Are you getting ready to start a new career in a new town? Starting a new career can seem overwhelming, especially in a new place. That said, switching careers comes with a host of benefits. From better compensation to increased development opportunities, a career pivot could be the best decision you ever make. And you’re not alone, a whopping 47% of the UK workforce want a career change.
This article breaks down 5 essential tips for starting a new career in a new place.
5 Things To Know Before Starting a New Career in a New Town
Moving to a new town or city is stressful. Between packing, making new friends, and finding work, it’s easy to feel bogged down. However, it’s also an opportunity to start an exciting new chapter full of fresh challenges. In particular, it’s a chance to break into a new career. The key to a successful transition is preparation. The more you know, the easier the change will be.
To help you, we’ve rounded up 5 of the best pieces of career change advice for starting a new career in a new city.
1. Survey the Landscape
It may seem like an obvious one, but our tip is to learn the lay of the land. And we don’t just mean learn your way around your new city or town. Get to know the companies in the area and what other resources are available. For instance, is there a local chamber of commerce or other professional networks you could join?
Once you have a good idea of what local opportunities there are, you could pick out a handful of companies you’d like to work for and start applying.
One of the best resources for career changers is signing up for job boards for career changers. Refreshing a Career has a live job board dedicated to career changers. You find a host of local and remote job opportunities that are specifically geared towards professionals looking for a career change. What’s more, our website offers a wealth of valuable career change resources to help you through the process.
2. Network for Success
Being the new kid in town can be isolating, but it can also be used to your advantage. It’s a great conversation starter, allowing you to make connections and network. Whether you’re looking for remote opportunities or in-person jobs, building a strong professional network is key.
We’ve put together some crucial networking tips for career changers to help you connect with professionals in your target career field. We also recommend reading our personal Branding Tips for Career Changers for advice on how to market yourself and build an online presence.
As the saying goes, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Growing your network plays a crucial role in finding your first career change role and making connections with like-minded people in your new town.
3. Update Your CV
If you plan to start a completely new career after your move, then you will need to revamp your CV. There’s a knack to writing a career change CV, especially if you lack hands-on experience in the role. That said, employers reap huge benefits when they employ career changers, so don’t underestimate how valuable your skills are.
Firstly, make sure you focus on your transferable skills in your CV. While you may not have direct experience, data shows that 92% of recruitment professionals value soft skills just as much as technical skills in the hiring process. As such, learning how to market your skills will dramatically improve your chances of breaking into a new career.
Once you have identified your key skills, you can even try finding a career path based on those traits. For instance, you could look for jobs for good communicators or jobs for problem-solvers. In doing so, you can leverage your skillset and demonstrate how it transfers to this new role.
Are you a creative? Step away from boring CV formats and take a look at our 5 Creative CV Ideas For Career Changers to stand out from the crowd.
4. Consider Retraining to Refresh Your Skills
So you have updated your CV and started to build your network, what’s next? As you researched your new career field and updated your CV, you may have noticed some skills gaps. The best way to supersize your chances of landing a new career is to retrain or refresh your skills.
Not only will this empower you to develop essential soft and technical skills, but it will build your confidence in the process. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other career changers looking for work in the same field. There are plenty of in-person or online retraining options across the UK, check out our 5 Best Retraining Courses For Adults for inspiration.
Don’t know where to start? Why not take a look at some of the most in-demand jobs in the UK and retrain for those professions? It will greatly improve your chances of getting hired as a career changer.
5. Give Yourself Time
Our final piece of career change advice is perhaps the most important of all; give yourself time. Uprooting your life and career is a big life change and one that might take time to settle into. As such, don’t expect everything to fall into place overnight.
In the words of boy scouts everywhere, “always be prepared”. The best way to ensure your new career goes well is to prepare in advance. Do your research and always have a nest egg to fall back on in case it takes you longer than expected to find your next career. Good preparation, a proactive attitude, and a strong career change CV will set you up for success. Trust the process.
The same goes for settling into a new town. Put yourself out there and get involved in the community as much as you feel comfortable with, but don’t rush it. After all, good things come to those who wait.
Final Thoughts
If you’re about to embark on a new career in a new town, we hope you found this guide useful. Switching careers can be daunting, especially in a new place. That said, there are huge benefits to changing careers and it could just be the best decision you ever make.
At Refreshing a Career, our goal is to help career changers make the transition as seamless as possible. To guide you, we have put together a wealth of valuable resources on our website, including a comprehensive career change guide. You’ll also find CV writing tips, interview tips, and guidance on dealing with gaps in your CV.
For further advice, check out our resources on changing careers or browse our live job board for career change opportunities near you. From jobs for single mothers to remote jobs with no experience, we provide support for all types of job seekers.
