It’s not something that everyone does in their lifetime, but changing your career path, regardless of your age, can be scary. A lot more of us will probably want to at some point, but the fear of it going wrong can sometimes be too much for others to risk. As you get older, more responsibilities creep in, and it can feel harder to move into a new career without it impacting your home life in some way.

However, a new career is easily attainable, as all of us are capable of more than just one job. You may have more skills and experience than you know in order to drift into another career path. Here are some tips to help you move into a new career.

Ask Yourself Why You Want to Move

The first thing you want to think about is why you’re making this move and why now? There might be a number of reasons why but it’s important to get this out in the open and to perhaps note them down before doing anything else. We all get bored in our jobs as we’re only human, and our concentration and our excitement for the job will only last for so long. So this could, in fact, be a period where you’re having a couple of bad months, but actually, you love what you’re doing as a job. Think about what other reasons might be contributing and whether any of these issues are something you can fix. If the answer is yes, then it’s good to hold on from moving on until you’ve at least tried to make the changes that you think will make the difference. There is a possibility that you could be risking a career that you could come back to or perhaps made the wrong decision by leaving without thinking about it enough. If the answer to fixing things is no, then you’re going to find the rest of this article helpful on where to go next.

Figure out Your Options

Everyone has options out there when it comes to their career. You’re not bound to just one job or industry. There are so many things that pay money as a job that you could be suitable for dozens, if not hundreds of different jobs and career industries out there. It’s good to brainstorm all your options by noting down your personality, the skills you have, and, of course, any experience. As you start creating this profile of who you are as a person, you can then match these up to different industries and roles that are out there from how to become a bail bondsman to a career in the arts. Don’t be afraid to go vast with your options, and you may be surprised by what you come up with in terms of suggestions.

Update Your Resume

Next up, you want to think about updating your resume as this is what’s going to hopefully get you into those interviews for your new job. You might not have updated it since your last job, so it’s important to get into detail about everything you’ve achieved from when you started your current role. Make sure you think about everything you’ve gained in and outside of the job, whether that be completing any courses or getting a new qualification. Be specific and take out anything that’s unnecessary to the type of role you’re looking to go into. It’s worth getting it checked over by someone you trust in a professional capacity to critique it where needed.

Avoid Browsing Jobs at Work

When we go for a new career or job, it’s very easy to start searching for your next role at work. However, it’s good practice to keep your job searching for when you get home. That’s because you never know who might be walking past your work station or see something you’ve left on your screen. It’s good to be aware of this as you want to be able to leave your current job with a good reference. Not only that, but it’s bad to be endlessly searching for jobs and then not doing any of your actual work in your current employment. So refrain from browsing for jobs while in work where possible, and if you’re going to do it, be careful.

Try Doing Interview Prep

Being interviewed is likely going to feel like a weird and daunting experience because it may have been a while since your last one that got you the job you’re in now. As much as it’s a nerve-wracking experience, it’s worth remembering that it’s not the end of the world if you mess up in your first interview back in the job search period. Try to do some interview prep where you can, as this can be helpful in practicing questions and thinking about how you’re going to present yourself in the interview. Do this with a friend or a colleague that won’t rat on you that you’re going to potentially be leaving. The more practice and prep you can get in beforehand, the better your interview will feel.

Be Committed to the Change

Change can be scary, but when you’re changing to a completely different career, would you expect to feel any different? It’s important to believe in yourself and your abilities, and no matter how well or how badly it goes, be committed to the change. It’s not always plain sailing, and there might be times where you’ll doubt yourself, but if you’ve thought long and hard about the change, then know it’s going to pay off in the end. This is just that hard slog that you’ll get through eventually.

Moving into a new career can be challenging, but with the right preparation and commitment, you could find yourself somewhere that you are more suited to. Do your research, figure out what would excite you, and make you happy. Go for it and dive straight into it – believe in yourself!