How to switch a career in 3 steps?

We should regularly check whether the current role we're in is aligned with our long-term goal in our professional journey. It’s good to know when to walk away, and when to move on.

Switching jobs might be a tremendous opportunity to learn more about yourself: your talents, interests, challenges, and values. It is a smart move for both personal and professional growth.

But first, why should you ever consider a changing a career ?

• Your current job is too stressful or it lacks healthy work-life balance

• You’re bored- no longer passionate about your field

• You want new challenges & growth opportunities

• You don’t feel like what you're doing makes an impact

• You think you need or deserve better pay

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How to change a career if it comes to that?

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Step 1: Get specific about what’s not working

First, take time to understand what exactly is causing you to feel unhappy and identify what you like/dislike about your current role:

• Is it caused by external factors, such as your co-workers, manager, company culture? Or wouldn’t it be making you happy even if you change your team? Did you perhaps start feeling that your function isn’t valued enough?

• Think about your motivations, day-to-day responsibilities and define what you like/dislike most about them.

By assessing and identifying those elements behind your current satisfaction/dissatisfaction, you’ll have an idea on what to seek out or avoid in the next career move.

Step 2: Define your next career

Once you have identified what you love and hate most about your current area, you already have an idea of which criterias your next role should have. To find out what role out there is a good fit for you:

• Start researching career options, talking to mentors, colleagues or other contacts

• Once you have shortlisted potential roles for yourself, read job description and requirements

• Have one&ones with your colleagues who perform in the areas you're considering. Try to sit next to them, ask what they're working on, read available documents

*One interesting fact is that, most of the time, people switch careers inside the same company where they work.

Step 3: Develop and execute your plan

After a research phase, map out your goals to prospective career options and focus on developing skills for a new field you’re considering to move to.

1. Identify your transferable skills for that role and use them as your strength

2. Find out if you lack any necessary skills required, so you can develop a learning plan for yourself with taking online courses or reading.

3. Start applying for the next role!

It’s never too late to start again in order to do what makes you happy every day.