5 tips for transitioning your career to becoming a carer
Are you keen to take your career in a new direction and enter the world of care? If you’re keen to work in a role which will allow you to make a meaningful difference to the lives of others every day, then working in a care home can offer you a hugely rewarding career.
If you’re considering applying for a role in the sector, check out our tips on how to successfully transition into a care career.
1. Assess your attributes
While you don’t necessarily need to have experience in care work to become a carer, it’s important to have the right personal qualities that will set you up well for success in the industry.
These include compassion, resilience and communication skills. Take time to consider your own strengths and ensure that they align well with the requirements of a care role.
Think too about transferable skills you have developed in previous jobs, and how you might be able to use and adapt them in a care environment.
2. Research the role of a care worker in health and social care
It’s crucial to do your homework and make sure that care is the right direction for you to take before you take the leap.
Research the different roles within the care sector, such as working in a care home or being domiciliary carer, to find out what’s involved as well as the qualifications and qualities needed.
This is a good chance to identify which areas of the industry resonate with you, and what sort of care work you might be best suited to.
3. Gain some experience
While many care roles don’t require you to have direct prior experience, if you are able to spend some time volunteering or assisting in caregiving settings this will give you valuable insight into the industry.
As well as helping develop your knowledge and understanding of care skills, it will also give you a good idea of what’s involved in a career in care and what to expect.
4. Look into qualification options
While you don’t need formal qualifications to work in care, undertaking official training and gaining recognition can help you take your first step in your new career, and move up the ladder faster.
A Level 2 or 3 qualification in Adult Care or Health and Social Care is a good starting point, and can be obtained through on-the-job training as well as online or college-based courses.
5. Keep an open mind
While you may have a well-defined idea of the direction you’d like your care career to take, this is a dynamic and ever-changing field. It’s what makes it such an exciting and challenging industry to work in.
But it also means it’s important to be adaptable and stay open-minded, and to be open to learning a variety of skills and adjusting to different expectations.
Remaining positive and resilient through all the ups and downs that inevitably come with switching careers will set you up for success.
Check out current care vacancies and more information about care roles near Salisbury.
