Question

Describe several career development programs that would be useful for individuals planning on making a career or job change. Suppose they have worked in one field for 7-10 years (e.g., engineering) and have decided to switch jobs (e.g., to consulting). How should they prepare for this change?

Answer 1

1. Describe several career development programs that would be useful for individuals planning on making a career or job change.

Ans. - I am describing career development steps for individuals to plan to make a career or job change here.

The steps are -

I> Know about yourself - At first, you have to think that where you have, where you want to be and how you achieve your goal.

Once you thought about where you have and what is your goal then you should work to know your present skills, values etc.

II> Find out suitable jobs/training areas - After knowing about yourself you have to find suitable jobs as per your present skills. If you want to better job then you have to find training areas where you can increase your skills, knowledge etc. After that, you should try for jobs.

III> Make decisions - After finding suitable job options you have to take a decision to choose a right area for exploring the career. As you will find many suitable job preferences/ training areas to increase your skills.

IV> Take the final action - After taking a decision you have to take the final step to enter/join a job. As at that time you have all skills and plans to make a career in that area.

In these ways, an individual can plan to make a career/job change.

2. Suppose they have worked in one field for 7-10 years (e.g., engineering) and have decided to switch jobs (e.g., to consulting). How should they prepare for this change?

Ans. - If they have worked in one field like engineering then they have some great skills which help them to a job change. But if they want to switch to the job like consulting then they need some more potential and management skills.

The engineers have worked under a supervisor and they have to follow specific rules to produce an outcome. But as a consultant, they have to learn management skill and total project scope to give proper delivery to clients.

It is an out-of-the-box thinking for engineers to switch to consulting jobs. I am not saying that is difficult but they have to engage with some different skills. As an engineer, they must know the work process but as a consultant, they have to think to do the project with quality work in the budget.

So, as an engineer, they have to talk more with clients, understand the total project scope, learn about the different costs, know to manage all problems and give solutions etc.

Then they can change/switch their job areas from engineering to consulting.