Smart Strategies For A Successful Clerical Career Change

Photo by Hansjörg Keller on Unsplash

A successful career change entails determining your calling and having the determination and resilience to stick with it until you hit the finish line. India, home to a billion people, has a large number of enterprises, small and large businesses that are rapidly transforming. It’s no surprise that most people in the country aspire to higher level positions, even more so as the middle class expands and more jobs open up. With the variety of opportunities available, more and more young professionals opt-in for shifting from sure-fire clerical positions to higher level decisions and management roles.

Climbing the career ladder is tough and requires a lot of dedication and background knowledge of the transition. Making the transition from a clerical or administrative position to the management level requires a substantial knowledge of career transition pathways. To help make your transition as smooth and pain-free as possible, we’ve put together this guide that outlines key strategies for success.

Understand What You Want

Transitioning successfully into a higher level role in your career is no easy feat. Before you make the transition, it is essential to figure out where you want to be headed. Think carefully and realistically about your options, preferences and career goals. Research and reflect on which new roles you wish to transition into and why. It is important to build a plan of action and ways to reach your desired outcome. It is critical to stay focused on what you are aiming for in the long-term, keeping your eyes firmly on the prize.

Take the time to identify yourself and what you have to offer. Utilize self-reflection to understand your strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvements. Choose the career path that you are most interested in and will sufficiently meet your short and long-term goals. It is important to stay away from the ideas of switching careers for the sake of the immediate monetary gain.

Develop New Skills

Furthering your knowledge is compulsory for any successful career transition. Even though you might already possess the requisite skills from working in a clerical role, you might not possess the specific knowledge required for the next step in your career. It is essential to gain expertise in the domain you choose to transition into to broaden your horizons.

Research the position you’re aiming to get and focus on the skills you’ll need to excel. Gain experience and knowledge by taking courses and certifications and deepening your understanding in the relevant domain. Participate in activities such as webinars, workshops and conferences that might further help you grow. Gaining new skillsets can provide you with both tangible and intangible benefits in the long run.

Real-life Examples

One of the best strategies to motivate yourself during the transition process is to read up on stories of people who have already gone through the same. Additionally, these stories and experiences of those who have already gone through with a successful transition can provide you with insight and inspiration on how to proceed with your plan.

One great example is Tushar Ahuja, who successfully made the leap from a merchandiser in Zara’s Bengaluru store to the management level in just 18 months! He understood the importance of learning and collecting all the new skills he needed to make a successful transition. After taking classes, speaking to mentor and participating in several internships, Tushar initiated his transition with a new role in customer service in the head-office. After taking initiative, he was presented with a succession of opportunities and ended up increasing his salary from 8,000 INR to 60,000 INR.

Actionable Steps for Career Transition

The following steps should be taken to successfully transition into a clerical career:

1. Assess your current skillset and decide where you want to move.
2. Research the new role and domain you are transitioning into.
3. Find out the required educational and professional qualifications.
4. Enrol in a certification or diploma course in the relevant domain.
5. Perform a SWOT Analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
6. Analyze the job market and competition.
7. Update your resume to list relevant skills, experience, knowledge and certifications.
8. Start networking to increase visibility and get suitable job opportunities.
9. Build connections and leverage your existing network.
10. Be open to feedback and take initiative in improving yourself.
11. Stay focused and dedicated to achieving your professional goals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are looking to make a successful transition from a clerical role to a higher level in your career, you must have a good understanding of the specific career path you’re opting for, the qualifications and requirements of it and the steps you need to take to make the transition as seamless as possible. Do your research, explore multiple career paths, talk to people in the industry, build networks and get yourself a mentor. All these steps will help you to make an informed decision and make the shift smoothly.