Things you need to consider when making a career change.

Midlife Career change is arguably the hardest decision one can make in their life. However, sometimes this might not be an option as you could be stuck in an industry that is slowly dying or becoming obsolete. But even as you contemplate jumping ship, here are some of the things you ought to put into consideration.

a.)Research the industry.

Well, it is no secret that changing careers when at the prime of your life is risky by itself. So, it is important first to conduct due diligence by researching the industry you want to switch to, as thoroughly as you can. How good are your prospects in the new industry compared to Current one? What is your growth potential in that industry? How relevant are your innate skills in that industry? Failure to do so, you could find yourself in a deadlock situation where you can’t undo your hasty decision and neither are you flourishing in your new career.

b.)Improve your existing skill set.

A new career means new skills and equally newer challenges. Thus, it is only obvious that you should invest your time and money in learning the relevant new skills before handing in your letter of resignation in your existing workplace. You can even start by enrolling for flexible online classes if going back to school doesn’t augur well with your current financial situation. So, before quitting your job make a point of earning a degree, diploma or certificate in a field related to the new industry just to make it easier for you to find a foothold there.

c.)Network, network, and network.

Let’s say you want to quit practicing law and venture into engineering. One way of making sure that you stay afloat in your new industry is by connecting with already established engineers and learning at their feet. Otherwise, it is considered extremely risky these days to switch careers without establishing reliable contacts on the other side. So, instead of grumbling and complaining how nasty your current job is, spend that time attending networking conferences and events.

That said, here are a few other tips:

a.)Make sure you have a mentor in your new career before formally quitting your current job.

b.)Don’t wait for too long before changing jobs. As soon as you as you realize that your job isn’t productive or fulfilling, start making the necessary plans.

c.)Sometimes it takes a lot of faith in your abilities and passion before making a major career switch.

d.)In case you’re still unsure on whether or not you should change jobs, make a point of talking to your career coach about it.

e.)Ensure you’ve assessed and planned in advance for any potholes you might hit before establishing yourself in the new career.