Steps to Planning a Successful Career Change

If you’ve decided that it’s time for a career change, you’ll need to do some extensive planning to ensure you can successfully break into a new field, and to make sure that your new career path is one that will be professionally satisfying. A good plan will also ease the transition from your old career to your new one.

1.) What do you want in a Job?

Given that your current career is dissatisfying, it’s best to start determining what you want out of your new career by exploring the reasons why your current career isn’t working for you. Has your life situation changed such that your current career is no longer compatible? Is your current career too stressful or not challenging enough? With these questions answered, you can think about what you do want.

2.) Research new Careers

When you’ve decided what you want out of a new career, you can start to research career options. Don’t rule anything out at this stage, no matter how crazy it sounds, and take as much time as you need to decide what your new career focus will be.

3.) List your Transferable Skills

While you’re in the process of choosing a new career, you’ll need to create a list of professional skills you possess that might be useful in a new career. This can include both specific and general skills—from knowledge of current technology to verbal and written communication, problem-solving and leadership skills.

4). Educate Yourself

If you find that you’re missing some essential element, you’ll need to work towards gaining the skills or knowledge you lack. This might include night classes, courses or even a college degree.

5.) Start Networking

Your networking skills will get a good work-out during a career change. Professional associates can be an invaluable source of advice, information and even job leads. It’s never too early to start networking—you’re more likely to get help from people you’re in regular contact with, rather than people that you contact out of the blue. Conducting informational interviews is also a good option.

6.) Getting Experience

Obtaining some part-time or volunteer work that relates to your chosen career can help you decide if it’s really want you want, and will give you some valuable experience at the same time. Another great way of getting experience is through temping in jobs that relate to your new career.

Also, please review our Tools to Find a Job section.  If you need more help, please consider using a Career Counselor.