Tips for Choosing a New Career Path

Great comments. Goes to show that, if you work it right, you can have your cake and eat it, too as the expression goes. Keep your current position while pursuing a passion on the side. Then, when you are ready, you can let go of the current job and live your dream.

Two things to keep in mind in the middle of a career change. First, always keep at least one job on hand so you can eat and pay the bills. Your dead-end job may make you miserable, but knowing that you change careers keeps your attitude more positive. I went through that as I transitioned from one career to the next in my mid 30s. Second, there are limitless possibilities to do what you want in the contemporary economy. You don't have to stay in sales. You can go to school and train for just about anything. You can also self-teach a lot of careers for online work as well. Anyone can go out and be happy in a career these days.

@Erin, you raise a valid point about complacency. A lot of people stay in jobs they don't have a passion for because the pay is good or because the job comes with a good health insurance package. I wonder if there's a way to balance career growth or transitions with our financial obligations? I think a little research could uncover opportunities to learn and grow without throwing away our bread and butter gigs. We might even be able to develop skills that allow us to move into more satisfying positions without changing employers.

I think it is great advice to both follow your passions and to continue to take stock of your change as you progress through it. Making a career change for a positive change, to pursue something that has always interested you, is challenging and can be intimidating - maintaining the flexibility to recognize opportunity along the way leaves so many more doors open.

Taking stock of inherent passions and especially learning the environments in which you thrive -- or implode -- is so key, Nancy. In addition to career tests, personality tests like Myers-Briggs and those for HSPs have been so helpful to me over the years. Remembering that I’m an INFJ who is also highly sensitive makes me ideally suited for working at home alone in silence.

@Erin thanks for the comment and it's so true. Many of us do stay in a position out of complacency. It's just easier to settle in and let the years go by. We have so many other things that we have to worry about without adding finding a job on top of it. Sadly it is true that most of put everything else ahead of ourselves. Changing careers can be exciting - exhilarating and can infuse some new life not only into our working careers but throughout everything we do. New career, new place of work, new co-workers - life can truly be good.

I have to disagree slightly. I think that a lot of people stay in a mundane career out of complacency. I know that sounds negative, but sometimes it's much more convenient to maintain the status quo when you have small children at home or are going through family or life changes. Sadly, I think that sometimes we put ourselves and our personal and professional development somewhere toward the end of the list.

When I was in nursing school, there were many older students in my classes who chose nursing as a second career path after working in all types of fields- finance, teaching, being a stay at home parent. For these people, healthcare was a passion and they were able to let go of their reservations and take the plunge into a new career. I admire them so much. I like this article because it emphasizes that there is no reason to stay in a career that you hate.

I think that fear is the number one reason people opt to stay in mundane careers. However, overcoming that fear can be empowering. I've seen this first hand. My mother went back to school at 40 and changed careers. Even though it was scary at first to take this leap, she bettered herself professionally and personally because of it.

@Kellen to respond to your question - I have taken the leap more than once. It doesn't have to be a dream when you can make it your reality. Just take that first step and see how you feel. If you are still excited, then move on. Life is too short to stay in a job that makes you unhappy. But, I caution, the grass is not always greener on the other side of that fence.

Does anyone here have any experience making this leap? I love the idea of thinking about what makes you happy, figuring out how to make money doing that, and then getting that job. What a dream! It almost seems like an elementary school exercise, like something you would do on "Career Day." It's such a sweet little idea ... and it can be easy to be cynical, and think it can't be done. Has anyone done this? Taken the leap and changed careers?

Thanks for the comments. Letting go of fear is certainly possible but, as we all know, not an easy task. But so very true - what is the worst that can happy. @Abbey I am with you - make a pro/con list and then decide. @Mike goes without saying that you should research, research, research before making that leap. If you are thinking about a career change, you might want to try to find someone who is actually in a like position and ask if you can shadow them for a day or two. This way you will know what you are getting into before you have made one penny of an investment. @Katharine - absolutely true that finances are going to be the number one consideration.

Five years ago I was slogging out a "normal" existence running my small business when I decided to totally change my career path. The most important part of this article is LET GO OF FEAR. If there's somebody out there right now getting paid for what you want to be getting paid for, IT IS POSSIBLE! Use the power of the Internet and research the heck out of whatever you want to do, and reach out to people already in the field for their insights on your future career. You CAN change your whole life and live it on your terms, but you can't be afraid!

The idea I like most in this article is that of letting go of your fear. If you are simply afraid to jump in and try something new, but have no strong, clear reasons for why, then let it go. Take a deep breath, and talk yourself through the fear. List the pros and cons, analyze all the information you have, and find comfort in the decision you make. Don't let fear paralyze you.

These are excellent tips, but realistically you also have to consider the feasibility of changing careers. It often means starting over and making a much lower salary, which may or may not be a possibility for your household. You may also need to consider whether you have the time/funds to get the necessary education. The best approach is probably to learn as much as possible about the new career so that you know what your prospects will be once you make the move.

@Hema that's a great question. Unfortunately the answer to that is - it depends. It depends what career you are changing from and what your new career would be. Are the two related in any way. Taking on a master's degree program takes a lot of time and money. Always make sure that you can get a good return on your investment. For instance, if you were in your late 50's, would it be worth the cost to pursue a new degree? How long will it take you to complete it and will you have a position to go to at the end? How will you pay for it? Will you be working and going to school? Sometimes going for a professional certificate is enough to get your foot in the door. Once hired, then you can determine if pursuing a higher degree is worth the time and money.

I’ve found that taking online classes is a great way for me to find out how interested I really am in pursuing a career in another field. If I do want to change careers after working for a decade in one field, should I pursue a Master’s degree or can I get by with professional certificates and diplomas?