Changing careers and trying something new can be a good way to switch things up and get a fresh start in a new field. At the same time, it can put your career back decades, and make you overqualified, underpaid, and entry level when you need to be making professional-level money.
Before you make that career change, you should make sure it's the right decision for you. Here's how to find out, and where to go for help making the choice.
Whatever your dream job is, or whatever the industry you're thinking about jumping into is, the first thing you need to do is make sure you can survive on whatever you'll make. When we asked you if you've pursued your passion as your career, many of you said no, simply because you wouldn't be able to feed your family or live on an entry level salary again, and that's important to remember—you will be entry level.
Look at the bottom end of the averages and ask yourself whether you'd be able to survive on that if you got one of those jobs.
Similarly, look around other, similar jobs, and make sure you're not looking at a job title that's middle-career when you should be looking at something more entry level. For example, if you're interested in becoming a project manager, you may want to look first at "project coordinator" salaries and openings first, which generally require less experience and often serve as an entry-level stepping stone into the industry. Those are the jobs someone switching to a new career—with newly minted skills but not necessarily experience—will likely fill first.
It goes without saying that before you can make a smooth move into a new career or field, you'll need the skills required to be applicable in that field. What's a bit more complicated is how to get those skills so you'll qualify for a new job in a new career, and beat back the competition to earn the job you've been dreaming of. Here are a few ways to get your skill set up to par:
Take some time to learn as much as possible about the field you want to move into, and the skills required to do the jobs you want to do. Obviously it's not a replacement for real-world experience, but demonstrable knowledge is a great thing to have even if you don't have a lengthy work history. Examples of your work and skills—even if they're pet projects and side projects—are also great.
Next, Get Some Experience
Getting a job with no experience is next to impossible, but you need experience to get a job, right? Well, it's not impossible to get some solid, usable experience in your chosen field without leaving the one you're in. Here are a couple of options to get—and show off—your experience in your chosen field, even if you haven't worked a full-time job in it yet:
Once you have some experience under your belt, you may be ready to go toe to toe with people who have been working in the field you want to work in full time. Alternatively, once you get a taste for being self-employed or freelancing for a living, you might even decide to stop here and do that professionally—a lot of people do, just weigh the pros and cons for your specific case before deciding.
Of course, if you're willing to make the jump with the skills you have, just go for it! If you've done your homework and you're building the skills you'll need to succeed in your new field, you're already most of the way there. If you're lucky enough to find someone willing to take a risk on you and give you a job where you can further develop those skills in a real-world setting, even better. You may have to take an entry level position and entry level pay to get there, but if the job is in the field you really want, it may be worth it in the end.
However, if you're looking for something a little more than an entry level position, or you're having trouble finding any jobs in your field, you might have to do a little more work. Lean on your professional network, not just for opportunities, but for introductions and information that might lead you to opportunities.
Remember though, if you're aiming at the same job as someone with years of experience in the field and more developed skills, you probably won't beat them out for the same gig. Aim strategically and choose opportunities that you know you can excel in. Make sure to draw parallels between your old career and your new one as frequently as possible so interviewers don't see it as lost, useless time, and make sure you shine in your interviews. Your energy will be best put to use looking at opportunities no one else has discovered yet and making a great personal pitch so potential employers are willing to take a risk on you because you're excited, energized, and really want the job. Finally, once you have the whole package—homework, skills, and experience—a personal story about why you wanted to change careers and explore something new won't hurt either. Whether it's because you wanted to do something you love or you've always had an interest in what you're trying, it's helpful to share it, and it sounds better in an interview than "I was looking for a change."
We hope this helps you make the switch as smoothly as possible, Jumping Ship. Remember, if you do try freelancing for a living, you may find that working for yourself in your chosen field is better than working for someone else. If you do decide to go for a full-time gig in your future career, hopefully these tips will help you get the job you want. Good luck!