Once upon a time, when you picked a career, that’s the one you stuck with until retirement. Nowadays, people still have a tendency to stick with the careers they chose when they finished school or university, but there’s also more acceptance of making a switch. These are the first four steps to take if you want to make a career change.
Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons
You shouldn’t pursue a career change just because you’ve become fed up with your current job. There are always going to be tough times, no matter how much you might like your job. If you’re just looking for a career change as an out, you’re probably going to make a rash and unhelpful decision. Evaluate why you want to make a career change. You may feel like you’ve reached your greatest level of potential where you are now. But you shouldn’t make a career change until you’re positive you know where to go next.
Make a logical switch
A switch from sales to public relations isn’t that far fetched. Quitting a sales job to become a doctor is a bit more out there. It can certainly be done, but career switches are easiest if they don’t feel like you’re going back to square one. If you’re not sure if a career would be right for you, ask someone in that field if you can interview or observe them. They’ll be able to give you the most solid testimony possible about what the career entails and help you determine if you’d be suited for it.
See what sort of education you need
Some careers require additional schooling, while others can be achieved through more informal education. Whether you’re needed to become certified as an electrician or pass the bar exam, you’ll have lots of studying to do. Go over the requirements for your field and how people are able to join. Look for things that will help you study, such as the A+ Practice Test.
Make a career plan
Knowing what you want to do and actually committing to it are not the same. Just because you have a dream of a career doesn’t mean that it’s going to come to pass. This isn’t supposed to be a deterrent or a show of pessimism. It’s just meant to reiterate all the work that goes into a career change. Create a career plan that breaks down how you’ll be able to make your career change. Make it as specific as possible and be open to adjusting it as you go.
Making a career change is scary but exciting. You need to follow both your heart and mind when doing this. If you’re confident you have more to offer than you’re able to in your current career, then a career change could be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to make a career change? Let us know by tweeting us at @CareerCamel.
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