Everyone has moments when we wonder what to do next. Whether it’s a mid-career phase or an epiphany about the direction our careers should take, it can be tempting to trade in one job for another and make a career change. However, changing careers can be an intimidating prospect for many people. How do you make the leap? What are the specific actions you need to start working on your transition today?
If you’re ready to change careers but don’t know where to begin, read on. From understanding your options as well as your own unique set of personal preferences to identifying potential pitfalls and why it’s worth taking that first step forward into the unknown, this article will cover everything you need to consider before making any kind of career change.
Reasons for a career change
There are a few main reasons why you may want to make a change. While these reasons can apply to anyone, they’re most common among mid-career individuals. However, even younger people have their reasons.
Whether you’re approaching your 40s, 50s, or beyond, or you’ve just started out in the world of work and you’ve already decided this path isn’t for you, chances are you’ve done some serious reflection on your professional life already. While this is a good thing, it can also bring with it a certain amount of anxiety. Don’t worry, that’s perfectly normal!
The truth is, there is no right or wrong time to make a career change and there’s simply no right or wrong way to do it. For some, the idea of starting all over again can seem daunting or impossible. But the good news is, you don’t have to be a seasoned professional to make a career transition.
Look at it this way – maybe you’ve reached your limit within a career. There’s no shame in that. Some people can only take things so far before they decide that it’s not going to progress any further. This normally means that it wasn’t the role for you in the first place. It doesn’t mean you’re not capable of a high-flying role in another field. Perhaps you just need to find the one you’re most passionate about before you really excel in your career.
We all need to challenge ourselves, too. Not just at work but in our personal lives. A career change can revolutionise your quality of life. Maybe getting off shifts and onto a 9-5 would suit you better, or finishing at 5:30pm each day would enable you to spend more time with your friends and family. These are huge reasons for a change of career. Working in retail, for example, often means you don’t get weekends to yourself as Saturday is the busiest shopping day.
Perhaps you want to be your own boss? This is another reason why people decide to change careers. Deciding your own work schedule, picking and choosing what work you want to do or when you have your lunch break can be very liberating. Freelancing, while sometimes unstable, can offer these opportunities.
What to consider before making a career change
You are not alone in wanting to change careers, given the number of people who find themselves considering a career change. However, there are some considerations to make.
The best strategy to start with is to first identify what in your life may be prompting you to make this change. While it can be helpful to “see” the connection between your feelings and your career desires, it’s just as important to identify the underlying factors at play. Before you even start thinking about a change, you need to think about why you want to make the change in the first place.
When exploring the idea of a career transition, it’s important to keep your reasons in mind. We’ve outlined some common reasons above, but you’ll certainly have your own. Ask these questions of yourself:
- Why are you considering a change?
- What do you hope to get out of it?
- How will your life change?
- What are the downsides of a career change?
- What are the positives of a career change?
- How would you change your career?
- Do you need to retrain?
If you’re just starting to consider a change for the sake of changing, you may want to pause for a moment and reflect on why. Whatever your reason, make sure you truly understand it. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the idea of a career change without fully understanding the why.
The benefits of changing career
Better your skills – In some cases, making a career transition can actually be a great way to improve your skills. This usually happens when you’re in a field that’s in decline, or one that you find unsatisfying. Changing to a field that’s unrelated to what you studied in college or university can be a great way to explore new ideas, learn new skills, and perhaps realise that what you studied wasn’t what you truly wanted to do with your life.
Gain experience – A career change can also be an excellent way to gain experience. While you may have to start from the bottom in terms of pay and benefits, it’s an excellent way to get a leg up on the competition. It can also give you a head start on your next career transition by showing potential employers that you’ve done your research and are ready to step into the role with confidence.
Get a new perspective – Perhaps you’ve been considering a career change for a while, but you’re not sure why. Maybe you’re not sure if you want to make that leap, or maybe you’re just not sure where to begin. A career change can be a great way to take a step back, look at your current situation from a new perspective, and decide what you really want from your life. A career change can force you to consider your own unique set of interests and motivations, which can help you make important connections between your personal values and your career goals.
Make new connections – One of the best things about a career change is that it can be a great way to make new connections in your community, your field, and your career. By changing careers, you’re opening yourself up to a whole new set of people and opportunities. You may end up meeting people and forging connections in unexpected ways. Alternatively, you may find yourself with a whole new set of connections and new people to keep in touch with as you continue to build your network.
Take time off to think – While it can be tempting to make a sudden career change, it can also be an excellent way to take some time off and really think about your life and your priorities. Changing fields can force you to really sit back and question your priorities. It can be an excellent way to really think about what’s really important to you and what your next few years should look like. Changing careers can be a great way to take some time off and really think about what you want to do with the rest of your life. It can be a good way to get yourself away from daily responsibilities and into a space where you can really think about what you want to do.
Improve your life – Changing careers, when done correctly and for the right reasons, can revolutionise your life. It might give your more time to yourself, an opportunity to see the world, or a varied working day. Whatever it is that a career change offers, you can be sure that it will change things for the better when done right. If you find yourself springing out of bed in the morning and eager to get to work, you’re probably in the right place!
Determining whether you should make the jump
If you’ve been thinking about changing careers for a while and you’re ready to make the jump, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself.
Will the new career be the right fit for you? – You may find that your current career isn’t a bad fit, but it’s not a great fit either. And while it may feel comfortable, it may not be the right fit for you. You may find that you like the idea of a career change, but you’re not sure if it’s the right fit for you. In this case, it can be helpful to take a step back and think about how you might feel a year or two from now. What will you feel like when you’re in a year or two from now? What do you really want from your next few years?
Is there enough time? – One of the biggest challenges that people face when considering a career change is lack of time. If you really think about it, there’s really no way to truly “refresh” your career if you’ve been in it for X years. And in many situations, that’s not enough time to really learn new skills or make a significant shift in your career (unless you prepare for it). Career changes, especially mid-career ones, can take a long time to implement and may require a long time to implement. You’re also opening yourself up to a whole new set of challenges and opportunities you may or may not be ready for. It can be helpful to think about how long it will take you to make the transition and how much time you think you have to make it happen.
Will you need to retrain? – This can be daunting for some. You might like the idea of a new career, but taking time out to retrain could be tough on the bank balance. If you have commitments, like rent or a mortgage, or even children, it can be tough to take a step back and go back to college…or go to college for the first time. The good news is, most colleges will support you. Whether that’s financially, emotionally or otherwise, colleges these days are equipped to deal with the demands that changing careers can bring.
How apprenticeships can help you change career
Apprenticeships can be a useful and advantageous pathway to launch your new career prospects. Although apprenticeships are most known for being pre-entry level, they can also be instrumental for a career change. This is because apprenticeships allow you to learn and earn; a hands-on approach that pays while you climb the creative ladder.
An apprenticeship is an 80:20 ratio of working and study, but how much an apprentice earns can vary. The only requirements are that you must be aged 16 or over, living in the UK and not in full-time education.
One common misconception of an apprenticeship is that they are designed for young people, possibly those who choose this option over a bachelor’s degree in order to gain more experience in their chosen field. However, this is not always the case. They can also be a strategic option if you decide that you want to change career at any age or stage.
If you are seeking a new career transformation, an apprenticeship can be instrumental in kickstarting that change. There is the potential to earn close to an entry-level salary whilst learning and perfecting your new craft, not to mention the ability to grow and progress in this chosen field after the end of your apprenticeship.
How to find a new career
Finding a new career can be a daunting task. There are so many options out there that you might feel a bit lost. However, you don’t have to look too far to find the perfect career for you. The best piece of advice we can offer is to zero into your passion.
Here at BCE, we offer courses built around exactly that. Whether that’s games design, marketing, fashion or events, our students are there because they’re passionate – they live and breathe it, and so do our tutors. If you don’t have an education in a field you love, it might be a good idea to explore the course pages at your local college and see what pathways they offer.
The key takeaway here is this – find what you love and get involved. If you need help, contact us today. Our student services teams are on hand to talk you through some options and help guide you through your next steps.
