How to Change Careers

Changing Careers

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Thinking of changing careers? Are you really ready to make a life altering decision. I've been a Professiona Tennis Player/Instructor, Quality Assurance Manager, Creative Director, Designer, Developer, Product Manager, and have even run my own company. While these steps may not be for everyone changing careers, I hope they'll help you in realizing some of the hurdles in doing so.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Determination
Intelligence
A little bit of luck

Step1

Changing Your Job? Okay, so you've determined that your career is a deadend position or your not getting any satisfaction from it. What do you do now? First, decide wither the job that you want is actually something you can reach for. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but be realistic. Your probably not going to be an NASA astronaut if your 45, a smoker and have a bad back.

Step2

Going Back To School Once you've determined that you want that shiny new career find out what you need to do to get there. It may require you going back to school for a few years. You'll have to answer your own questions of wither you can live the lifestyle you have now and go back to school. Get all the facts that detail out your new career and then focus on getting the things you need done to get there. Also, you should ask your co-workers/friends for an honest assessment of you and your work ethics. Some of the information maybe painful or you may think otherwise but if more than one person says the same thing about you, prepare to get that chip knocked off your shoulder. You may need to re-evaluate your decision to change careers based on feedback.

Step3

No Time For Egos Once you've actually jumped into the new career there are a few hard lessons that you may have to deal with. The first being that your ego may have to take a back seat at the new job. Getting a new job may require you reporting to someone younger and smarter (at least temporarily) than you because they have more experience.

Step4

Working Together You have to give yourself time to having to earn other coworkers respect. Respect in the work place is something should mostly be earned, and if you've had alot of respect in your previous career don't expect that it should instantly follow you. Keep in mind that doesn't mean that anyone should disrepect your experience just because you were in a different career before, alot of life's experiences can travel from one work place to another.

Step5

Remember that you will need to focus and work harder than you may have ever before, but the reward is that hopefully with the change you can turn that deadend job into a distant memory.

Tips & Warnings

Talk to a recruiter about a career change plan
You may know someone starting a new company or division that could use your loyality and life/work experience. So ask around
Don't be willing to take the lowest job in a new career just because you don't have direct experience.

Comments

Karenc1972 said

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on 6/26/2008 On average a person changes career six times, so this is a fantastic article. I reckon I'm on change number 4 now, so it's a good reminder of the pros and cons of it all. Sometimes changing requires educating yourself and a willingness to change...but I've found the two go hand in hand. It might be painful in the short-term but in the long-term it is incredibly rewarding - both financially and personally. Thanks for sharing!

alienangel555 said

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on 6/20/2008 These are all good ideas. I am in the midst of a career change myself. It takes guts, confidence and an ability to take risks as well. Great article. 5 stars!

parvenue said

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on 6/9/2008 Sounds alot like one of my articles with a different sound. It's hard these days to even think about changing careers since most people are just trying to hold on to the jobs they do have and don't even get me started on the gasoline prices and the lessons we may soon all be forced to face. Thanks for your insight.

Felicity said

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on 6/1/2008 Some good ideas here. It is important to expect a change to be hard sometimes, especially if you have the ambition but not the background. But persevere - if you have the drive, you'll win through. Thanks for sharing this with us!