Applying Your Skills to New Career Opportunities

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Many people spend their days working in an industry they aren’t happy in. This dissatisfaction is often caused by a mismatch of values and their skills going unutilized. If this sounds like you, it might be time for a change. Your existing skills and strengths may even be able to be used in different fields, allowing you to pursue your ambitions. Knowing your strengths, assessing new opportunities and aligning your strengths to them is key to a successful future.

Knowing Your Strengths

One of the most common job interview questions is, “what are your strengths?” Even if you aren’t preparing for an interview, this is something you should ask yourself from time to time. To learn more about what you are good at, start by recording all of the activities you do each day. Think about what you enjoy, and what you can complete with ease. Talk to friends and colleagues to gain some outsider insight. When you do a self-assessment and write it down, you may find you have more skills than you thought, and these are often transferable to other industries. When you use your skills in an industry you are passionate about, boosting your income will come naturally.

Matching Your Skills

Once you pinpoint your skills and strengths, the next step is to align them with something you are passionate about. As an example, just because you have always worked in retail, doesn’t mean the valuable interpersonal skills you have learned can’t be transferred to a high powered sales role. Companies such as Amway can empower you to earn extra income while building a prosperous new career selling high-quality products. Contrary to the myth, there is no Amway scam. In fact, for those with the right skills, Amway can give you the opportunity to meet new people while being part of a supportive team. If you have the motivation to pursue a new career path but find your skills don’t quite match, there is always the option of enrolling in further education. There may be some skills you already possess, but a formal qualification is needed. Many courses can now be done externally, so you can keep your current job as you train.

If you have are motivated for a new career path but find your skills don’t quite match, there is always the option of enrolling in further education. There may be some skills you already possess, but a formal qualification is needed. Many courses can now be done externally, so you can keep your current job as you train.

Pursuing New Opportunities

Once you have decided on the type of opportunities you want to pursue, it is time to take action. The steps you take will depend on the outcome you are looking for. You need to think about your goals for the future, what is important to you and whether or not you are prepared to travel. This will help you to narrow down the search. A new job in a new industry will require you to be proactive, starting with a stellar resume. Starting your own business will involve a business plan, financing and some serious goal setting. Joining an existing company will give you support with a very small outlay, but you will need good communication skills and a passion for building a network.

Summary

In summary, it is never too late to change your life by pursuing a new opportunity. Over time we develop a range of skills that can be transferred to other industries. These days, there is no reason to be stuck in a job you don’t enjoy, as many people take the leap and have a career change later in life. Finding your passion and complementing it with your skills will help you see success.

Written by
Jeremy Kaplan

A 50-something year old lifestyle, career, and education blogger based in Atlanta, Georgia. Years of experience in the office setting working with others and still loving it year-after-year.

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