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10 Things to Remember When Changing Career Paths

Changing careers can be exciting and terrifying in equal measure. If you’re thinking about making the move, read on for some tips to help you transition successfully.

Research your possibilities

Too many of us decide to start chasing a new career focusing only on the end result, without properly considering what it’s actually going to take to get there. With LinkedIn sometimes making the world feel like one big headhunting department, the temptation to switch employers now seems ever-present. But it’s worth taking time to find out exactly what financial, physical, and mental expenditures will be required when you switch careers. Then you can calmly assess if the change will make you truly satisfied in the long run.

Self-reflect and correct

Reflect on your career decisions and the life choices you’ve made so far – and figure out the reason why you’re not where you’d like to be. We humans are creatures of habit, and we’ll often repeat the same mistakes over and over before finally realizing what is stopping us from growing personally and professionally. If you’ve always wanted to go to business school, what’s the reason you’re not there right now? Financial concerns? Overwhelming responsibilities? Laziness? Diagnose yourself and correct your behavior. Once you make these improvements you can focus on developing new behaviors that will guide you towards a rewarding career change.

Talk to people

Consult mentors, coaches, and people you look up to professionally for insight. It can be wise and beneficial to seek advice from friends and family – but be cautious of those who are close to you; they may be inclined to persuade you to take a path that keeps you close to them and far from your real career aspirations. After all, the most successful and rewarding careers are usually pursuits that put your interests first, and those of others second.

Decide what you really want

Ask yourself a series of questions before switching careers. What are your limits? Is there something you love so much that you can see yourself sacrificing everything for it? What ultimately makes you happy? What do you value? Is there a profitable career out there that ties in all of these components? Your career should reflect your strengths, passions, and ambitions, otherwise your rate of success in making the transition will be severely compromised.

Make yourself accountable

Everybody has weaknesses and limitations that can act as a roadblock to a rewarding and successful career. What separates successful leaders from the rest of the pack is their ability to confront these limitations and commit themselves to professional growth. Making this step takes courage, but has limitless rewards. Remember – all forms of success, both professional and personal, start from within.

Set strict deadlines

Keep the end rewards in sight but don’t lose track of what it takes to get there. Create short and long term goals with strict deadlines. Garner support from friends or coaches to ensure you have someone cheerleading you throughout your journey. Be accountable for your professional responsibilities and avoid procrastination like it’s going out of fashion (it is!). Get the ball rolling – even small steps such as taking an online course or meeting regularly with your mentors will count for something. Every step you take today means a new starting point tomorrow.

Confidence is everything

Believe you are worthy of a career change, and believe you have the talent and ability to move yourself forward. Don’t limit yourself to opportunities that feel familiar. You’ll discover new strengths when you move out of your comfort zone. Remember – adaptability has become one of the defining traits of today’s successful business leaders.

Embrace failure

Don’t be afraid to try, fail, and try again. Many of the world’s most successful people have failed over and over before discovering their true professional selves. Treat every experience as a learning opportunity, and don’t carry negative emotions into the next stage of your career. Failure is expected, and often provides the most valuable skills and experience for ensuring your next effort will be a success.

Forget about money

Money is important, but if it’s the sole driving force behind your desire to change career paths, it probably won’t be enough to make you succeed. Find a career that you know you’ll actually enjoy doing, otherwise you’ll subject yourself to years of resentment and wondering ‘what if?’, which all the money in the world won’t be able to change.

Consider online education

Choosing to change career paths often requires new skillsets which can be expensive and time-consuming when pursued within a traditional on-campus setting. If you want to accelerate your transition into a new career, online education may be your best option. Many online education providers also offer fast track options, where you can earn a competitive degree.

When you do eventually take the next step in your professional life, keep these tips in mind to ensure your transition runs as smoothly as possible. Remember, manage your priorities and don’t let the transition process make you lose sight of what is most important; meeting your own objectives and achieving personal fulfillment.

Source: http://www.studyinteractive.org/news/an-online-mba-opens-up-new-career-opportunities/

By: Emese Balogh

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by InterActive .