Changing career can be a liberating and empowering move. If you are feeling stuck in a dead-end job that you don’t enjoy, or you have lost the passion for your chosen career, it might be time to consider a career change. While it can be stressful and may result in having to make some sacrifices, changing career could be the best thing for you and your family. So, if you’re wondering how to get started, read on.
Make Sure You Actually Want to Change Your Career
If you are unhappy in your current role and wondering if you should change your career, first try to assess whether it is really a career change you need. It could be that there are other, much more enriching and rewarding jobs out there in your own area, but you haven’t had the chance to find them. Or perhaps your location is keeping you from progressing in your chosen field. Do some research and make sure that a change in career is definitely what you want before you make any commitments.
Decide What Profession You’d Rather Be In
You may already have in mind what profession you’d rather be working in, in which case, you can skip this step. If you don’t, however, now is the perfect time to do some soul-searching and find the right career for you. There are a huge variety of online quizzes, charities, websites and other resources to help you find new career opportunities, you may even consider a profession you’ve never heard of before. Talk to family and friends as well, as they are likely to know you best and can help you make the right decision or offer new ideas.
Don’t be afraid to branch out and look at a new and previously unthinkable profession for you. There are lots of options available to gain the qualifications you need. You can even get a degree in laboratory sciences, purely by studying online, as and when it suits you so try not to think of education as a roadblock to a future career and more of an opportunity to expand your horizons.
Research Your Chosen Profession and Look at the Qualifications You Will Need
Once you’ve picked a profession, start to research it and what you will be needing to achieve in order to start working in that field. It may be that you have a lot of transferrable skills and the right qualifications already, in which case, you don’t have to worry as much. However, if you are thinking of changing into a career you don’t have a lot of experience in or knowledge about, chances are you might have to gain a new qualification. Don’t be put off by the idea of having to study, there are plenty of ways you can gain qualifications without having to invest loads of money or go back to school. Lots of educational institutions such as the University of Cincinnati offer online programs so you can learn from home, while still maintaining a job or raising a family.
Don’t Be Afraid to Start from the Bottom
Once you’ve got your qualifications, or even if you haven’t needed to obtain any, you may have to re-join the bottom rungs of the career ladder in order to get your foot in the door. Don’t worry. With past experience and a good worth ethic, you should be able to progress in no time. You’ll have your dream job and be able to provide for you and your family!
