Career change is just around the corner for many of us. Although it may be a major decision, you have a number of important things to consider before you go after a new career.
If your current career seems to have reached a dead-end, or you are unhappy and no longer challenged maybe it's time for a career change. If you have something in mind it needs to be researched and evaluated before you make a move. Proper career changes can be a welcome addition to your life but a mistake in changing careers can leave you worse off than before.
Here are three career change mistakes you should not make.
1. Changing careers by jumping at the first idea that comes along is the first mistake many people make. If you are in a bad situation it's real easy to grasp at the first thing that comes along. Anything is better that your present situation, but you soon find out that it's not true. Now things are worse, and time is passing, and the hole you're in is deeper and more difficult to get out of.
First, maybe things can be changed in you current career. A concerted effort in resolving some of the most pressing issues could make you current situation better. It will give you some breathing room to spend some time to thing things through and do some careers research, perhaps to acquire some new skills.
A new career does not just happen. You have to plan out exactly what and when you want things to happen. By putting your plan into action you're more likely to reach your new career objective.
2. Forgetting about your new financial needs or not preparing for a possible change in you financial circumstances is the second mistake many career changers make. Quitting a job and beginning to look for a job in a new career will usually take longer than expected.
Continue working in your current career while you build your skills and qualifications for the new career. Build you financial resources, pay down your debts, and take a part-time job all to insure you have the financial resources to weather any storm when you change careers.
In changing careers you may have to take a step or two back before you again begin moving forward. This means your income will take a dip before you again equal or exceed your former income. Plan for these circumstances and the transition to a new career will go much smoother.
3. Not having a career change plan may be the biggest mistake a career changer can make. Career planning must be written out and progress reviewed every two or three months and adjustments make in your progress. Combining a career plan with the all important financial plan will result in a synergy that will allow you to reach your career change goals earlier and the journey will miss many of the pot holes in the road to a new career.
Changing careers at any age can be an undertaking filled with uncertainty and unexpected challenges but by planning out each step you are more likely to find the right job in the right career.
John Groth has changed careers seven times during his working life. Learn more about changing careers and career change planning at http://careersafter50.com. Discover how others over age 50, built winning career plans and found the right careers by career change planning after 50.
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