Mistakes to Avoid When Changing Careers

When it comes to retraining for a new career, it doesn't matter how old you are or what you are changing from. You need to be confident that you are making positive changes to your work life for the better. With an increased focus of late on a healthy work-life balance and doing something that you feel inspired to do or makes you happy and not dread going to work, changing careers is a viable option for many people and should be something you are actively looking into if your current employment is a right fit for you.

But what is the best way to do this, and how can you avoid making a big mistake? The fear of the unknown can be a significant factor in not making the move. And stepping out of your comfort zone can be intimidating for anyone. But if you consider the alternative, which is doing what you are doing for the rest of your life and being unhappy, it can move some of the fear and give you the push you need to make the first step.

If this sounds familiar and something you want to do, these tips can help you avoid some of the major mistakes people make when changing careers and help you to have a smoother transition.

Quitting a career, not a job

In the first stance, look at whether it is your job you are unhappy with or the career itself. There is no right or wrong answer, but a common mistake people make when changing careers is not being able to distinguish what is making them unhappy, the career itself of the company you are working for. It might be that you need to find a new job with a better company instead of a whole new career but don't make any rash decisions until you know for sure.

Not knowing what they want

If you don't know what you want from your career or what you want to do with your life, how can you expect to retrain in a new profession? The reality is you will simply be jumping from one unhappy situation to another. Before declaring yourself one with your current work life and heading off to new pastures, make sure that the grass really is greener and that it is what you want from life before making the jump.

Not using their skills and interests

Essentially, this means choosing their new career based on perceptions, salary projections, and dissatisfaction with their current life. While it might look rosier for those in specific industries, if you aren't looking at your skills and interests, chances are you will be jumping ship for all the wrong reasons.

Take the Strong-Interest Inventory test to find out what you will likely succeed in and give you a better idea of what interests you and what careers can offer you greater satisfaction. This will help you to avoid making any mistakes as far as your career is concerned.

Not making plans

Spur-of-the-moment decisions rarely play out well for people. And those who are more successful will likely have put plans and contingencies in place before committing to changes. If you want to change your career but fail to plan how to do it, chances are you will struggle and won't get the best experience. Look at all of your options; how long will it take you to train in your chosen career, how will you support yourself during this transition, and what can you do to make your new career successful for you? Take a minute, evaluate your options, and put a workable plan into place.

Research

Lastly, failing to research when moving to a new career path will massively hinder your efforts. Depending on the career you want to move into, you might likely need training, education, or experience to get your desired job role, and all of this can take time. Research the minimum requirements of your job and determine how you will get there. Can you study and volunteer to acquire the skills and experience needed, or can you fit your new training around your current employment so you can still financially support yourself? Is there funding available to help you during the transition? Falling to research into what it will take to get from A to B can land you in hot water and derail your commitment.

Conclusion

Choosing a new career is trying to significantly improve your quality of life if done correctly; by taking your time and avoiding the issues mentioned in this article, you can give yourself the best chance of success when looking for your new career to make it work for you.