5 Things to Consider When Changing Career Paths

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the company or it might just be time for something new. You might want to work in a new industry, change your suit pants for scrub pants, or maybe you are chasing more money. Changing your career can often be equally daunting and exciting at the same time. On one hand, you may be apprehensive about a new start, working with a new organization and getting to grips with a completely new role. On the other hand, you will likely be looking forward to the new challenge and excited about all of the potential and possibilities that are ahead of you.

Before making the decision to change career paths, it’s important that you take the time to consider your options. Regardless of your age, overall experience or how long you have been in your current position, it’s crucial that you think long and hard about your choice before you follow through. Making a career change might seem as simple as ending one job and starting the next, however, it doesn’t always work out to be quite as straightforward as that. There are numerous factors that you need to consider before making the switch to a new career. Taking the time to address all of these considerations will ensure that you make the right call moving forward.

Let’s take a look at just some of the things that you need to consider when you are considering changing career paths.

Figuring Out The Issue At Hand

As mentioned above, there are many reasons that you might want a career change. Before you start looking into new potential careers options or career paths, it’s important to take a step back and figure out exactly why you want a change. In many cases, employees become frustrated with the organisation they are working for, they don’t get along with their colleagues or they feel like they are badly treated by their employer. If the reasons for your career change are specific to the organisation you are currently working for then your job might not be the issue, it may just be the company you are working for. Figuring out exactly what has driven you to look for a career change will help you to determine if you are making this decision for the right reasons or not.

Consider Your Skillset

Beginning a new career can often be intimidating, especially if you are moving into a new field that you have no experience of, or very little experience, of. Before making the decision to move into a new career, it’s important to take the time to analyse the skillset that you possess so you can identify any skills that might be transferable to your new career. Figuring out which skills you possess that could be useful in your new role can help to make the process of switching into a new career path much more straightforward.

Taking A Few Steps Back

When you move to a new industry to follow a new career path, you will often need to jump back down a few rungs on the professional ladder. For example, if you have been working in finance all of your life and you have reached senior manager status, you can’t expect to be at the same level if you move to a new job such as the healthcare or construction industry. With no experience in the industry, you will have to take a few steps back so before you make any decisions, you should check for job opportunities for physical therapists, as an example, and ensure that you are okay with starting at the bottom of the ladder again.

The Earning Potential

If you have been in your current position for a number of years and you have climbed the ladder, you might be on good money. However, when you change career paths, as mentioned above, you will often need to come back down a few pegs which typically will mean a reduction in your salary. If you have a family, mortgage payments, a car loan and other financial responsibilities, a loss in earnings might make changing career paths prohibitive. Be sure to take the time to weigh up your financial responsibilities and make sure that you will not be landing yourself in financial trouble because of your decision to follow through with your career change.

Make Sure You Make The Right Decision For Your Future

Changing career paths is a big decision no matter where you are on the professional ladder. Following the tips above, you can ensure that you take everything into consideration before making any major decisions. With a little thought and consideration, you can ensure that you make the right decision for your future so that you have a bright professional future to look forward to.

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