Please upgrade your web browser

These pages are built with modern web browsers in mind, and are not optimized for Internet Explorer 8 or below. Please try using another web browser, such as Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 11, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

How to Successfully make a Large Career Change

Career Exploration

Making a career change is not an overnight process. It can take months or even years before you can be able to settle down in a new career. A huge career change involves time, a plan, and a proper strategy in place to ensure you can move forward into what you truly want to do. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be in one field and then deciding you want to change careers down the road. Life is always flowing to a new direction, and with the right plan, you can change your life.

Find The Root Of Your Need to Change Careers
Why do you want to change your path? Is it a better income that you're going for? Are you striving for a different change of pace? Simply finding your reasoning can help you get clear on what action to take. Will you make the change now or in the future?

Is School A Requirement?
Think about the career you want and if it requires a different degree. If it requires just a bit of training, stick to regular classes or programs that can provide certification without having to invest too much money to go back to school. Most careers are far less drastic of a change like going into med school to become a doctor. Sometimes all you really need is a certification or even just some accreditation to be able to submit to a new job.

Possible Career Routes
Have an idea on the careers that you would like to jump into. Make a list of the different routes you may go into and how you would go about doing it. If you know which career you want, it's all about researching what's next for you.

Network Your Way
Don't be afraid to talk to people in the field you want to get into. Ask them the different ways and other things you can do to achieve the same thing. It's incredible what simply networking can do for your self-esteem and gaining that competitive edge to achieving a job in a new career. Sometimes all you need is a bit of advice from someone to light that spark in you.

Utilize Your Current Skillset
Plenty of people stray away from trying to get in a new career because they fear they need to go right back into school. Most jobs usually require the same core skills in managing remote workers, communication, collaborating and time management. Figuring out what skills you do or don't have can help you dive in to see what you may need to work on.

Financial Stability
The struggle for most is not being able to stay stable financially as they transition. Having a safety net in case you don't have a job for a little while will help you stay on your feet without going broke. You don't want to be broke struggling to transfer to a new career looking for work.

Tracking Your Progress Daily
It's important to track your progress and see what the next step is. Don't stay stagnant with your career. They key is to have a written plan laid out and know what steps you need to take, whether it's certification, training, or even going back to school.

Apply To New Jobs
Once you have gained the right training and accreditation, your final job is to simply look for jobs in your new chosen career. Your goal is to do whatever you need to be prepared for the new opportunity coming your way.

Making a big career change is daunting without the right knowledge. If you know where you want to be and you are ready to dive into a new career, definitely take the chance to jump in. The key is to use the above tips so that you know how to better prepare yourself for this new change of pace.

If you have comments or feedback about any article, please email your thoughts to info@acp-advisornet.org.

About the Author

Write an Article

We welcome articles on any subject that might help our veterans. Articles are especially useful in place of frequently similar responses, and can be linked in your replies.

Add an article