How to Change Careers in My Twenties

You've been working for several years after graduation. You're starting to feel dissatisfied and restless in your job. You realize the career you've chosen isn't what you thought it would be, and you want to make a change. Where do you go from here? First of all, keep in mind that the transition from school to a full-time work environment can be a stressful one and recognize that your twenties is a time of personal and professional growth and change.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Assess Your Current Situation

1. Determine several factors about your current work situation: what you like about it, what you dislike, and how it compares to your expectations of that career.
2. Re-assess your personal goals and values. Have they changed since you started in your present career? Write down your current priorities.

Decide on a New Direction

3. Make a list of what you like about your job responsibilities and environment.
4. List all the factors that are important to you in a job.
5. Research careers that are a better fit for what you want, by doing informational interviews and using interest inventories and career information resources such as the Strong, the Self-Directed Search, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
6. Decide on the career that best matches your present values, interests and personal goals.
7. See a career counselor if you need help with decision-making and planning. If you attended college, the career placement office may be a good place to start.

Set Goals and Objectives

8. Write down your new career goal.
9. Determine the steps you need to take to reach your goal. Do you have enough transferable skills to make a lateral move, or will you need additional education or volunteer/internship experience, or possibly start in an entry-level position in your new career? The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great resource for information on requirements for various careers.
10. Implement your new career plan.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to people in career fields you're interested in pursuing to get as realistic a picture as you can about working in that occupation.
• Remember that you're just starting out professionally, and it takes time to figure out what you really want.

Who Can Help:

• Earn an Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's Degree from the University of Phoenix
• University of Phoenix, degree Programs to Fit Your Life.