Career Change in Kenya? Tips for a Smooth Transition

Feeling stuck in your current role? Perhaps you’ve come across a new passion you want to explore, or it’s finally time to turn that side hustle into a main hustle. Whatever the reason, you’re not alone, very many young people today have decided to change careers like clothes, and that’s not a bad thing. These days, we have many hustlers, entrepreneurs, and fans of the gig economy – want to join any, don’t fret here are some tips to help you smoothly transition into a new career.

Know Your Why?

Before you jump into a new career, it’s important to understand why you want to make a change. Are you:

• Feeling unfulfilled in your current role?
• Looking for a better work-life balance?
• Seeking more challenging work?
• Wanting to pursue a long-held passion?

Understanding your ‘why’ will help guide your decisions and keep you motivated during the transition and even after.

What are your transferable skills?

You’ve likely picked up a number of valuable skills in your current or most recent career. The trick here is finding out how these can fit into your new field or the field you want to get into. Make a list of your hard and soft skills, including:

• Technical skills specific to your industry
• Leadership and management experience
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Problem-solving abilities
• Adaptability and resilience

You might be surprised at how many of your current skills are transferable. Also, identifying skill gaps can help you plan your learning journey so you can get even better at your job.

Research

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to career changes. If you have a specific career in mind, do your research about the industry or role so that you know exactly what you are getting into. Ask yourself questions like;

• What qualifications are typically required?
• What’s the job market like?
• What’s the earning potential?
• What are the day-to-day responsibilities?

Don’t just rely on job descriptions and posters you see on social media. Reach out to people already working in the field or ask your mentor about that particular field/industry.

Upskill 

Chances are high that you’ll need to learn some new skills for your career change. But you are in luck there are more learning opportunities available now than ever before:

• Online courses and certifications 
• Workshops
• Webinars
• Volunteering or internships in your new field

When getting into a new role, it’s very pertinent that you take time to not only know but also learn a lot about the field you are trying to get into. It doesn’t help to try to get into a new field when you are as green as the grass – it’s a disservice.

What is your personal brand 

Your personal brand is how you define yourself. So, you’ve got to ask yourself who you are. What is your purpose and where can you add value? As you prepare for your career change, it’s time to update your personal brand and resume. This includes:

• Revamping your CV to highlight transferable skills
• Updating your LinkedIn profile

Your personal brand is totally about you, your story, your achievements, where you are going and how you want to get there. Don’t go soft on yourself, share it with people in your circles so that they can know where you stand and what you stand for.

Be patient and persistent

Career changes take time and you should already know that by now. These setbacks might take months or even years but you owe it to yourself to remain true to your dreams and aspirations as you wait it out. In the meantime, take time to read a book, listen to a podcast, take on a new challenge, or better yet, start a course in your new field/career.