- Changing career paths is not uncommon. The average person will change careers five to seven times during their lifetime.
- Some reasons for switching careers include desiring additional income, following a passion and wanting to gain new experience.
- It is important to understand how to change careers successfully, including creating an actionable professional development plan, networking and finding a mentor.
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Changing careers can be a daunting decision and task. But following through with it may lead to personal and professional fulfillment.
There are many reasons someone might want to make a career change. They may desire new challenges in their career or might be seeking a better work-life balance. Making a successful career transition requires careful planning and a willingness to take a risk for a better future. It is crucial to understand the essentials of career change, such as identifying transferable skills, networking in your new field for professional development and pursuing additional education or additional training.
Ahead, we dive into some of the most notable reasons why someone may want a career change and five steps on how to change careers.
Four Reasons a Professional Might Switch Careers
Working professionals might choose to switch careers for a variety of reasons, even if they already have an established career. If you are interested in taking the leap to change careers, here are some of the top reasons making a career change might make sense.
1. Earn More Money
As the cost of living continues to rise, the amount of money someone earns is quite important to most. It could be that a person’s current career does not offer financial stability or upward mobility to earn more money as tenure increases. This can lead to someone considering how to change careers to receive better pay and benefits packages.
2. Follow a Passion
Pursuing a true passion can be a big factor in wanting to switch careers. Quite often, people discover that their life passions lie outside their current career trajectory. This discovery can lead to an exploration of different career paths to fulfill their desires, resulting in a job with higher satisfaction and overall fulfillment in life.
3. Gain Experience
After some time, it is normal to feel a bit stagnant in a career. If a career does not offer educational and learning opportunities, it can often lead to an individual yearning for different experiences. Changing career paths can allow professionals to gain additional experience and expand their skill sets for new opportunities.
4. Find a Better Work/Life Balance
In the U.S., “hustle culture” is often glorified and encouraged, leading people to feel burnt out in their careers and taking valuable time away from their personal lives. High-stress jobs can have a direct impact on mental health, compelling people to search for new roles that provide a better work/life balance. Transitioning to a new career path can potentially create a more fulfilling career path and better work/life balance.
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Get Industry leading insights from Robert F. Smith directly in your LinkedIn feed.
Five Steps on How to Find a New Career
History is rich with examples of individuals who have made career changes. For example, Vera Wang has made multiple career changes during her lifetime. She successfully shifted from a career in journalism to figure skating to later becoming one of the world’s most renowned fashion designers. Her journey is just one of many that prove that, with determination and the right strategy, a career change can lead to an even brighter future.
While understanding how to find a new career can be a challenge, you can take some essential steps to help you navigate the transition. Let us dive into the actionable steps you can take to put you on the right path to a new career switch.
1. Do a Self-Assessment of Your Interests and Skills
Changing careers starts with identifying your interests and skills through a self-assessment. Take time to purposefully think about what interests you in your career and assess the skills you have already developed. This process of reflection can help you more clearly identify the best career that will align with your current interests and skills.
2. Do Your Research
Once you have a good understanding of what your interests and skills are, you can begin to research the different career paths you can take. Take a look at the job descriptions, industry projections of growth and required degrees or certifications. Narrow the opportunities to those that interest you the most and assess if those choices will put you on your desired career path. This will help you envision the next career path that best fits you.
3. Consider Talking to Other Professionals
No doubt, researching possible future career paths can be helpful. However, talking directly with professionals about your interest in their careers can bring you a higher level of insight. This may involve finding a mentor in your field of interest to learn more about their day-to-day work. Once you find a mentor in your field, you can ask career-specific questions to help you better understand whether or not that career path is right for you.
4. Create an Action Plan
To set yourself up for success in your new career path, it is essential that you create a career development plan. This development plan should include actionable steps, such as acquiring specific skills, obtaining industry certifications or building a portfolio to showcase your work. Your plan should also include clear and achievable milestones that will help you reach your overall goal of gaining a new career path.
5. Network, Gain Experience and Consider Going Back to School
Building a strong network can provide valuable insights and help create connections in your new field. Plus, it can provide experience in that new career path. Networking can include attending industry-led events, joining professional groups and reaching out to industry professionals for advice and mentorship. It may also be important to consider going back to school to gain additional skills and experience. These steps collectively enhance your readiness and competitiveness in your new career.
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