When you’re in a career field that you love, you wake up every morning excited to go to work. You feel like you’re working at your full potential and genuinely enjoy the work you’re doing.
But, at some point, your feelings might change.
When that happens, it might be time to change your career path and start over fresh!
That can be a little stressful, no matter how old or experienced you are. That’s probably because there are so many unknowns that come with changing your career.
So, what should you expect?
Let’s go over the seven things that nobody tells you about changing your career.
Table of Contents
1. There’s a Learning Curve
It doesn’t matter how much experience you have in the workforce. Changing your career comes with a ton of training and a definite learning curve.
There’s a lot that goes into starting a new career path.
You need to learn the ins and outs of your new workplace. You have to develop new skills and understand how to work with brand new programs. And, you need to learn the lingo and collaborate with brand new people.
So, expect a transition period.
There will be times when you feel unqualified or like you’re in way over your head. Give yourself the chance to adapt to this new routine and lifestyle.
2. Those Around You Might Resist
It might come as a shock to your family and friends when you reveal your big news. After all, the people in your life might not understand why you’re making such a major change.
They’ll ask questions.
They may try to convince you to change your mind.
And, they might even resist.
That’s because those around you have their own visions of who and what you are. When you suddenly decide to change part of yourself, they might have trouble reimagining the portrait they’ve painted of you.
But you must choose a career that makes you happy.
You have no control over how others perceive your new path. And, it’s not up to you to convince them that this is what’s best for you.
3. It’s Never Too Late
Once you’ve been in the workforce for 5, 10, or even over 30 years, you might assume that you’re stuck there.
But, it’s honestly never too late to change your career path.
Think about it.
You might be in the workforce until you retire at age 66. After a few years in a particular field, you may just realize that this isn’t where you want to be.
Are you really going to stick with a job you’re not happy with until you retire? Or, are you going to make a career change that makes you happy?
So, stop settling for what you’re used to or what you’re comfortable with and change the entire course of your life.
You’re the only one that can do this for you!
4. Nothing Is Set In Stone
Many people are afraid to change career paths because they fear they’re making the wrong choice. The last thing you want to do is leave a well-paying job and end up in a career you dislike even more.
The good news?
You can change your career as many times as you want.
No career changes that you make are permanent. You can always change your career again or even return to a job that you had in the past.
It’s better to experiment with a new career to see if it’s really right for you than to regret not trying it out in a few years or decades.
5. Money Isn’t As Important As Your Happiness
If you’re at the point where you only go to work to get the bills paid, you’re probably not in a career that you enjoy. You want to work somewhere where you will enjoy showing up every day.
But, this might be easier said than done.
Switching your career usually means starting at the bottom. So, you’ll probably be taking a little bit of a pay cut when you start over.
That just comes with the territory.
The good news is that your previous experience with specific programs and a degree or certification can bump you up the pay scale on day one.
6. It Broadens Your Horizons and Skills
Changing your career gives you the chance to build brand new skills and learn a little more about yourself. But, you’ll also be bringing your skills from your past career to your new one.
So, how is that helpful?
Having a previous career gives you a little more perspective and workforce experience. Maybe you developed excellent time management skills. Or gained in-depth knowledge of specific computer programs.
Either way, these skills can transfer over to your new career and even set you apart from your new coworkers.
7. Avoid the “What-Ifs”
We’ve all skipped out on opportunities in the past, only to realize that we missed our chance.
Sure, sticking with your current career has its perks. You know exactly what you’re doing every day, you have a pretty decent income, and you like your colleagues for the most part.
But, do you want to look back in regret by not attempting this change?
If you’re still unsure, you don’t have to jump into a new career head-first. You can try it out as a part-time job or even as a hobby to see if it’s really something you want to do for a living.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt about it — changing your career path can be a little tricky. After all, such a significant change comes with a lot of uncertainty as you enter the “unknown.”
So, you want to be sure that you’re making the best choice for your future and happiness. Understand that it’ll take a little time for you to adjust to a new career and workplace.
But, it’s better than living a life full of regret.
Author Bio
Caitlin Sinclair is the Business Manager at Harvest at Fiddyment Ranch. With over five years of property management experience, she begins and ends each day loving what she does. She finds joy in helping current and future residents and makes Harvest at Fiddyment Ranch a place everyone loves to call home.
