The Complete Guide to Changing Careers

But how do you do that? Everyone says they want to go to work doing something they love but how many people actually make it happen? It makes sense to have a job you love, after all, you don’t want to be miserable 38 hours per week. Who wants to wake up every weekday in a bad mood because they know they’re going to spend the rest of the day doing something they hate?

But how do you go about making a career change? There are so many factors people need to consider:

These are just some of the more common questions people ask themselves, but there are many, many more. If you’re one of the lucky people who know exactly what they want to do then your path is much easier. However, most people who have decided they want a career change don’t actually know what that career change should be. This is the most difficult question to answer but once you know it, the rest falls into place.

Unsure what sort of career you’d like to go in to? Check out our Career Quiz.

Whoa, that’s heavy isn’t it? However, it’s something you need to consider. Why do you really want to make this career change? Is it something that could be fixed in your current place of employment, do you just need a change of scenery or is a complete career change what you need?

Now that you’ve decided how you want to approach your career change – either staying with your current employer in a different role, changing employers, or changing careers completely – it’s time to drill down into what makes you tick. This is the point where you ask yourself:

At this point, don’t hold back on what your career possibilities could be or how you can get there.

While it’s vital you go through the process of asking questions about yourself, sometimes the answers are either difficult to figure out, or just plain wrong. It’s a bit like looking in the mirror and seeing someone completely different to how other people see you.

That’s why it’s important for you to talk to people you trust and who know you well. This could include family members and friends, but arguably the most important people you can talk to are work colleagues. Ask them for their opinion on potential career change options and why they think you’d be suited to those roles. Ask them for their opinions on what skills you have and what personality traits you have. They may be able to clarify what you’re capable of, what you’re strengths and weaknesses are and what you were put on this Earth to do.

By now you will understand what you stand for, what your skills are and what industries may interest you. You will have gained a deeper understanding about who you are and where you want to go through a combination of introspection and feedback from friends, family and colleagues.

There’s only one way to go about finding out what it’s really like to work in the field you’ve decided you want to pursue, without actually working in it yourself – talk to someone with experience in that area! It sounds simple but you’d be surprised how many people won’t do any research before diving head first into a new career. Most people either know someone in that field, or their friends and family may know someone.

However, if all else fails, call someone on the telephone and ask him or her out for lunch. What’s the worst they can say, no? That’s a small price to pay to make sure you’re pursuing the right career, isn’t it? Most people will happily accept a free lunch and tell you what you need to know. Perhaps you could even ask to spend a few days with them to gain a true perspective of what you might be getting yourself into. Again, what’s the worst they can say? It’s the best insight you’ll get into whether your potential new career direction is right for you.