also look up the previous year’s papers to get an idea of what to expect. Joining classes for such courses usually helps crack these exams. Entrance test are used by many educational institutions to choose qualified and deserving applicants for admission. The scope of these tests varies by course and college, and they are held at the national, state, and university levels. 

Nothing is Impossible

You may not always get to switch to the stream you want. A science student may have the upper hand, but someone studying humanities may not have other options. However, if you’re passionate about pursuing something, you can always look for another way out. Even if can’t shift streams, you can always work on gaining knowledge about that particular subject by reading blogs, watching Youtube videos, listening to TED Talks, etc. Make a list of where other people in your field are in their careers after five or ten years, as well as the job titles they hold. Determine what title or advancements you desire at this point in your career. Then look into what you can do to achieve those objectives.

Make Informed Choices

Think about the pros and cons. Do your research and then some. Don’t let anyone influence your choice. This is about your interests and your career. Think about what YOU want. See if it’s even possible to make the switch. If it isn’t, look for a workaround. Only then will you be able to make the right decision.

Remember, changing courses requires time, effort and money, so your decision can’t be a fleeting one. Make the switch only once you’re absolutely sure it’s what you want. You can always take the Mentoria test to be absolutely sure that you’re walking down the right road towards self-discovery and success.

Kick-start your career discovery journey with Mentoria & be sure to find the right career fit for you. Our 4-step career guidance solution, helps us find the right career fit for you from 3 streams, 850+ courses & 12,000+ careers.