There are several steps you can follow if you are thinking about a career change. Stage one involves a gut-check. Stage two is about a career experiment. Stage three involves applying to a new job, and adapting to your new life. You should consult your significant other if you're considering a career shift.
Stage one is a gut-check
Gut judgments are important when it comes to career changes, especially if you have limited time. It is unpractical to spend all of your time evaluating your options. It's important to do so before making a major decision. Even if certain, it's a smart idea to verify your gut feelings with additional evidence.
Stage 2 is a career experiment
Career exploration is an integral part of career planning. It is the first step towards developing a professional network. You will meet with people from different industries and ask them questions about the work they do. The Career Center can provide you with packets for this research.
Career experimentation is a great way to improve your skills, and build a persona. It can give you insights into your target role and the steps to get there. Although the career experiment is not an exact solution to finding a job, it can help you improve your job search and your chances of succeeding.
Stage three is the application for a new job
This stage is all about taking action. You must prepare to learn new skills and retrain for your new career, as well as consider balancing your personal and professional life. This involves changing your routine, joining a class, and taking new courses. During this stage, you may also experience feelings of hope and excitement. Be aware that this stage can be stressful and may make you more thoughtful and strategic.
Fourth stage: Adapting to your new lifestyle
You will need to learn how to balance your priorities as you transition from Stage One to Stage Four in the process of changing careers. Friends and relationships that drain your energy must be let go. You have to understand that you are not able make the same impact on everyone. You must also accept that you are no longer the only one who makes decisions.
This stage is where you need to learn new skills, retrain and update your existing job. It is important to learn how you can balance your new job and your personal life. There may be adjustments that you need to make, such as changing your morning routine, joining a group, learning new courses, or creating new plans. It can be difficult to feel happy about a new job. However, you might also feel overwhelmed by the change.