By Sean Wood
Preparation is the key to a smooth transition to a new career.
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”
Amelia Earhart, American Aviation Pioneer
We’ve all heard the adage “do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” It’s meant to describe the ideal work situation, which is rare. Most of the time we find ourselves working in less than ideal jobs to support ourselves and our families. If you don’t love going to work most days, then maybe it’s time to look for a career that is at least closer to ideal.
If you are looking for a change of career scenery, here are five key considerations to help you succeed:
Consider
What are you good at? Have you ever had a job that you loved going to? If so, why? Look at your skills and interests and see how they can translate to the job market. Work will always be work. But finding a career more aligned with things you enjoy doing can make it seem less so.
Ask
Talk to friends or colleagues who have made a career change. There is no greater source of information than someone who has gone through what you’re considering. Also look for connections in your chosen field. Those connections can provide you with valuable insider perspectives and introduce you to people who could help your career change.
Prepare
There is a lot you can do to get ready, from polishing your resume to researching career options. Learn all you can about the career of your choice: the good, the bad and the ugly. You’re bound to find more information than you could ever want on the Internet. Also, tailor your resume to highlight the skills that translate best to the career change you’re planning.
Volunteer
This may not always be possible, but there could be opportunities to “test-drive” your new career. Every community has organizations hungry for volunteers and some of those opportunities could be in your chosen field.
Learn
It may be worthwhile to go back to school to arm yourself with some knowledge about your new career. There may be professional certifications you could earn that would give you a leg up on competitors who have more experience in the field. There are numerous options for learning online on your time. It never hurts to be smarter.
There are a lot of things to consider. Louis Pasteur said, “Fortune favors the prepared.” The better prepared you are for this change, the closer you may get to “never working a day in your life.”
When you’re seeking professional certifications to help you enter your new field, we are ready to be your educational resource.
Sean Wood is the owner of Three 8 Communications and previously worked for Sensis TX. He has over 30 years of writing experience and conducts media training sessions with numerous corporate executives.
Learning and professional growth go hand in hand. For regular career insights and information on continuing education programs offered by UT’s Center for Professional Education, subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, It’s Your Career.
Correction
An earlier version of this piece cited the unemployment rate being at a historic low. The reference to unemployment rates was removed.
