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Tag: career transition

10 Questions To Measure Your Career Success By

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

10 Questions To Measure Your Career Success

Everyone needs a reality check once in a while. Although there are obvious ways to detect if you are flourishing in your current job, there comes a time when it becomes difficult to understand what really is going on. You may love your job and are happy with the way it has shaped up over the years. But does that mean it is an ideal scenario for you? Are you capable of something more? How do you measure career development and success?
These are the queries that we will help you clear today. But how?
By going through 10 questions that you need to ask yourself to measure your career success by. Make sure you answer them honestly.
Questions to Ask Your Professional Self
Whether it is recognition at work or employee engagement that you yearn for, answers to these questions will help you ascertain your current stand in your professional life.
What different goal have I planned for next month/quarter? 
Every job requires a push where you periodically take up more tasks and responsibilities. If nothing of that sort is planned, then you should really start talking to your manager and volunteering for more work. Doing more work than what is intended of you is a sure-shot sign of recognition at work and career development.
What major thing did I achieve this month?
It can be anything that you did at work that impressed yourself as well as your boss. Did you achieve all the campaign goals for this month? Bravo!
Can’t remember anything? Time to strive harder next month.
How great is my personal brand going?
Every individual need to have a personal brand; something that differentiates themselves from others. It can be as simple as the style of email writing. Do you find you are not deviating from your personal brand and still doing great at work? You are sorted.
What new thing did I learn about myself last month?
This is especially important for new employees. Did you find you are a slow writer or that you are pedantic when it comes to reporting generation? Good or bad, you need to cultivate or correct it respectively before moving ahead into the next month.
Did I observe any lapses in how I performed?
Last month, the annual report did not go out in time. Can you find out why? If it was dependent on you, can you remember what led to it being sent out late?
Understanding your own lapses at work can be great for daily work management.
What meaning do I derive from work?
Most content writers in India love their job because they are creating something. They find their work value to be redeemed; like giving back to the world in some way. Do you feel something like that with your line of work? it’s a great way to design your career development plan with.
How did my personal life influence my work?
Did anything from your personal life cross the road and affect your work-life last month? Something that was not really positively? It is time to isolate the issue and find out solutions that it never happens again. Proper work-life balance and self-imposed restrictions can help.
How is my network doing?
Every month take a look at your professional contacts. How many new people did you meet? How much time did you contribute to nurturing your existing relationships?
Remember, having a big network always comes handy during job hunts.
What is my biggest hurdle?
Most professionals deal with one or the other issue at some point in their career. It can be either about daily work management or with team control or anything else that they are not finding a solution for. Identifying these issues and then rectifying them is what turns average professionals into extraordinary ones.
Did I step out of my comfort zone or not?
This is my favorite question because it really is a solid way to find out if you did something different in your work. Most professionals work in their comfort zone all their lives and do a fairly good job. Some get outside their comfort zones and move mountains.
So, what are you waiting for? Bookmark this article and visit it at the end of every month to measure your career development.

Expert Tips to Make a Stress Free Career Transition

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

You might have decided to take the plunge and switch over to a new career. While you might be both excited and a bit scared, there are many steps you can take to make sure that your transition is smooth without affecting your personal life. With many diversified job opportunities available, it has become more common for people to make career changes. In fact, every adult makes about 5 to 7 career transitions during their professional lives.
Making a career change might cause a lot of stress in adults. However, these few simple steps from career guidance professionals will help make the transition smoother.
Research Thoroughly
Knowing the job and the field that you about to enter will you help deal with the anxiety and stress of making the shift. Research the company, the position that you will be taking up, and the kind of role you will be fulfilling in the company. Talk to others in the field and ask about their experience and how they adjusted to the daily routine of the new job. Do not hesitate to ask questions during your interview.
Rethink Passion
A lot of us put pressure on ourselves to find the ‘perfect’ job. With a lot of discussion in the media about following one’s passion, we find ourselves in the impossible situation of finding a job that fits into our passion. However, according to various studies, it has been found that there are certain general traits of a job that can elevate satisfaction. These include respect, autonomy, a sense of impact, creativity, and recognition. These can be found in any job and you shouldn’t pressure yourself into finding the ‘right’ job.
Good Financial Health
Ensuring that you have good financial reserves when making your transition is one of the most prudent career tips you will ever receive. Check your bank balance and make sure that you have enough to tide you over the initial salary. You should also create a budget where you can see what things you can cut back on and what your essential expenses are. There are several apps and software available that will help you streamline your financial health.
Break It Down
If you are making a major career change where you are required to make a lot of changes, you can find yourself overwhelmed by the magnitude of the change. Instead, you should try to break down the task into smaller, more achievable tasks and focus on them one at a time. This will help you focus without getting anxious about the big picture.
Exercise Away
One of the best ways to deal with stress and anxiety is to exercise regularly. Studies have shown that an elevated heart rate can significantly impact your mood. Find out what type of exercise you like to do and then commit to doing it for at least an hour, three days a week. Once you get into the groove, increase it to five times a week.
Lean On Others
The period of a career transition can be stressful for everyone. Let the people around you know that you are making changes to your life that will benefit you in the long run. Ask for help beyond career advice and make sure that you get your loved ones on board. Ask your partner to step in if you are unable to fix breakfast due to a longer commute or plan a date night if you find yourself working on the weekends.
Take A Time Out
In the initial days of a career shift, you might be very enthusiastic about doing well and learning as much as you can. However, burnout is a real thing and you should be mindful of doing only how much you can. Set aside sometime in the week to spend quality time with your family or to exercise. You should also allow yourself to relax and catch your breath while you evaluate your progress.
Define Your Success
Too many times we catch ourselves measuring our success by how others do. When you make a career change, it might feel like you are starting out from the bottom all over again. This is where you need to pause and give yourself some credit. Not many people are brave enough to admit that they are in the wrong career let alone do something about it. Decide your own goals that are not influenced by the norm.
A career advisor might not think it prudent that you abandon a job that you’ve spent years training for. However, with the simple tips mentioned above, you will be able to deal with the stress and anxiety when it comes to it.

Ways to convince recruiters that you’re ready for career transition

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

We’ve all been there. Stuck and bored with an old job, wanting some way out. However, convincing yourself that this is the right time to begin your job search and move on is always a challenge. You never know whether you’re ready for a job change because you’ve settled down into your comfort zone and probably don’t realize that it’s time for some career advice from a professional. You can even talk to your peers to figure out your niche space which can further bolster your job search. However, one of the challenges you will face is to convince recruiters that you’re ready to take on other career options. Here are a few pointers on changing your career in a smooth fashion:
Identify why you’re moving 
This is one of the main questions recruiters ask potential candidates looking for a career transition or a simple job change. By identifying a reason for leaving and justifying it, you’ll be able to show how much value you can bring. There might be different reasons behind your decision to leave your current company. These may range from a rapidly flattening learning curve to lower pay package. You can also attend a few career counseling sessions which can give you a  different perspective. End of the day, it is crucial that you’re honest with the recruiters and informs them of the real reason behind your exit.
Recruiters have seen many candidates before and will know if you’re speaking the truth. It’s always better to be open and honest about your discussion rather than divert away from the actual reason.
Pick unique skills 
One of the hallmarks of a good candidate is their ability to learn new skills which set them apart. This can be a software, people skills or anything that adds that extra bit of gloss to their resume. If you’re planning on quitting in a few months, it’s always good to brush up on certain skills or learn a new skill to add to your resume.
Recruiters are always looking for candidates who can add that extra bit to their company, and if you’ve unique skills, you never know who might be looking for the same. The best way to pick up exceptional skills is to evaluate various online courses and then choose one that suits you the best. See if this skill can be sustained over the long term and make a difference in the way you approach your work. If it does, waste no time in trying to learn the skill as it can make a big difference to you from a professional point of view.
Highlight your biggest achievements 
A lot of candidates tend to add many achievements on their resume during their tenure in a company. While it’s always good to highlight the work and progress you’ve made in that particular job, a lot of it is just fillers to make up space. Try to whittle down your significant achievements into three or four so that recruiters know that’s what they’re looking for exactly.
Even when the interview time comes around, it becomes more straightforward for you to explain your most significant achievements and also put into perspective what you did. Companies are looking for three to four critical skills when they recruit, and this will help you do that in a much easier, concise manner. This way your job search can be quite smooth and recruiters will be easier to connect to.
Leadership qualities 
When you’re moving from one role to another, leadership qualities should also be highlighted. Companies are always looking for leaders who can motivate others and get work done faster and better. If at any point, you were given an opportunity to showcase your leadership skill in a job, always make sure that stands at the top of your resume.
This will make it easier for companies to also understand how you’d work with a team and put you in charge of certain tasks which will benefit you. By doing so, you will also be able to delegate work better and focus on those projects which will aid you from a professional level and at the same time vindicate the recruiter’s decision to take you on board.
Speak the truth but know where to draw the line 
A lot of people tend to lie on their resumes – whether its about a reason why they left a job or how they performed in certain tasks. It is always good to speak the truth about the core aspects of your resume but never divulge information which could make them doubt you. If a certain task wasn’t successful because of X reasons, it is always good to be open about it but not tell them the nitty-gritties of it.
By getting yourself a good reference, you’ll be able to boost your chances of landing a new job faster. Make sure you are on good terms with your workforce and always maintain a good professional and personal balance. Having hobbies on your resume reflects well and will pit you as someone who dedicates time to themselves, which will also help them from a professional standpoint. In a nutshell, all of the above-mentioned points need to work in tandem when you are thinking of how to change careers.

How can a career transition take you to the next level?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Climbing the corporate ladder to advance your career is taxing – long nights, tight deadlines and more can take a toll on you and your pursuit to succeed. The millennial generation loves switching jobs on the regular, and it is crucial that you’re able to make these transitions smoothly. How you make these transitions forms the basis of your overall happiness and well-being, so make sure it is done efficiently.
By planning your career transition well, not only will you be able to make the process streamlined, but you could also get rewarded handsomely for the same. According to a University of Hamburg study, the key to a good transition is obtaining closure from your previous job to the next. Make sure you smash all the goals you have in your current job before you move on to the next best thing. If there are still unattended to, then a lot of us move with regret.
Leaving your old job in a bit of a mess sets a precedent for the next job. This makes it harder for them to start their new career well, forming a vicious cycle. Find a good careers coach to help you with the process.
Don’t make an unexpected change:
Many career transitions generally aren’t planned properly, and redundancies come out of nowhere, giving you no time to prepare. Transitioning from one career means you need to understand that it is a new beginning. People need to realize that there’s nothing wrong in leaving a job for whatever reason and having trust in yourself always works out in the end.
With that in mind, professionals have moved on from jobs that were great and found the process devastating. You need to understand that a career transition can do wonders for you, and you’ve to keep the faith in order to move.
Better opportunities:  
When you make a career transition, you’re moving onto a better opportunity, if you look at it that way. What you’ve learned in a job sets you up for not just your next but the rest of your career as a professional. Learning how to make use of these opportunities is the true skill with which you can excel.
If you’ve always felt that you have a skill which can be tapped into, make sure you use this opportunity to go out there and hone it. Career counseling advise you to take time and work on yourself, so make sure you have that in mind before you consider the other factors that come along with it.
Better opportunities allow you to become a better professional and prepare better for any future job that you might take up. As long as your transition is smooth, you’ll understand that everything happens for the better and making the job change, in fact, a smart decision.
Supporting hands:  
Employers nowadays have started creating alumni groups and networks to provide support to previous employees. Some of them also offer valuable career coaching services for a certain period. This allows you to assess the kind of skills you possess and help you put into perspective the kind of professional that you are. If you’re able to get something out of it, make sure you’ve planned well enough.
By having a helping hand, your career transition will help you get to the next level because you’ll be able to brush up on any previous skill. This allows you to understand your new employers much better and give them a better understanding of where you stand. If you’re able to provide them with a skill which can be invaluable over the long term, convincing them, in the beginning, will allow you to earn a figure that you seek.
Just make sure you’re sincere in the process if you want to make a difference to the job that you’re applying for. The method of transition is uneasy and can be uncertain and frightening. With excellent support, it can be one of the best journeys you take up in life. It will help you gain an essential perspective on you and your abilities. Majority of people would transition if given a chance, so here it is – makes sure you grab it with both hands!

How to change career when you have no idea what you’re doing?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Career changes are a part of life, and almost everyone will face this crossroad at one time or another. Have no clue how to go about it or where you’re headed? Guess what? You are not alone! Most people who made pivotal career changes did not do it by accident. They prepared themselves with career advice, and you can do it too.
Believe it or not, the key areas you need to work on are simple, enlightening, and not so difficult to do. So let’s get on with it.
1. Learn about yourself: Most of us have no inkling as to where our career is headed or which career counseling path to take because we don’t think from a bigger perspective. Many of us fail to learn from the past and do not want to see what we did wrong. So list out all the jobs you have done, why you disliked them, what made you take them, and what you loved about them. This analysis will help distill your preferences, problem areas, career choices, and your awesome strengths and talents. Yes, let go of the past. There can be no progress unless you break with the past. Yesterday is gone.
2. Find your dream and act on it: Most of us dream and do nothing about it. If you want to learn to swim, get into the water. This means finding at least three career paths which you would like to take. Try the roles out and diligently plan how you would go about achieving those distant dreams. To be an Olympic champion is a lot of hard work, practice, and dedication. Its 99% perspiration and just a mere 1% inspiration. So, make your SWOT list and ensure your goal is in line with your ambitions!

  • Specific and actionable.
  • Measurable and actable.
  • Achievable and learnable.
  • Realistic and part of your interests.
  • Time-bound and in line with your career thoughts.

3. Put your support pillars in place: If you can’t handle it alone, look for someone from your network who has made such a decision before. Avail training, mentorship, and counseling. Most people who wish to make a career change have no expectations from themselves. Hence they have no idea when they take the wrong route. Build yourself up with an emphatic yes to change, and the fear of venturing into the unknown will disappear. Everybody has a first time, and that’s when it really gets tough. Keep at it, succeed, and you have yourself as a good role model for the future. Fail and learn from it, so there are just obvious career opportunities and no doubts in your mind.
4. Apply and make attempts to check out jobs: A job search of available career paths that you find interesting will help you narrow your choices down. Apply and accept that it is okay if you get rejected. Treat it as an opportunity to learn and move on. Challenge your beliefs and self. Don’t get complacent and lead the life you have been dealt with. Do something beyond a job search like networking with industry leaders via LinkedIn, so you stay in the game.
5. Don’t react emotionally: Chances are that your vision of the future is blurry, and you will commit some mistakes. Well, everyone does, but the trick is to stay motivated amongst your failures. Career refurbishing is a step-by-step journey that has no shortcuts. So don’t expect immediate results. With these practical pointers to help you get started, the next obvious step is to act and avail training or garner and polish your skill set.
Join a practical-oriented course like the ones at Imarticus Learning, where you learn how to apply your skills to an industry-ready environment. Their ample assignments, live simulations of the ecosystem, convenient learning modes, career counseling, and reasonable fees are a huge plus when re-skilling. It’s especially helpful when the learning partner helps you deal with your career change fears through soft-skills enhancement. And yes, check if they have an assured placement program. It is a huge relief to get able professional support and trained mentorship in the very many choices of courses.
So, don’t wait any longer. The Imarticus Learning philosophy is a must-try to hone your skills, focus on your choices, and make the crucial positive changes to your career.

Why You Should Start Thinking About Your Career Change?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Have you been stuck in the same position in your career for too long now? Does the thought of going in to work make you feel uncomfortable and listless? Are you unhappy with your pay scale and do not see many other options within your field?

If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions, then it might be time for you to think about a job change. 

Deciding to change your career can be a daunting task. The uncertainty of the future coupled with the fear of leaving something that you might have spent years training for can be huge roadblocks for the shift.

However, if you make your career change in a smart manner, there are many benefits you can reap in the long term. The average person makes about 5 to 7 career changes in their lifetime, making you part of the majority to consider the same. Here are some of the best reasons to make your career transition.
Career Transition
New Challenges
A few years ago, if you had asked anyone for career advice, particularly from your elders, they would have told you to go for the job that pays the most. For a long time, a job was considered to be purely a means to an end with the end being the ability to pay your bills.

However, with ever diversifying jobs, you can find a career that suits your abilities and interests while also being able to monetize the same. A new job or career will challenge you professionally which will lead to more satisfaction.

Changed Values
Maybe over the course of working in a particular job, you have come to realize that your priorities and values have changed along with your professional journey. A prolific senior advertisement executive decided that she had had enough of pedaling capitalist goods to consumers and instead chose to write books for the young and new India.

While your transition need not have to be as drastic as that, you can definitely make a change to a career that suits your values better.

Room For Other Things
As you continue to grow personally, your life will see many changes taking place. Unfortunately, our jobs do not keep pace with our changing situation and you might be in a position where you feel like your personal life is being stifled by your job.

A 20-something kid straight out of college might not think twice about putting in the long hours as a corporate lawyer, but you might feel the strain in your mid-30s. With a family and aging parents, you might find that you need a job that required flexible hours and more work-from-home options. This is a great reason for a job change.

Passion Over The Familiar
All of us grow up wanting to be something or the other. Unfortunately, many of us choose to take the route that will provide stability rather than the one that will fulfill our passion. On the other end of the spectrum, as we grow in our fields, we might find that our passion, in fact, lies elsewhere.

With changing technology and the amount of information available, you can easily map out your career transition into something you feel passionately about. Always wanted to be a journalist? You can set up your own blog and start an internship at one of the many web-based news outlets.

You are no longer confined to the tried and tested, or the in-person testimonial of someone you know. The range and depth of information available will allow you to make a decision that is informed and practical.

Happiness Is The End Game
Many of the previous generations will raise an eyebrow quizzically if you state that your job is not making you happy. Of them, some might even tell you that your job isn’t there to make you happy. As the world changes and new paradigms come into play, we are now in a world where personal happiness is key to a satisfactory life.

Since we spend the majority of our time at our jobs, it isn’t a farfetched idea that our jobs should also make us happy. Note that we aren’t saying that you should find a relaxed job where you will not have to work hard. But if the end result of all your hard work isn’t something that you care for, then you might have to consider a job change.

Choosing a career transition can be intimidating but the rewards of taking the leap can be limitless. From improving your personal life to putting your mental and physical health as the first priorities, a career change can be the difference between the rat race and a fulfilled life.