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Up to 80 percent of people are unhappy in their current field and desire a more rewarding career, says Katy Piotrowski, author of The Career Coward's Guide to Changing Careers (JIST Works). But finding one doesn't happen overnight. It's a process that can be a long-term project that may require additional education. But if you're committed, you'll see steady progress toward your goal. To begin:
Reinvent yourself.
"The majority of people possess many skills that can be successfully applied to new career areas, in most cases without acquiring new degrees or certifications," says Piotrowski. You just have to look at things differently, she says. Here is a career exercise Piotrowski created: Make a list of your strengths (for example, writing, encouraging and helping others) and turn each one into a role or job title, simply by changing the ending-adding er, or or ist-or moving the words around:
Writing = Writer
Encouraging = Encourager
Helping others = Helper
Proposing Ideas = Idea Proposer
Delegating = Delegator
While some of the titles are different from traditional job ad titles, you can get an idea of what that role would entail.
Do your homework.
Research your intended career and make sure you are familiar with the current lingo of your prospective industry. Some ideas: Talk to people in the field; visit Web sites like dol.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) that will give you background on the field, salary and required experience; work for free in an informal internship (or job shadowing) to learn the fundamentals.
When you look at employment ads, Harrell suggests breaking down the job description into sentences and matching your skills to each requirement. If at least 70 percent are matched, you have a good chance of getting an interview. This way you can approach your pitch from a position of strength ("Here's an example of a project I successfully completed that's similar to your work") instead of a position of weakness ("I can do the job if you give me a chance").
Be patient.
Whether you want to follow your passion or have lost a job, take it easy on yourself through this transition. "It's very normal to feel confused, angry and even depressed for a while," Piotrowski says. To stay focused, take a stepping-stone position until you figure out your next move. And don't be afraid to seek guidance and comfort from a friend or a counselor.
Stay confident.
It's normal for companies to bring you in at a lower salary and train you, says Owens, which means you might have to take a temporary step back. But since career changers tend to bring a wealth of experience and skills to the table, once the basics are down, promotion often happens very quickly, Piotrowski says. "Hiring managers want to be confident that you know the ropes before they offer more pay and responsibility." To speed the process, Harrell suggests taking a certification course to familiarize yourself with your new field.
Build a strong reference network.
Having a network of friends who know the right people can open doors, says Harrell. If you know people who are already familiar with your work and results, have them make a call or send an e-mail or letter of introduction on your behalf. He suggests setting up informational meetings with employees and managers for advice. Ask questions like: What do you like about your work? How did you get into this field? "Most people who love their work are usually very happy to share details about how they made it happen," Piotrowski says.
Have you recently changed careers or hoping to soon? Share your story below.
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