Are you thinking of switching career?
It can be an intimidating prospect. Will you have to retrain completely? Will you have to start from scratch? If you’re looking for reassurance and want to make the process go more smoothly, you’re in luck! Studying online is the key to making a career change more manageable.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making your career switch easier, by using online learning.
An easy-to-share infographic is located at the bottom of this post.
1. Decide on the career you want to switch to
You most likely already have a rough idea of which career you’d like to switch to – but you’ll need to get precise!
A good way to do this is to spend some time brainstorming the answers to these questions:
1) What do you like about your current role/industry?
2) What do you dislike?
3) What skills would you like to develop?
4) Do you want to work for a small or large company?
5) And what are you looking for in terms of company culture, salary etc?
Then use the answers to find a job description of a role you’d love to have!
The more specific you can be, the better – after all, there’s a big difference between managing social media marketing for a tech startup and being the head of marketing at a corporate company.
2. Pick an online degree to help you bridge the skill gap
Now that you’re clear on what you’re aiming for, you’ll need to bring your skill level up to match it.
An online degree is the perfect way to do this – at NAU Canada Online, our degrees are all taught by skilled professionals with plenty of experience in their field. They’ll be able to give you the knowledge, tools and credentials you need for your next step. And you’ll be assigned a career advisor to help you, too!
Another benefit of studying online is that it gives you a chance to “test the water”. If you find that you aren’t enjoying your online degree, it can be a warning sign that the career change you’re thinking of making isn’t right for you.
3. Carry on working while you’re still studying
It’s a good idea to keep your old job while you’re studying – it means you’ll take less of a financial hit and you won’t find yourself stuck if you change your mind.
That might mean you study part-time and fit your studies around a full-time job. Or, it might mean studying full-time while cutting your work down to part-time hours. The right choice depends on you. And the best part about studying with NAU Canada Online is that you can choose the number of modules you want to take to suit the time you have available. There’s no minimum or maximum!
But if you do decide to quit your job and devote yourself to your studies full-time, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s financial help available.
4. Start looking for a job in your new field when you’re close to finishing your degree
You don’t have to wait until you’ve finished your degree to start looking for your dream job!
The best time to begin job hunting is when you’re close to finishing your degree. It means you’ll still be able to turn to your career advisor for advice, and ask your professors any questions about working in the field you’re considering. And the fact that you’re proactively looking for your next role while still studying will show your dedication to your potential future employers, too.
Plus, by getting a job lined up and ready, you’ll be able to leave your old career for a new one as soon as you complete your degree. And step forward into a fresh new start!
Are you ready to start studying online?
You can fill out a Student Application for Admission here, to get the enrollment process started.
And if you have any doubts or questions, you can call us on 855.210.5641.
We’ll be happy to clear things up!
