Contemplating a career change? ........ Well you’re not alone. Did you know that research shows 80% of people at some stage in their lives are considering or are facing a change in career. Life is never stagnant, it is constantly changing and evolving and as a result our lives change. A career change, or a contemplation of one, is a direct result of this. Maybe you are facing a job loss or redundancy. Maybe you have a desire for a better work/life balance. Or, maybe you are just bored and looking for new challenges, or better compensation and benefits. One in three people spend approximately one hour each day looking for another position. Are you one of these people? Then you need to know how to make a career change the “right way”.

Find Yourself a Mentor

This is important. Finding someone who is doing what you want to do, allows you to see what is possible for you to achieve.

Mentors can

• Guide you in the right direction by sharing their knowledge and experience.
• Give support and encouragement
• Provide information and help on the various opportunities available in your chosen field.

Set Goals

Setting goals gives direction to your life. Decide what you want to achieve, this is your long term goal, and ask yourself how am I going to achieve this. What skills do I need? How do I go about getting them?

There is an abundance of info on goal setting on the internet so I will not go into any great depth here.

Breaking down the steps involved can make things appear a lot less daunting. It allows you to measure your progress and is a great confidence booster. Imagine how you will feel as you tick off each goal.

Education and Training

Take the time to checkout what training, education and opportunities exist in your chosen field. Fine tuning your skills goes a long way in your quest for a career change. So allow yourself to learn new things, gain experience and you will soon be living your dream.

According to career coaches, from the research stage, progressing through training and finally adjusting and settling in to your new position can take anywhere from two to six years. Is it any wonder that only 6% of people looking for a career change actually follow through with it.

My advice when contemplating a career change is to look at what your natural gifts and abilities are. Ask yourself what are you passionate about? Enjoying what you do can bring a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment to your life that is definitely worth persevering for. Remember don’t give up and you will succeed.

I hope you have found this helpful and would welcome any comments or questions you may have.