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Switching to a New Career: A Guide

There are lots of reasons why a person might consider changing to a new career. Some may find their current career too stressful or that it prevents them from maintaining a healthy work-life balance. They may want to earn more money or to move to a career that offers long-term progression. Or they may wish to pursue a career that they are personally passionate about or want to make a positive difference in their community. Whatever the motivation, it is an important decision not to be taken lightly, especially if you are leaving a career that provides you with a comfortable living.

This guide outlines some key points to keep in mind before you switch to a new career.

Assess the pros and cons of your current career

Take a good hard look at your current situation to work out what it is that you are unhappy or frustrated with. You could make notes during your workday about what you like or dislike so you can identify which part of your job is not working. For example, are you bored with the work, or are you feeling unsupported by your manager or irritated by the culture of the workplace? There is always a possibility that you are not in the wrong career, but with the wrong company. Or would a new position at your current company give you more of what you are looking for?

Research new careers and qualifications

Of course, if you know that your work is not fulfilling, you can start to think about other career paths. You may already have some ideas about the kind of new career you might want to explore, but it is always useful to take some time to consider a range of alternatives. Discuss your ideas with your family and friends or even a career counselor and investigate the average salary you are likely to earn.

It is at this point that you will need to do some research to see what qualifications might be necessary for certain careers. After all, you want to give yourself the best shot possible. However, you don’t have to worry about this taking up years of your life to get to a new career. If you need a degree for your chosen career that is going to fit with your current lifestyle and responsibilities, you might consider Marian University accelerated online degrees. Choose from 4-week courses, 7-week courses, and 15-week courses that will enable you to personalize your education journey.

Reach out to people in those industries

While the internet is an invaluable source of information and it could prove worthwhile as you achieve your online degree, there are other things you can be doing at the same time. One of the best ways to find out more about a potential new career, for example, is to talk to people who are already working in those industries. Your friends, family, and professional network may be able to point you in the direction of relevant people, and LinkedIn is a great place to connect with people in other industries.

Do a trial run

When you are settled on one or two potential careers, consider setting up a trial run. This might be helping out on a voluntary basis, shadowing someone for a week or two, or working on a freelance basis. This is a great way to test out what the job would be like in reality. Make sure you look for a balanced experience so that you understand the positive and negative aspects of the career. If you choose to do a flexible online course, then it will be possible to do this alongside it. Gaining knowledge and experience at the same time will prove useful when it comes to getting a full-time job.

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