Changing careers is seldom a straightforward process. In this article, we will discuss how to make a career change by reflecting on your job history, transferable job skills, lifestyle factors, and personal finances. Read on to learn how to initiate a successful career change.

When to consider switching careers?

Are you feeling stressed, drained, or otherwise dissatisfied at work? Do you find yourself thinking I need a new career or I need a career change? There are lots of steps to take as you pursue a new career path and it can feel overwhelming to navigate this transition into a new field alone. In this article, we will discuss 10 important steps for changing careers.

How to change careers: 10-step guide to finding a new career

Wondering how to start a new career? A change of career path can feel overwhelming, especially since knowing how to switch careers is rare. Everyone has a unique employment history and skill set. Many of these job skills are likely transferable. This is why it’s important to reflect on past jobs when you are trying to figure out how to switch careers and continue to grow, personally and professionally. 

01

Reflect on past jobs

Make a list of your past jobs. What did you like about each position? What did you dislike? Do your best to be honest, and remain uncensored. Write everything down — good and bad — so you can try to identify patterns and trends. 

Here are some questions to help you brainstorm for career change ideas ➡️

Consider each of these questions thoughtfully. And remember, knowing what you don’t like is just as important as knowing what you do like when considering new career ideas.

02

Identify transferable job skills

It’s important not to feel stuck in a career, because chances are, there are alternative careers that use similar job skills. Changing careers can feel more manageable if you focus on your transferable skills. Make a list of things you’re good at and enjoy doing at work. Some possible skill sets include customer service, writing, leadership, research, organization, planning, and marketing. Of course, there are many more! Identifying transferable job skills will also help you reflect on new skills you want to develop.

03

Do research

Now that you have a better idea of what you like, dislike, and are good at, it’s time to start researching alternative career paths! The best way to start thinking about how to find a new career is to search the internet and ask friends, family, and acquaintances questions about their careers, job satisfaction, and the job market. Consider taking a career test can be a valuable tool for job seekers. There are lots to choose from online.

04

Consider lifestyle factors

There are lots of factors to consider when starting a new career. It’s important to reflect on the effect your new job would have on your lifestyle. For instance, are you willing to move for your career? Maybe the idea of moving excites you. Or maybe you are surrounded by friends and family where you are and are hesitant to move. How do you anticipate a new career will affect your mental health? Will you be able to achieve a healthy work-life balance? Another important factor to consider is whether you have the money, time, and patience to go back to school.

05

Reflect on your finances

What do your finances look like? Can you afford to change careers right now? If the answer is no, don’t feel discouraged. Take methodical steps towards your goal. It’s important to remain grounded and realistic during life transitions. Do you have debt? Are you dependent on your current job for your healthcare? How much are your monthly bills? Based on your savings, how much time can you afford to devote to a job search? Can you afford to go back to school?

06

Make a budget

If you decide that now is the time to switch careers, make a budget for yourself. This is an important bit of career advice. Personal finances are particularly important during times of transition. Brainstorm ways to minimize your bills. Reflect on your personal spending habits honestly and thoroughly. How much do you spend recreationally? How can you start practicing moderate spending?

07

Consider supplemental income

If you don’t have the savings to commit to a job search right now, consider sources of supplemental income. Consider taking a temporary or part-time job to help cover your bills as you take steps towards switching careers. Changing jobs can feel intimidating for lots of reasons, but it’s important when you are switching careers to make sure you are realistic about your finances.

08

Update your resume

As you start taking steps towards switching careers, you’ll have to update your resume and LinkedIn account. Make sure everything is up-to-date, polished, grammatically correct, and professional. Have several people proofread it on your behalf. Highlight transferable job skills and tailor your resume for your new career. 

If there are aspects of your previous jobs that you’ve consistently disliked, it’s okay to remove them from your resume. For example, if you have experience working with children but want to move away from this kind of work, it’s okay to remove childcare from your resume.

09

Seek out resources

Once you have a good idea of what career you’d like to pursue, and have reflected on your finances and lifestyle factors, it’s time to start diving deeper into your research. What else do you want or need to know about your career before moving forward? 

Consider reaching out to professionals in your prospective field. Email them questions or ask if they would be open to an informational interview. An informational interview is a meeting where you sit down with a professional and ask them questions about their field and how they got to where they are now professionally. You might also want to seek out job shadowing opportunities or hire a career coach.

10

Network

Networking is a crucial aspect of any successful career, but it is particularly important if you are trying to change careers. Without direct industry-related experience, a personal referral is your best method for achieving recognition. Having someone vouch for you personally is a great way to get your foot in the door and receive an interview. 

Looking for a new career and still not sure what to decide? Contact us

If you are feeling overwhelmed, know that you are not alone. Lots of people consider changing careers. If you are seriously considering a change of career, reach out to learn more about our services and how we can help you find a new fulfilling career.

Final points on career switching

There are lots of additional resources to consider as you start thinking about changing careers. Brush up on your interview skills. Learn how to write a resume for changing careers. Actively reflect on your employment history and job skills. Reach out to professionals in your prospective field and ask them for advice and career-specific insights. 

Still intimidated by changing careers? Read on for answers to some frequently asked questions about starting a new career.

When you are picking the right college for you make sure to run through the list of whether it’s your dream, target, and safety school. These are the three categories that you want your dream college to fall under. Let’s talk about them in a little more detail. 

The reason we are suggesting specifically curating your college list is so that you are less stressed and more excited to get into the college of your dreams. When you line up a few good colleges that are within your financial and academic reach you are more determined. You have better confidence that you will get into a school that you actually want to attend. 

How many colleges should you apply to?

You can apply to as many colleges as you want to, but we suggest starting with six. If you spread out the colleges you dream of attending, are safe, and are a target college, then that is a good start.

Dream schools

The dream school is self-explanatory, pick the college that you would love to attend if money wasn’t an issue. If your academics fall on the lower end of the average spectrum, this is your dream school because it might be a long shot, but they are still obtainable. 

When you are considering colleges it is important to not be wary of the tuition of the school. A lot of schools offer financial aid or alternative payment options. Colleges want you to attend their schools, they won’t make it impossible for you to attend. Continue your education the way you want to!  

Target schools

If you are looking for your target school, then you are checking out the ones that are within your academic average. This is where you would compare your grades and SAT to the average standard that the college admits. Each college admission is different, but you are more likely to get into your target school than your dream school. 

Safety schools

A safety school is one to fall back on. It isn’t necessarily your last option, but it is one that you should easily be able to get into. You will know if this is your safe school based on your grades and the average that the college admits. 

Additionally, you should want to attend these colleges, and they shouldn’t be the ones you least desire. On top of being confident that you’ll get into your safety college, you should also look into financial aid. Ensure that these are the colleges that you will be able to afford. There are many different ways to acquire financial aid, so make sure to exhaust all your options when looking into your safety school. 

Let prepory help you

Prepory is a premier college admissions counseling organization. Our student-centric approach to the college admissions process is reshaping how students apply to college, find their “fit,” and ultimately receive admission to their dream schools.

We have individualized growth-oriented coaching, mentorship from the nation’s most impressive college admissions team, best technology and curriculum in the industry. Contact us today and make sure get the college coaching you need. 

Key takeaways for searching for your dream school

Remember that you are going to want to diversify the colleges that you apply to. Sending a couple of applications to schools that are in and out of your average academics is important. Remember that you are continuing your education and it is supposed to be fun, pick colleges that you are going to be happy attending.  

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College FAQs

Where will you study?

When you are searching for colleges to attend, consider what places they offer for you to study. Are there separate study areas, and a library you can use? Additionally, office hours from your professors are something to take into consideration as well.  

What is the environment like?

Are you going to blend in with the environment at the school of your choice? What is their student body like? Will you be able to mess with all the different personalities? Not every school’s environment is for everyone. Make sure to do your research so you know you’ll be happy there. 

Are you going to live on campus?

Is this college easy for you to commute to or will you have to move on campus? Does your college offer this and will you be able to afford it? These are all other points to take into consideration.

Does the college have your major?

The ultimate question is does the college of your dreams have the major that you are looking for? Ensuring that it does means you are more likely to pursue that school. It’s important to make sure the school you want to go to has the classes for your required education.

Can you afford it? 

The ultimate question is does the college of your dreams have the major that you are looking for? Ensuring that it does means you are more likely to pursue that school. It’s important to make sure the school you want to go to has the classes for your required education.

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