Career change or frequent job changes once bore a negative stigma and raised a red flag to alert prospective employers. No more. According to Department of Labor Statistics, the average person will change career somewhere between four to six times in their lifetime. Additionally, they will make an average of twelve to fifteen job changes.
The red flag has been lowered and these frequent changes now tell prospective employers that the applicant with a variety of careers and jobs exhibits flexibility in the workplace – and that is highly desired. So, if you are contemplating a mid career change, now is the time to take action.
Assess Your Current Position
Take a look at your current position, both professionally and personally. Are you stuck in a rut? Do you feel stifled or held back? Do you feel as if you are going nowhere? A career switch may be in order. If you feel that you are not adequately utilizing your existing skills or that you may have hit a professional plateau, it may be time to think about a new career plan.
Evaluate Your Career Change Options
Think about not only what you can do but also what you like to do. If you are going to make a job change, salary and benefits may be a factor in determining the route you should take, but that should not be the only reason that you make the move. It is important to find a career that you will actually enjoy. Statistics show that people who work in a job that they enjoy are healthier and experience fewer stress related illnesses. You should also take a look at the knowledge, skills and abilities that your prospective career requires. Do some research on your chosen career. Your state’s department of labor is a good resource for finding profiles on various careers.
Determine Your Transferable Skills
Once you have taken a good look at your new career, determine what transferable skills you have that you can bring to the table. Transferable skills are those skills that you can bring from one job position to another. When you are pursuing a new career, it is important that you can identify your own transferable skills. This can be very useful in when and how you make your move.
Establish the Educational Track You Need To Take
Depending on the career move that you are making, it may be necessary for you to get some training. With the boom of online schools that allow professionals to take courses online, on their own time, getting an education to boost your career change is now easier than ever. If the online route isn’t your thing, though, you can also take classes at your local university or community college. There are also technical schools that offer courses in many different careers. You should also note that non traditional students — students who are older than 24 years old — are a rapidly growing population on college campuses throughout the United States.
Get Help If You Need It
As you embark on your ideal career, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Find a mentor or life coach who can help you take a good look at yourself and your life, your profession and your goals. They can help to guide you and make your transition from your current career to a new career much smoother. You can find a life coach or if you know someone who is already in the field that you want to enter you can ask them for help. If you are attending school, you can talk to a career counselor there. The point is, if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
A midlife career change can be exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. If you keep your head and do it smart, you can enter into a new career that fulfills you in the manner that you need, be it professionally, financially or personally.