TipsonMakingaSuccessfulCareerChange

　　Areyoulookingformorethanjustabetterjob?Areyoulookingforamorerewardingprofession,onethatbetteralignswithyourskills,interests,values,andplansforthefuture?Ifso,bepreparedtofacealotofreflectionandplanning.

　　It’simportanttotakeaseriouslookatthemanypossibilitiesandoutcomesbeforeyoujumpintoanewcareerorfield.Considerthesetipsasyoumakeatransitionfromyourpresentcareertoyournext:

　　1.Haveaclearplan.Thisshouldincludeadetailedactionplanthattakesintoconsiderationfinances,research,education,andtraining.Keepinmindthatasuccessfulcareerchangecantakeseveralmonthsorlongertoaccomplish,sopatienceiskey.

　　2.Besureofyourreasons.Justbecauseyou’reunhappyinyourcurrentjobisn’tastrongenoughreasontomakeatotalcareerbreak.Carefullyanalyzewhetheritisyouractualcareeryoudislikeorwhetheryouremployer,supervisor,orofficesituationistheproblem.

　　3.Doyourresearch.Besuretoexamineallpossibilitiesbeforeattemptingacareerjump.Talktopeopleinyournetwork;readcareerandjobprofiles;meetwithacareermanagementprofessional.Themoreinformationwithwhichyouarmyourselfbeforehand,themoresuccessfulyouwillbe.

　　4.Decidewhat’simportant.Askyourselfwhatitisyoureallywanttodowiththerestofyourlife.Manypeoplewhoarelookingtochangecareersdosotofindabalancebetweentheirpersonalandprofessionallives.Youmaywanttoconsiderconsultingacareercoachand/ortakingacareerassessmenttest.

　　5.Examineyourqualifications.Doyouhavethenecessaryexperienceandeducationtobeconsideredaqualifiedcandidateinyourdesiredcareerfield?Ifnot,youneedtoimproveyourselfinmanyaspects.Thismightmeanmakingyourgoalmorelong-termwhileyougobacktoschoolorreceiveadditionaltraining.

　　Inall,wechangeourcareersforbetterlife.Thereforethebetterandearlierpreparationyoumake,thebettercareerwewouldbelikelytoget.