Spring is a season that is ripe with transitions. As the frost-covered ground warms and softens to accommodate May’s first blossoms, you may find yourself transitioning from academia to the workforce, or seeking to leave a job you’re comfortable in for a new job with a more engaging learning curve. Career transitions can be intimidating, but they are also exciting, and if you’re up for the challenge, they present a tremendous opportunity to learn and help your career bloom.
Follow these tips to set yourself up for success and make your transition as smooth as possible.
Take Advantage of Training Opportunities Available to You.
Take it upon yourself to learn as much as you can, and when opportunities for additional training arise, seize them! Learning new things is a vital aspect of any successful career, and the ability and willingness to learn is a trait that is highly sought after by nearly all employers. Not only can learning new skills open the door to growth within your current organization, it also helps you strengthen and diversify yourself as a candidate, which can have a positive impact on your career for years to come.
When you work with Manpower, you have free access to our PowerYOU training platform, which offers thousands of online courses on a wide range of topics. From basic software applications like Excel, to in-demand programming languages like JAVA and SQL, and certification prep courses for HR and project management – there is no shortage of opportunities to update existing skills or explore and develop new ones that will help you level-up your career.
Ask For (and Accept) Feedback.
Critical feedback can sometimes be difficult to take, but it is a powerful professional development tool, because it provides you with insight on yourself that you may not have been able to obtain otherwise. It’s a challenge to be objective about ourselves, which is why it’s important to seek out, and gracefully accept, constructive criticism. Don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor or trusted coworker for feedback on your performance periodically – they’ll likely be impressed by your initiative! Just don’t overdo it – asking once per quarter is a good place to start, as it will provide you with regular feedback as well as plenty of time to implement it.
Thank them for the feedback, and don’t get defensive if it is difficult to hear. Pause, reflect on the feedback, and ask clarifying questions if needed. Remember that they want you to succeed, and then start taking steps to act on the feedback and improve your work.
Partner With an Industry Expert.
Career transitions can be made a whole lot easier by working with a partner like Manpower who is extremely well-versed on the labor market, and is connected to an extensive network of employers across a wide variety of industries. A recruiter will talk with you to learn more about your experience, education, skills, work preferences, and career goals – and then works to match you with the most suitable opportunities. Experts help you navigate the process, and take the guesswork out of finding work that works for you.
Know That Everyone Starts Somewhere, and All Work Is Noble.
We are our own worst critics, and there are times in our lives when we may feel that we’ve fallen short of where we thought we would be by now. Those feelings are normal – but don’t let them leave you feeling defeated. Everyone starts somewhere, and while your current job may not be your dream job, it is a stepping stone to something bigger. Much like life journeys in general, career journeys have many unexpected twists and turns. The path to the finish line (your ultimate career goal) will not always be clear – in fact, it is very likely there will be some detours – but if you treat each of your professional experiences along the way with the care and attention they deserve, you will build a career you can be proud of.
If you are looking to make a career transition, click the link below to contact your local Manpower team!
