Career Change - 5 Tips For Taking The Fear Out

1. Have a game plan.

There's an old saying that "Fail to plan, and plan to fail." This is as true with career planning as anything else in life. A great way to do this is to sit down with a notepad and write down your goals and asperations for your life, as well as your next career.

Ask yourself if you really need an entirely new career, or would a change of employers make you just as happy? Sometimes a change of scenery and a new work environment are enough to rekindle a person's passion for their current career. Another option is to move into a new sector of your existing career field.

If you do decide that a new career is the answer, then you'll have to set out to learn as much as you can about your prospective career. Some things you'll want to know are what kind of specialized training you'll need, how long and how much it will cost to get that training, and if your new employer would be willing to hire a trainee with no experience in that career field. This last question is especially important for older workers. You'll also want to know how many working hours are typical for that career, the typical benefit packages, and of course the average salary in that field.


2. Consider a job placement service.

Job placement services can be great places to find out information about new careers. This can take much of the anxiety out of a career change. For example, you can find out what the demand is for a certain career, how many companies in your area are currently hiring, salary, benefits, and other important information. And if you're lucky, the service might even be able to place you in a position immediately, or at least get you a temporary job working in your target career field (which is a great way to get your feet wet and find out of that career is really for you).


3. Network with other career changers.

Another way to reduce your stress level is to talk to other workers who have just gone through their own career change. If there are recent hires at your existing company, talk to them and find out what their experience was like. What challenges did they face? How long did it take them to find a new position? How did their spouses or partners feel about the career change? What advice would they give somone in your situation?

If you can't find anyone at your present job to talk to, try contacting a company in your target career field. There are usually people more than willing to answer questions, and help steer you in the right direction. And if you can, speak to a few people who've been working in your prospective career for awhile. Do they still like the job? Do they still find it challenging? Given the chance, would they choose that career again?


4. Do your research.

If there are vocational schools or colleges in your area that teach subjects relating to your target career, contact them. Many professors and instructors once worked in the profession or career area in which they teach, and they can tell you a lot about what to expect. If you can't speak to anyone directly, go online do a search for topics relating to your target career. There is a wealth of information online regarding almost every field imaginable, from starting your own business to education options to financing a career change.


5. Put your career change into perspective.

Don't tie all of your hopes for your life and your future into a new career. Sometimes people think that if they could just find their dream career, everything will fall into place and their lives will be perfect. But this is usually not the case. Simply making more money or having an more impressive job title won't make a bad marriage better, or change your relationship with your kids. Just make sure you're changing careers for the right reasons, and realize that your identity and place in the universe are defined by more than your choice in careers.

These are just a few ways to help take the anxiety out of a career change. You can probably think of a half-dozen more. The important thing is to have a game plan, stick to that plan, and move ahead with resolve and determination until you've made your new career a reality.