Find out how to retrain
If you've recently been made redundant and are finding that there aren't many jobs in your field, perhaps retraining could be the answer.Many people restrict themselves to jobs in the sector they have always worked in, but either applying your skills to different areas or learning new skills could help open up a number of new jobs for you.
If you are considering moving to a new sector, then this guide can help you decide in which direction you would like to go.
First of all, you need to ask yourself some tough questions. What do you like and dislike in your job? What are your best skills?
Then you need to find some people whose jobs you envy. How did they get their roles, what inspires them and what are the skills they need for their job?
Finally, you need to find your passion. What would you do if there were no practical considerations? Can you imagine a job which you look forward to getting to every morning to go to work?
You can put together a career plan - working out where you want to go and how you can get there. This is vital, as it allows you to take charge of your career, rather than simply waiting for something to happen.
Once you have done this, carry out the following exercise to work out the next steps forward:
Your new career
- What must it have?
- What must it not have?
How you can get that new career
- Find out all about the new industry
- What new skills will you need?
Retraining
- What do you need to retrain?
- Apprenticeships, degrees, NVQs
Timeframe
- How long will this take?
Costs
- How much will it cost to retrain?
- Are any grants, bursaries or loans available?
This will stand you in good stead to start your new career in the right way.