5 ways to prepare for a big career change

Preparing for a big career change is like everything in life: if you don't prepare, you will fail.

But don't let that put you off - it's not as daunting as it sounds. With the right attitude and a solid plan, you can get your career back on track and find your happy place at work.

Your happy place at work: Let's talk about it for a moment. It's not uncommon to fall into a career by chance or look forward to a particular career path, only to discover that it's actually not for you.

People change, and the days when working at the same company for forty years was the norm are long gone. Today, the average person changes jobs ten to fifteen times during their working life - and for good reason.

The cost of dissatisfaction in the workplace

It's no fun doing a job you hate or gradually realizing that your job is making you dull and bored. This goes without saying, but unhappy work can also have a long-term impact on your well-being.

From a health perspective, studies have found a strong link between job dissatisfaction and unwanted weight gain, higher risk of illness, depression, anxiety and sleep loss.

As if that wasn't enough, dissatisfaction at work can also affect your personal life and, worst of all, your confidence and self-esteem.

If you're reading this, you're probably already thinking about a career change. Or maybe you're still not sure or just don't know how to do it. Maybe you're afraid of failure or just don't know if it's financially feasible.

Here's how you can prepare for a major career change.

1. Have a reality check

You're probably familiar with the concept of "the grass is greener," and this also applies to changing careers. Before you do anything else, make sure your "dream career" is exactly what you imagine it to be.

On the one hand, you need to make a realistic comparison between your current career and your dream career. Give specific reasons why you want to leave your job and consider how the new career path could solve these reasons. For example: You currently work in finance but want to be more creative. A career in design would offer you this opportunity, but working as a math teacher would not.

Be honest with yourself about what you are looking for and whether you can truly find it in this alternative career.

At the same time, you should collect as much information as possible about your new career path. What does everyday working life look like? Take a look at current job advertisements in your desired area to find out what tasks and responsibilities you will face. For example, if you want to go into design, you may be excited about the creative work, but have you considered that you need to be good with people?

It's also important to get a long-term view of the industry. Inquire about salaries and employment rates, as well as opportunities for advancement and development.

If after all this your dream job is still your dream job, move on!

2. Identify the skills you need to master

If you're truly looking for a career change, you'll most likely need to learn some new skills. The more drastic the career change, the steeper the learning curve. So make sure you know exactly what to expect before you quit your job.

Find out what you need and what you need to be able to do in your dream job and find out where your skills gaps lie. Here, too, the job descriptions are a good starting point. Browse sites like Indeed and Glassdoor for the job title you want and make a list of all the skills, qualifications, and attributes that are commonly mentioned.

Depending on your field, you may need to gain a whole new qualification. This can be a huge financial and time drain - that's why it's so important to have a plan.

If you need to take a course and are still working, you need to explore your options to find something that is both flexible and affordable. Continuing education can be a big investment, so take your time and do your research to get the most bang for your buck. Try as many free introductory courses as possible, such as our free short courses in UX design, UI design, and web development.

The better prepared you are in terms of your skills and qualifications, the easier it will be for you to transition into working life, so start training as soon as possible.

3. Set goals and deadlines

One of the hardest things about a voluntary career change is just that: it's voluntary. While the thought of leaving your old job for something more fulfilling is very tempting, it's easy to lose motivation when faced with the reality of going back to school as an adult learner or swapping your senior position for an entry-level position.

That's why it's so important to set goals and deadlines. You need to hold yourself accountable for your career change and always keep the big picture in mind.

Yes, changing careers can be a lengthy and arduous process that cannot be completed overnight. Once you've decided to take action, set yourself a career change deadline based on the number of hours you can devote to learning new skills and how long it will take you to complete courses or to finance qualifications.

For example: I would like to have completed half of the course in four months. In eight months I want to go to my first interview in my dream job.

By breaking the journey down into mini-goals, the whole task seems much more manageable and achievable. This will help you stay on track and make sure you actually get it done.

4. Start connecting the dots

Some career changes are self-explanatory, others seem completely random and out of the blue. It doesn't matter what you do now or what you want to do next - as long as you can tell a compelling story.

Connect your previous experiences with your new field of activity by creating a flowing narrative. This means connecting the dots and highlighting any transferable skills and experiences that led you down this new path.

For example: You currently work in customer service, and your natural gift for empathy has led you to the user-centered field of UX design. But why is this so important?

It's all about how you sell yourself. Ultimately, you have to convince employers that you are the right person for the job - a difficult task if you have been doing something completely different for the last ten years. However, by highlighting the similarities and focusing on the transferable skills and knowledge you've gained, you can show that this new career path was actually a completely natural and logical progression.

Before the interview, get to work telling your story. Be clear about what you bring to the table and prepare for the tricky question: “But why the sudden switch from X to Y?”

5. Overcome your inner demons

Changing careers is a difficult matter, so prepare to battle some doubts and demons. The key is to anticipate these moments of uncertainty and be ready to face them as they arise.

So what are typical “inner demons” and how can you fight them?

One of the most common doubts about a career change has to do with age. "You're too old to change careers now," protests that annoying inner voice.

Considering that the average retirement age in Europe is 65, you probably still have a significant amount of your career ahead of you. It's never too late to pursue happiness and fulfillment, so why put an age limit on changing careers?