You may love your job but not your boss, maybe you want to pursue a passion, or maybe you’ve found a new professional challenge worth exploring. Regardless of what’s driving you, here are some tips if you’re considering a career change.
Do your homework
Breaking into a new field can be more complicated than moving up in your current role. Not all your experience is transferable. However, people change careers all the time, at every life stage.
What steps can you take to prepare? For example, learn a new software, set up informational interviews, or subscribe to industry newsletters. Changing industries might feel like you’re starting over, which can be daunting if you’ve gained some expertise in your current career.
Before you make any big moves consider speaking with someone currently in the field. If you’re comfortable, ask them what it’s really like and how difficult it is to get started.
Find opportunities where you are
You may be able to gain relevant experience within your current job or industry. Volunteer to take on a new task or shadow someone in your organization. For example, if you’re a software engineer but really want to work in public relations, you may already have a relevant department or team to connect with.
Getting a little exposure could help you find an entry-level position that generally requires some experience in the new field.