Making a Career Change: 4 Things to Think About

Thinking about pivoting your career path? Don’t worry – you’re never alone in those thoughts, and it’s not too late!

Perhaps you’ve been feeling generally dissatisfied with your work for a while, or you’ve fallen in love with a new passion that you’d love to pursue professionally. Whichever it might be, making such a big change can feel intimidating. Here are a few steps to take to ensure you’re properly thinking it through when you’re planning a big life shift. This will help show you that it is possible and also ensure you make the right choice.

Self-Reflection

Give yourself some time to seriously reflect before launching into a career shift. Think about what genuinely inspires and motivates you. If you’re not sure which way to go, a personality assessment can help you determine a few potential paths.

Think about your values, interests, strengths and weaknesses. Consider how you like to spend your free time, which tasks and activities make you feel fulfilled and accomplished, and which topics of conversation light you up. Gaining a deeper understanding of who you are will help you choose a career path that truly fits who you are.

Research and Explore

After you’ve gained a better grasp of your own passions and interests, look into possible career paths that align with them. Look into all the industries, roles, and opportunities out there, even if they’re things you hadn’t considered before.

Get in touch with professionals working in these fields and find out if they would be willing to talk work with you – this will help you gain a better understanding of what the day-to-day work is like, what the path looks like to get there, and whether this appeals and feels realistic to you.

Assess Transferable Skills

Although switching careers can feel like a completely fresh start, keep in mind that you probably already have at least some of the necessary skills from your past knowledge and work experience.

Consider your skills and abilities (flip through your CV if necessary!), like leadership and management, flexibility, problem-solving, and communication. Figure out which and how these can be applied to your new line of work. This will help you feel like you’re not starting from the bottom, and show future employers what you’re made of. In your research, check out which soft skills matter most in your preferred industry and how you can improve on them.

Embrace Lifelong Learning

Starting fresh on a new career path might very well require some additional education – either acquiring a new degree or perhaps doing some practical training. You’ll need to be willing and eager to learn new skills and get qualified for your next chapter.

Being a newbie might also require some additional effort if you want to gain a competitive edge. Check out online learning platforms, enroll in courses, attend workshops, and even look for mentorship possibilities. Embracing lifelong learning is important even for those who stick in the same industry all their lives!