Jobs-for-life seem to exist in a long-forgotten age. More people are discovering that their best route to advancement requires them to change their employer on a more regular basis. However, before you take the plunge and change jobs, there are a few things that you should do beforehand.

Ask Yourself Key Questions

Are you looking for a new job in your current industry, or would you prefer a total career change? Is there are a particular company that you would want to work for? Do you need to engage in further training or gain more qualifications to get there? Are you prepared to take a lesser role if it is in your dream career area? These are all questions which are worth asking and answering before you go any further.

Research Available Opportunities

Whatever your responses are to the above questions, you need to do your research and find out what options exist. Access to the internet has made it easier than ever to check out the opportunities that are available to you, so start by browsing through job boards. You can also start putting the word out that you are looking for a new job amongst any contacts that you may have developed over the years. Also, you could look to forward your details to a recruiter or staffing agency to let them do some of the legwork for you. Finding new opportunities takes time, so don’t be impatient when you are looking, or you could end up moving to a new job that isn’t really a step up at all.

Get Your Applications Ready

The first thing for you to do before you change jobs is to make certain that your resume is updated. Be sure to include the skills which would qualify you for the particular role that you are applying for. Remove any outdated information which is no longer relevant and try to make it as clean and concise as possible. Next, look at your online presence to check if to see if there is anything that can be improved. Your LinkedIn profile is a good starting point, but you should also double check to make sure that there isn’t anything potentially embarrassing on any of your social media sites. Finally, complete all the individual application processes in full, double checking that you have done everything that is required of you.

Commit to the Process

Finding a new job isn’t always going to be easy, but once you have decided that finding a new career is the right move for you, dedicate the appropriate amount of time and energy to make your dream become a reality. Rather than just firing off applications in a half-hearted way, you are much better off concentrating on completing the ones that you are most passionate about.
Follow through with the process and sooner rather than later, you may be starting your first day in your new job.

Good luck!

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