When you’re thinking about making a career change, it’s crucial to determine the real requirements of any new career you are considering.
Some types of jobs are regulated professions, which means that there are very specific qualifications which are legally required for anyone who intends to work in the field. Determining the real requirements of regulated professions is normally pretty simple, because those requirements are spelled out in a clear manner.
The majority of jobs are not regulated, which means that, technically, no specific qualifications are required to enter the field. However, just because a job is not part of a regulated profession, that does not mean there are no requirements for entering the field.
You may not legally require a specific degree or diploma in order to work in many professions, but specific qualifications are often required by the vast majority of employers who hire within the field. So, while you may read that technically certain qualifications are not required, it’s crucial to determine the qualifications you’ll need in order to be realistically competitive in your chosen field.
Similarly, there are many professions that require limited qualifications in order to work at an entry level, but higher level training is required in order to advance. So, you may have no difficulty getting stated in the field, but will struggle to advance without further training.
In order to make smart choices when you’re making a career change, it’s important to be aware of the real qualifications required to enter and advance in your new career. Schools are not always the best sources for this type of information; few program coordinators will admit that his or her program will only get you so far in your field, or, alternatively, is not really necessary for entry into the field.
The best way to get that information is through an informational interview. Informational interviews will provide you with opportunities to get mostly unbiased inside information about your new career, and they will help you to determine the best path toward successfully making a career change.
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