How to Make a Career Change

Anna Hicks 30th October Career Leave a Comment

“What am I truly good at? What do I enjoy doing?” These are questions that many middle-aged adults wonder on a regular basis when they are unhappy with their current careers. In today’s society, it is not uncommon for individuals who want to go through a career change even though they are relatively far along in their current careers.

With the current educational system in place, many people get poked and prodded along into careers or areas of expertise that they are not really cut out for. This leads to a lot of people in unhappy positions in life. While this is definitely a problem for a lot of people, the good news is that it is never too late to make a change.

When I was just starting out my professional career, I literally had no idea what I wanted to do. I ended up choosing a path that I thought brought the best opportunity to succeed financially. I followed a path that seemed to have a good chance for building my resume and making good money. The problem was, I didn’t like what I was doing and got burned out very quickly. At that point, I had to try to change careers after I had bills and obligations. This is a situation that many people face on a daily basis.

If you are strongly considering making a career change at some point, there are many things that you will have to take into consideration. If you don’t think about this decision from all angles, you could end up in a worse situation than where you currently are.

Here are some things to look at when you are considering a change of pace.

1. Know What Would a New Career Be Like

Moving into a new career can provide you with a lot of positive change. For many people, simply a change of scenery can do a lot of good. For instance, people who work in office environments for a long period of time which that they could get out into the world more often for their next careers. It will mean meeting new people and visiting new places. You will get to learn new things, pick up on a new corporate culture, and pick up new skills. In some cases, it can result in more money and other financial benefits. It could even boost your resume for future endeavors.

2. Know if it’s a Wise Choice

After you have thought about all of the wonderful things that could come with a career change, you also have to determine whether this is a wise move. There are pros and cons with everything in life, and this is no exception. There’s no way for you to know for sure until you do it, but there are ways that you can minimize the risk to yourself.

Instead of thinking about all the headaches that will come with a career change, think about what your life will be like if you were to get the other job. Picture yourself in the new work environment, earning the salary you would make, working with the people you’d be working with, and doing the things you’d do. Then compare that to where you are right now. If it’s not much better, it might not be a wise move. If you think it’s a lot better, then it will probably be to your advantage to make the transition.

You may also want to talk to some people in their career to find out if it is as rewarding as what you think it will be. Then look at the types of things that you enjoy. Ultimately, you are going to be happiest doing the things that you like to do. If you are doing something just for the extra money or for the prestige, you’re probably going to end up disappointed in the long run.

3. Realize the Future Benefits

When you are trying to choose a career, you need to look at the potential future benefits instead of just the here and now. Don’t choose a new career just because it pays a little better than what you make now. You have to look at the long-term benefits that you might be able to realize.

4. Make the Switch

Once you have made the decision to switch careers, do what it takes to get started. You may need to go back to school and get additional training. Once you are qualified to begin, you may want to start working with a staffing company to get your foot in the door.

For example, engineering staffing companies can hook you up with some engineering firms and get you an entry-level position. Then you can work your way up to being fully employed with the firm and get a more rewarding career that will be there for the long-term.

When you finally make a decision as to what to do with your career, don’t look back. This isn’t the type of thing that you can second guess. Instead, go full steam ahead and burn your bridges behind you. If you are always thinking about what could have been any other career, you will inevitably drive yourself crazy.

It is much better to press forward and to make the most of your new career. This can provide you with great rewards both emotionally and financially in the future.