Choosing to completely change your career can be a daunting prospect, but it should also be an exciting one.
The chance to start afresh. Learn new skills. Meet new people. Hopefully, the opportunity to earn more money.
That being said, if you jump in two feet first and don’t carry out the necessary research and planning that is needed before switching careers, you may find yourself struggling.
From looking into your finances to establishing what it is that you want from your job to decide how far you are willing to travel for work, keep reading to find out the key aspects that you need to consider before you hand in your notice at your current employment and head for pastures new.
1. Your reasoning
It is first essential to establish why you want to switch careers.
Have you been thinking about a change for a long time, or has something happened recently at work that has made you want to leave?
Switching careers is not something that should be rushed, and therefore, your reason for wanting to leave your current job should be a valid one.
If it is purely because you want to earn more money, have you exhausted all options for a pay rise in your present position?
Or is there another industry that you have always been passionate about but never had the opportunity to work in before?
Making sure that you are 100% certain that you want a new career and that you have clear reasons for wanting to do so is crucial in determining whether or not you should bite the bullet and make a move sooner rather than later.
2. Any financial restraints
You may have always wanted a job that allows flexible working hours and the chance to explore your creative side. Still, if you have a large mortgage and other monetary commitments, your preferred career may not be financially viable for you at this time.
One way to get around this is to widen your job search area and consider relocating to a city or state that either pays more for your desired position or one where the cost of living is less than where you currently live.
Use this simple online cost of living calculator tool to determine how much the cost of living is in a particular area and how much you would need to earn to keep up with your current standard of living.
Relocating can also be a good idea if there are no positions in the industry you want to work in where you currently live.
3. Potential for growth
If you are starting in a completely new sector or industry where you have little experience or skills, you are likely to have to start further down the career ladder and gradually work your way up.
Not only does this come with financial implications but it also requires a certain mindset to be able to lower your ranking and take directives from more senior members of staff, especially if you were in a leadership role in your previous position.
Furthermore, you need to investigate the potential for career advancement in your new industry.
Will you be able to go as far as you would like within this sector? Or will you have to accept certain limitations?
Switching careers, whatever age you are, is never an easy or straightforward decision. There will always be something that is holding you back, whether that be family commitments, financial restraints or even perceived personal limitations.
However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go for it. If you have weighed up the pros and cons, done the math and you still feel the need for a change – go for it!
