Changing careers could be one of the biggest and most important decisions you ever make in your life. This is not a very easy thing to do, and it’s normally preceded by lots of thinking, as it should. For whatever reason you want to change your career, you should make sure that you’re not putting yourself in a situation where you jump from the frying pan into the fire. It’s not uncommon nowadays for people to feel dissatisfied by their jobs. It has become quite normal for people to switch workplaces, but not many have enough courage to make the big leap of changing careers.
Changing careers isn’t just about having a new, better workplace and more understanding bosses. It’s about starting from scratch once again. You don’t get to carry your experience or position from your previous job as this is an entirely different field of work. This means you’re starting from the bottom all over again, as if you’re fresh out of school. A big change like this is capable of bringing major changes to every other aspect of your life. This is why you have to put enough thought into it. No matter how badly you want to quit your current career, make sure to think your exit plan thoroughly. Going blindly into something you’ve never tried before isn’t advisable. Gather as much information as possible to know exactly what it is you’re getting into.
Below we’ll look at the things that you should consider when making a career change. With the right considerations, your transition will be as smooth as possible.
Affordability
You need to decide whether you can afford the change, and not just in the financial sense of things. A lot more than your income will come into play here. Let’s say you aren’t happy with your current career. It’s then important to make sure that the new career you’re going for will be satisfactory for you. If your new career promises better mental health than your old one but the pay is less without compromising your livelihood completely, then it’s a good bargain. In short, compare what you’ll be giving up and what you’ll be getting from your new career. If the rewards are worth it, then go for it.
Effect on Family
If you have a family, maybe a partner or kids, then you making a career change shouldn’t be all about you. This is a massive change that’s bound to affect everyone in your family. Perhaps they might need to make certain changes in their lifestyle, or even have to relocate. If you perceive that you’re going to hit some rough financial patches before your new career takes off, it’s advisable to involve your family and make them understand so that you can have the support you need. However, if your career change seems to be detrimental to your family relations, it would be a good idea to think of other options.
Skills
Do you have the skills necessary for the new career? Do you need to go to school to gain them? Do they give you any edge in the field that you’re venturing into? All these questions are important to help you avoid getting into a career blindly. Make sure that you’re well equipped with skills, or that you have enough resources to help you learn them. This way you’ll hit the ground running.
