If you’re like most professionals, at some point before you reach retirement age you’ll grow tired of your vocation. So tired that you may hear yourself uttering sentences like, “If I have to write one more quarterly report, I’m going throw my laptop out the window.” Or, “The thought of sitting through yet another PowerPoint presentation makes me feel stabby.”
This, my friends, is a telltale sign that you may be ripe for a career change.
Recognizing that you want out of your current profession is the first step, and a commendable one. It’s also infinitely easier than determining what line of work you want to pursue. But figuring out “What’s next?” doesn’t have to be a daunting slog. If you haven’t the foggiest idea where to begin, this six-step plan will help light the way.
- Ask the right questions.
For the moment, forget about financial and educational constraints, and push aside any fears you have about jumping ship. It’s brainstorming time. So grab a computer or pad of paper and begin by writing down the types of work environment that excite you most. Outdoors in the elements, a pair of hiking boots on your feet? In a thrumming, high-energy office packed with creative thinkers? In a quiet, library-like setting where you can concentrate on solo projects?
Next write down the tasks you’ve most enjoyed doing in your paid work, volunteer work and leisure time. Put another way, which talents are you most proud of? Organizing data? Promoting events? Building community coalitions? Also write down any unfamiliar skills that have always intrigued you, be it writing code or nursing sick animals. If you’re unsure, ponder what subject areas you’d most like to learn about next and see if that sparks any ideas.
Take a few days to create your list. When you’re done, choose the top one or two work environments that most appeal to you and the top three or four skills.
- Research which jobs correlate to your preferences.
If you want to work with your hands, read up on construction work, landscape design and environmental conservation jobs. If you want to work with animals, research veterinary, zoo and pet grooming gigs. If inventing’s your bag, spend some time learning about product design and software engineering careers. You get the idea. Resources like the Occupational Outlook Handbook make a great place to start.
Come up with a list of at least six professions that intrigue you. For now, try to keep an open mind about salary and educational requirements. Instead, focus on which jobs feature the skills and work environment that most appeal to you. Remember, you’re still in brainstorming mode.
- List your job requirements.
Okay, now you can think about all those nagging practicalities. How many months or years of training are you willing to undergo for your next career, and how much of this education are you willing and able to finance? As for your next profession, how much health care coverage do you require? What schedule do you need to ensure your personal life doesn’t suffer? Be careful not to confuse nice-to-haves, like five days a week of telecommuting, with must-haves, like the fact that you need to get home by 6 p.m. each day to feed your family.
Then there’s the matter of salary. So many of us have no idea how much our monthly expenses are and thus how much income we need not only to survive but also to save for things like emergencies, retirement and vacations. If you haven’t done this math in the past six months, do it now. Also explore where you might reduce superfluous costs (think HBO and $15 lunches out) to help offset any training expenses or salary cuts you may face. Only then can you truly know how much of a career change you can afford.
- Map possible jobs to your requirements.
Time for your inner daydreamer to meet your inner pragmatist. Pull out the list of dream gigs you made in step 2 and research the salaries, educational requirements, business hours and workplace culture of each. For a better look at starting, mid-range and veteran salaries, see tools like PayScale and Glassdoor’s salary feature.
Revisit the must-haves you came up with in step 3. Nix from your list of dream jobs any careers too logistically difficult to pursue. Unless your list was entirely comprised of gigs like astronaut, brain surgeon and professional poker player, you should come away with at least one career path you’re excited about and can feasibly pursue.
- Dive deeper into the recon.
Start immersing yourself in the field that interests you most. Read the blogs, books, newsletters, websites and social media feeds of leaders in the industry. Study their online bios and LinkedIn profiles to see the paths they took to arrive at their current positions. Sign up for a college class or certificate program. Check out webinars on training sites like Lynda and Udemy. Talk to people in the jobs you covet to get career advice you can’t learn online or in a classroom. Volunteer at or register for a professional conference to meet these people en masse.
As a final test, try your hand at the work in a professional setting. Volunteer on a project or part-time basis. Ask to shadow a trusted contact at their job for a day or two. And look into whether your career of choice offers any formal shadowing or apprenticeship programs.
- Make a plan of attack.
Set yourself up to succeed by breaking down all the steps above — and the job hunt that will follow — into small, manageable tasks. First, decide how much time a week you can realistically devote to your career transition and what non-essential activities you’ll jettison (buh-bye, Netflix marathons!) so you don’t skimp on sleep or neglect your family or current job.
Start with just 15 to 60 minutes per session once or twice a week, whether you’re reading industry newsletters, researching classes or revising your resume. Schedule these sessions right into your weekly calendar so they’re as non-negotiable as a doctor’s appointment.
Don’t relegate your career change plans to the mythical Someday. Dive in this week, even if you can only spare 15 minutes. Track your progress during the coming months with a to-do list app, a whiteboard or another tool of your choice. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in just several hours a month. More important, you’ll be inspired that you did.