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A guide on how to pick a new career

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When should you make a career change?

The good and the bad of career change, pros of changing your career, cons of changing your career, how to choose a new career path, it's never too late to make a career change.

You graduate high school and decide that you want to be an engineer. You pursue your chosen career path, gain skills and education on the way, and get your first full-time position in your early 20s. In your early 30s, you begin to question if you made the right choice. Or maybe in your 50s , satisfied with the experiences you’ve gained, you decide to dial down and seek part-time work. 

Finding a career that best fits your skills and aligns with your interests is a journey of trial and error. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an average person holds about 12 different jobs in their working lifespan, or between the ages of 18-52 years.

That means you might still have some job changes in your future — and there’s no wrong time to learn how to pick a new career. Shifting careers is a complicated decision at any stage of your profession. Worries about long-term financial wellness , adjusting to a new work culture, or rebuilding your network may make a career change feel impossible. 

But your work likely makes up a big piece of your identity. According to a 2023 survey by Pew Research, 73% of respondents reported that their jobs were extremely or somewhat central to their personal identity . If you yearn for new opportunities or a deeper connection to your professional life, it may be time to dream about your next career. 

With careful thought and planning, it’s always possible to successfully transition into a different career at any life stage.

Your career is like any other aspect of your life. It experiences natural ebbs and flows. There may be moments when you feel dedicated and fully engaged. Other times, you may feel unmotivated or in need of a breather. The latter often indicates time for a break to unwind and protect your energy . 

But when the feeling is constant and persists over an extended period, it’s a signal to dig deeper and imagine where your job fits into your life’s vision. 

Here are a few clear signs that indicate it’s time to change careers :

1. You feel like you have untapped potential

Your current role doesn’t resonate as deeply as it once did. Your daily tasks and long-term responsibilities, which once felt engaging, feel routine and tedious. You might feel like your skill set and work experience aren’t leveraged to their fullest, or professional growth opportunities are lacking.

When you consistently feel that you have more to offer than your current job permits, it’s a sign that it’s time to explore new career opportunities . 

2. You lost your motivation

You know you’re adding value to the organization’s long-term goals and vision when you consistently perform well at a job. That feel-good alignment encourages you to meet your deadlines, show up for your team, and give your best each day. A high performance also contributes to your professional growth and sense of belonging at a company. 

When your motivation dwindles , your relationship with your job shifts dramatically. You feel disconnected from your work and your organization. The clarity you felt about your career path starts to feel fuzzy, and you underperform. Deadlines might slip through the cracks, you contribute the bare minimum, and you may feel frustrated with regular work tasks. 

Apathy toward your work is a clear sign that something needs to change. If you have trouble feeling like you add value to your workplace (and that your workplace doesn’t contribute to your professional growth), seek opportunities that reignite your passion and sense of purpose. 

3. You experience eternal boredom

Everyone has days when they aren’t fired up about work. Instead, you might find yourself daydreaming about your next vacation or even a new role. If this feeling starts extending from a few days to almost every day, it might be the time to look for your next move.

Boredom at work can make even small tasks seem tedious and leave you with depleted energy levels at the end of a workday. When the feeling of dread about your work starts spilling into other areas of your life, it’s a surefire sign that you need to start a job search.

4. The only reason to stay is the money

Your compensation is undeniably a major consideration in choosing a job. But job satisfaction relies on more than a monthly paycheck. The work environment, industry culture, and personal growth opportunities contribute to your daily sense of fulfillment. 

Relying solely on a paycheck as your primary motivation may lead to burnout or a sense of emptiness over time. If your enthusiasm for your job wanes and you worry about the legacy you leave behind , it’s time to recalibrate and find a job that contributes to more than just your retirement plan. 

5. You don't see a future in your current career

If you aren’t excited about leveling up in your current job, consider whether you’re on the right career path. You may take every day as it comes, and you don’t think about where you want your career to go over the next few years . If you’re taking the one-day-at-a-time approach and avoiding thinking about the future of your job or career, it’s a clear sign you need to shift out of your current role and find something you’re excited about pursuing.

6. Stress defines your day

Every job has challenging moments or pressures. Challenges may even be what motivates you to show up to work and perform every day. But when stress becomes the defining emotion of your workday, it’s a cause for serious concern. 

Regular physical exhaustion , strained relationships, or a non-existent work-life balance are telltale signs that your current job is chipping away at your well-being. It’s not always easy to see the signs.

Set aside a few moments each day to journal , meditate , or reflect on your emotional state at work to gain clarity. If stress overshadows fulfillment, it indicates seeking more flexible work and career options that align your professional aspirations with your overall health. 

Changing jobs is as exciting as it is uncertain. It’s an opportunity to apply transferable skills and learn new ones to your professional toolbelt. But it’s also a choice anchored by questions about financial security , culture shifts, and learning curves. Taking stock of the pros and cons of embracing a new career path can help you prepare yourself for the job journey ahead.

Taking the plunge into a new career is a bold move. Here are some benefits you can look forward to:

• Learn new skills: Lifelong learning keeps you engaged with your day-to-day, promotes healthy habits, and contributes to longevity in later life . Doing the same work day in and day out can make you feel like your learning has flatlined. Moving on to a new job gives you a chance to upskill , learn new tools, and adapt your transferable skills to new challenges. 
• Get a fresh perspective: Staying in the same position can be comforting and familiar. While there’s nothing wrong with yearning for stability, too much of the same thing might also fill you with a sense of stagnation. Even if you enjoy your organization or job, exploring new opportunities can be a rejuvenating experience. Transitioning allows you to reevaluate your strengths, do some Inner Work , and realign with your personal values and aspirations. 
• Put you in the driver’s seat: Changing jobs puts you in control of your career path ,  filling you with new excitement. The proactive approach empowers you to shape your professional journey and actively pursue roles that align with your career vision. Likewise, taking charge of a career transition can boost your confidence, reinforcing your belief in your capabilities and decision-making. 
• Find core competency: A career shift requires you to evaluate your core skills and strengths and continue to build your career out of them. The introspective process helps you to hone in on what truly drives you. While it’s a difficult process, it’ll help you position yourself in a role that capitalizes on your competencies and brings greater job satisfaction.
• Expand your network: Switching roles and industries opens up new avenues for you to network and learn from new colleagues and potential mentors. Engaging with diverse professionals exposes you to new insights, enriching your know-how and career perspective. Plus, new connections can offer powerful mentorship opportunities that pave the way for future collaborations, ventures, or professional growth.

Taking a hard left turn on your career trajectory requires careful consideration. Here are some disadvantages to prepare yourself for: 

• Financial insecurity: Leaving a stable, paying job behind and jumping back into the job market can pressu re your finances. Carefully analyze your financial well-being to ensure you have the support to move forward without sacrificing essentials like healthcare coverage or a car payment. A financial coach can help you build an action plan to cushion your transition without sacrificing your long-term financial wellness. 
• Not everything goes exactly to plan: You may feel uncertainty — that’s normal. It’s okay not to have everything mapped out precisely. And even if you do map it out, you’ll likely need to adjust parts of your plan along the way. Each of these steps offer valuable learning and growth opportunities. Reading books about career change can help you approach the transition with flexibility and adaptability, transforming the transition phase into a valuable learning experience. Working with a career transition coach can help guide you through these challenging times of uncertainty.
• Learning curve: Switching industries introduces you to a new world of skills. The learning curve to enter a new industry can be jarring, especially if you’re switching careers after 40 at a mid-to-senior career level. Proactively acquiring new skills and immersing yourself in the industry by gaining certifications, pursuing internships, or setting informational interviews can help you prepare to fill in potential gaps in your career development . You’ll embrace small failures and open yourself to unforeseen opportunities. 
• Pressure to prove your worth: As a career changer, you might feel pressure to prove the value you bring to new managers and colleagues. You’ll likely need to go out of your comfort zone and perform job duties that you’re unfamiliar with. Remember, your cover letter and resume were accepted. You impressed at your job interview and got the job for a reason. Believe in yourself and channel your self-compassion . It’ll help you integrate more easily into your new environment.
• Increased competition: You might feel like entering a new industry puts you at a disadvantage compared to more established candidates and colleagues. While seasoned candidates bring deep industry knowledge, your diverse background brings unique skills and insights. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the organization and industry. Careful positioning will show you have what it takes to learn and contribute effectively.

Imagining a new career path is exciting but requires careful strategy and intentional planning. Before you dive head first into filling out job applications, consider the following strategies: 

Revisit your core values

You made the tough decision to become a job seeker again for a reason. You’re dissatisfied at work, feel undervalued, or simply want a change of scenery. Before you start reading job descriptions, take time to examine your core values and career vision . This will help you determine the underlying motivations that drive your career.  

The exercise can be simple. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What values are non-negotiable?
• What do I need to feel like the best version of myself? 
• What do I want to contribute to my profession? 

Your personal values naturally shift over time as you gain new life perspectives, take on more responsibilities, and envision later life. Sometimes, without realizing it, your career path falls out of alignment with these values. A significant shift is an opportunity to properly realign them. 

Use this opportunity to get a clear view of what matters to you now and how you'd like your work values to manifest in your life. Working with a career coach can help you step back and envision a plan that brings big dreams into actionable steps. Likewise, they work with you to reflect on how past and current choices lend to or take away from your values. 

Take an assessment

Knowing you need a change doesn’t necessarily mean you know what that change is. A personality test can help you better understand your skills and interests. It may guide you to roles and industries you didn’t imagine would thrive. Here are a few options: 

• Myers-Briggs Test: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator , or the MBTI, is more than just a personality quiz. It provides insights into your decision-making style and communication preferences and can illuminate the work environments you excel in. By understanding your MBTI t ype, you can target roles and companies that align with your intrinsic motivations and strengths. 
• Keirsey Temperament Sorter : The Keirsey Temperament Sorter classifies people into four personality types: artisans, guardians, rationalists, and idealists. Your personality type can teach you about your inherent work style and leadership qualities, letting you pursue a career path that resonates with your temperament. 

While these tests shouldn’t be the sole determinant in a job search, they can provide you with a launching pad to better understand your strengths and motivations. From there, you can analyze options for an appropriate career choice.

Gather more knowledge about the career path you’re hoping to break into by attending industry events and talking to people already working in the roles you’re considering. This networking will give you an insider’s perspective on what to expect from your new job. Plus, you can make connections that you can later leverage when applying for jobs in the industry. You can contact people in your desired roles or industry on LinkedIn for career advice. Additionally, join industry associations to be in the know about events where you can network and potentially hear about jobs before they’re widely advertised. 

Get help from a career coach

A career coach helps you engage in self-reflection to take stock of your skills and find jobs that are a good fit. Likewise, they’ll help you build an action plan to transform an overwhelming job hunt into a manageable process. 

Look for a career transition coach who makes you feel immediately comfortable. It’ll help you bring your Whole Self to the process and confidently go through the job search. 

One of the significant roadblocks to figuring out how to pick a new career is inertia. You might feel comfortable with your current work situation and hesitant to rock the boat.

However, overcoming that inertia and taking a step toward career change can set you on a path to a career that fills your work with meaning and nurtures long-term fulfillment fulfilled in the long term. A clear understanding of your motivations, identifying skills and strengths, and building an action plan will put you one step closer to your next dream job.

Invest in your career

Get your promotion. Make your career change. Build the future you dream about. And do it faster with a world-class BetterUp Coach by your side.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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How to Position Yourself for a New Career (Coursera Career Change Guide)

August 31, 2020

Download this guide in PDF format

Starting a new career means not only developing a new skill set but also learning how to relate your previous experience and skills to the new role you’re pursuing. If you’re ready to start your journey on a new career path, this document will help you position yourself for success in your job search. You’ll learn how to understand what your potential employer is looking for and how to connect your background to their needs. The strategies outlined below are designed to help you become a strong job candidate, even if you don’t have directly relevant experience. 

The first step is to fully understand the role you’re targeting.

Understand Your Target Role

One of the primary challenges for anyone looking to launch a new career is how to stand out against candidates who already have experience in the field. Overcoming this challenge begins with developing a comprehensive understanding of the role you’re targeting. You’ll need to understand the role in the context of any company you’re applying to, and more broadly as well. Having a holistic understanding of what it takes to succeed in your target role will help you determine your suitability for the role, and identify any steps you can take to improve your chances of getting hired.

To understand everything from minimum must-have requirements to skills that might help you stand out from the crowd, you can begin by researching and analyzing job descriptions across different organizations. 

Below you’ll find our recommended strategy for how to approach this process effectively.

Analyze job listings

The first part of the process is to gather information from multiple job listings:

• Pull up ten job descriptions for your target role . To do this, you can use job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. Make sure the roles you select come from different companies, share similar titles, and are roles you would actually apply for. In each job description, you should be able to identify a section listing requirements for the role. 
• Combine all the job requirements . To do this, create a new Google document and copy over all the required responsibilities from all ten job descriptions. 
• Order requirements based on appearance frequency.  Certain requirements will likely appear in multiple descriptions. The more commonly they appear, the more likely it is that they’re essential for the role. Put the most frequently appearing requirements at the top of your list. For example, a requirement that appears in all ten descriptions would go at the very top.

After completing these steps, you should have a clearer picture of which requirements are most common and important for the role. You may also have questions:

• Why do requirements differ across job descriptions?  

One of the most common reasons for this has to do with overly general job titles, or job titles that don’t necessarily communicate the specific scope of a given role at a particular company. For example, a program manager at one company might be focused on customer management, while at another company, the emphasis might be on project management. A Data Analyst might primarily use SQL at one company and Python at another. Because of these differences, it’s important to look beyond job titles. This is why we recommend the process outlined above—to help ensure you’re targeting the exact roles that are right for you, and that you understand the requirements for those exact roles.

• Why are some requirements higher on my list than I thought they would be, while others I expected to see barely show up at all? 

If you’re surprised by your results, you may need to spend more time learning what the role really entails, as you may have some early ideas about the role that require adjusting. You might also need to do additional research to ensure you’re targeting the right roles in your job search. 

• How do I know if I’m really right for my target role?

It’s perfectly normal to experience self-doubt at this stage of the process. Remember, this is a new career for you. You’re not expected to know everything about the role, and it’s likely that your existing skills and experience won’t line up perfectly. The more you learn about the role, the better you’ll understand what’s required for success, and the more you’ll know about how to prepare yourself for that success.

Consult your network

Professionals in your target field can be an excellent resource for job-related information gathering. Because of their relevant experience, these individuals are well-equipped to help address any questions that come up during your job posting analysis  Review your existing network (LinkedIn connections, professional organizations, parent groups, civic groups, volunteer organizations, sports teams, and more) to see whether anyone you know might be able to answer questions about your target role. 

In addition, search LinkedIn, Facebook, and Meetup for groups connecting professionals in your target field and reach out to individuals within those groups. Generally, you’ll find that people who are proactive enough to join professional groups are also the kinds of people who enjoy talking about their careers, and who are eager to share their knowledge and their experience. Reach out to them and ask for a short 15-minute conversation to learn about their career.

Here is an example of a message you can use to reach out to people you don’t know: 

Hello [name],  My name is [name], and I’m in the process of transitioning my career from [current field/role] to [new field/role]. I came across your profile during my research, and your career and role at [company] sound really interesting. I would appreciate an opportunity to ask you a few questions about the field and your experience. Thank you in advance for connecting with me!

Once you’ve gained a comprehensive understanding of your target role and its requirements, you are ready to begin the process of connecting your background to your new career.

Tip:  Plan to speak with five professionals with your target job title. These conversations will help you develop a thorough and holistic understanding of what the role entails. It will also help you develop your ability to communicate with potential employers in a relevant way, and it’s a great way to build confidence.

Create Your Professional Inventory

For this next step, you can temporarily set aside the master list of role requirements you previously created. The focus here will be on your existing professional qualifications, and any other skills or experience you possess that might be relevant to your target role and of value to a potential employer. 

To begin, assemble a comprehensive list of the following:

• Technical (hard) skills . These are skills relating to a specific task or situation such as programming, technical writing, project management, and more.
• Non-technical (soft) skills.  These are the skills that enable people to navigate their environment, work well with others, perform well, and achieve their goals. They include skills like communication, leadership, team management, and more.
• Personal qualities.  These are positive attributes and personality traits such as being honest, having a good sense of humor, and being dependable. You can also include your professional interests on this list.
• Education.  This includes any post-secondary education, certifications, or independent classes completed online or offline.

Tip : You do not need to limit your professional inventory to skills and qualities developed through professional experience. Consider any volunteer, extra-curricular, or personal experiences that might help a hiring manager understand your capabilities.  

Once you’ve created your inventory of skills and experience, you’re ready to line these up against your requirements list.

Match Your Profile to the Job Requirements

The concluding step in this process is to match your profile to the job requirements. The goal here is to make it easy for any hiring manager to see why you’re a great fit for their role. You’ll accomplish this by learning what to emphasize and focus on in your search, on your resume, and during interviews.

To begin, go through your professional inventory of skills and experience, highlighting each item in green, orange, or red, depending on its relevance to your target role. Relevance is determined by whether a given skill appears on your role requirements list, how high it appears on your list, and how directly it aligns with your list. 

For example, let’s say you’re interested in a graphic design career. If you’re skilled at using Adobe Creative Suite, and Adobe skills are high on your job requirements list, then highlight that item in green. If you have some graphic design experience with software that doesn’t consistently show up on job descriptions, highlight these skills in orange. If you’re an accomplished watercolorist, and you think you can make a case for how these skills might be relevant, you could highlight this in orange as well. If, however, your previous role involved debugging software, you’d definitely highlight that item in red, as it wouldn’t be relevant to your new career. 

• Green should be used for skills that are directly relevant to your target role. You should look for roles that emphasize these skills. You should also highlight these skills on your resume, and be prepared to discuss them in an interview.
• Orange should be used to identify those skills and experiences that are relevant for the role but not necessarily in a direct way. These are generally your transferable skills—skills that you bring with you from past experiences that can help you succeed in your new role. Plan to have to explain these to recruiters and hiring managers, as their relevance may not be immediately evident or intuitable.
• Red should be used for items that are not relevant for your job search. De-prioritize these skills, and steer clear of highlighting them on your resume and focusing on them during interviews.

Of these three categories, the orange items are where you’ll need to focus extra attention. When it comes to transferable skills, you have to do the convincing, as you can’t count on a recruiter or hiring manager making the connection. For example, no job description for an IT Support role calls for waitstaff experience. However, that IT job description will likely mention excellent customer service skills—which you would have developed during your hospitality career. When applying for the IT Support role, make sure your resume specifically mentions customer service in addition to listing “waiter” or “waitress” as your previous occupation. Once you’ve categorized your skills and experience based on how well they align with the requirements for your target role, you’re ready to move your job search forward.

Start applying!

At this point in your process, you’ve determined which skills are most relevant to your target role, performed a self-audit to identify your primary skills and experience, and color-coded your skills to determine their relevance to your target role. You know what primary skills to emphasize, and what transferable skills to highlight. All that remains is to start applying for jobs in your target career.

As you begin this new stage of your job search, it’s normal to feel a bit uncomfortable about how you’re presenting yourself. Career change involves a shift in perspective and a new articulation of your professional value. Things that used to be central to your identity may lose relevance, whereas you may find yourself focusing on aspects of your life and career you’re not used to discussing. This is all part of successfully positioning yourself for a new career. 

Remember, your goal is to catch the attention of your next employer. That’s going to require making a clear case for why you’re the right person for the job. After taking the steps we’ve outlined above, you’ll know exactly what that entails, and how to do it successfully.

Find more free Job Search Guides in the Coursera Community.

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• Job interviews: How to confidently prepare
• How to talk about a career gap
• Guyana Launches National Training Initiative with Coursera to Empower Every Guyanese Citizen and Public Sector Employee with In-Demand Skills

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How To Change Career When You've No Idea What To Do Next

Newly Updated

Image by Israel Sundseth

Stuck in a job that isn't you? Ready for a career change, but have no idea what else you could do – or where to start? Drawing on his own story, Richard explains how by ditching the conventional career rules, you'll radically increase your chances of finding something you love.

It was one of the most difficult periods of my life.

On the surface, I had a good job in a well-known company. I'd been promoted several times. I had a mortgage, I was travelling with work and had great prospects ahead of me.

Inside though, I was deeply unfulfilled. I wasn't enjoying my work, I felt like I wasn't using my full potential, and I longed to wake up feeling like my work was making a difference – to someone or something.

Yet, I didn't have a clue what else I could do.

Indeed I'd struggled on and off for years to figure out a way to change, but without making progress.

Eventually, as you'll read below, I came out the other side. But it wasn't an easy journey.

These are the lessons I learnt along the way.

What you need to know

If you're stuck in your career change, there are three main challenges – or paradoxes – that you're going to come up against.

1. It's you that wants to make a change, but it's also you that's your biggest obstacle

In the depths of my despair about my job, there were signals from all around me that I wasn't in the right place: I was embarrassed to talk about my work with others at parties; I couldn't imagine doing my boss's job (nor the one her boss had); and I was petrified that I'd reach 60 or 70 and not feel proud of the work I'd done in my life.

On a day-to-day basis, I just felt numb – uninspired by the meaningless work I was doing, and seemingly stuck in a Groundhog-Day reality of waking up to the same story every morning.

Yet, at the same time, I had no idea what else I wanted to do (or if I did, no sense of whether those ideas were feasible) – and no idea where to start.

Looking back, I now realise something I didn't at the time – that I was blinkered in my view of the world of work. All I knew was the industry I was in. I had surface-level visibility of some other careers, but there were so many fields and roles that were completely off my radar screen.

I was also scared of taking a cut in salary, scared of what my family and friends would think, and scared of losing the status I'd worked so hard to achieve.

These weren't obstacles in the outside world; they were obstacles in me. It was me – my lack of knowledge and my fears – that was most holding me back.

Does this also hold true for you?

2. You can't figure it out by figuring it out

I was a knowledge worker: paid to think, to solve problems, and to interact with others.

Why then, couldn't I figure what else I wanted to do?

My initial approach was to come home from work, wrap myself in my bedding, and go round and round in circles in my head analysing what else could I do.

I didn't come up with answers.

I also read every single career change book I could get my hands on, scoured the internet for guidance and did numerous profiling tests.

But still no clarity.

The simple reality is that if the solution to your career change lay in more analysis – in making more lists, reading more books, taking more psychometric tests, or simply figuring it all out in your head – you'd have found it by now.

3. You won't find a job by looking for one

When I started to look for something different, recruitment consultants were my natural first port of call.

They talked excitedly to me about roles with competitors or other positions in smaller organisations.

But it all just left me cold.

It was more of the same. I wanted to do something radically different and they couldn't help.

You may have spent hours trawling through job sites or job alerts, and just made yourself more miserable by seeing again and again that you don't have the experience or skills that are being asked for. Or you may have had similar experiences to mine with recruitment consultants. Or you may have sent off your CV / résumé for jobs in different fields, thinking you might at least get an initial interview. But nothing. 

These are all functions of a traditional job market that isn't designed for career changers.

Through no fault of your own, you're simply not going to stack up against other people with experience and skills in the different field you're interested in.

What you need to do

There are solutions to each paradox, but they're likely not what you think they are (they weren't initially for me).

1. Do it with others, not alone

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller .

The biggest challenge I faced in my career change was inertia. I wanted to change, but I didn't want to risk the security of the job I had.

I was comfortably uncomfortable.

I would have bursts of energy to do something about my career, followed by periods where I'd get swept back into 'life', surfacing weeks or months later and realising nothing had changed.

I only really started to make progress when I deliberately put others around me.

I started seeking out others in my company who also wanted to escape; I enrolled not one, but two career coaches; and I started to meet and hang out with different types of people (one of whom was to end up leading me to a job I loved – see more below).

The net effect was different ideas, different connections, and accountability – all of which, finally, led to forward movement.

Think of your career change as an expedition, not a day-trip.

If you were climbing to the base camp of Mount Everest, it's possible you could do it by yourself, but it's highly likely you'd want to go with others – peers, a guide, a support team. It makes the journey safer, faster and, heck, a lot more fun.

2. Act it out, don't figure it out

"Ideas occur when dissimilar universes collide." – Seth Godin.

In my career-change journey, it took me four and a half years to get out of a career that wasn't right for me.

For most of that time, I was trapped in analysis paralysis.

As the coach I worked with at the time said, "Richard, it's like you're standing in a forest and you have a number of tracks in front of you. But you're paralysed because you don't want to make a mistake. And the challenge is: if you don't take any of the paths, you're never going to get out of the forest. If you take one of them, it may not be the right track initially, but you can course-correct."

When I started to act rather than analyse, things started to change.

The following are some of the things that I did.

I enrolled in a part-time journalism course. I loved it, but it quickly became clear that it wasn't for me as a career.

I shadowed my friend who worked in PR for half a day. I did the same with a friend who worked as a Japanese yen bond trader in an investment bank. Both fascinating worlds, but neither appealed.

Notice what I was doing, though.

As Seth Godin talks about, I was stepping into different worlds – sparking ideas and, at the same time, crossing off possibilities, rather than leaving them as open questions in my mind.

I was also testing ideas in a way that meant that I didn't need to leave my day job before I'd figured out what I really wanted to do ( see more in our lean career change approach  on how to do this).

Finally, thanks to an introduction made by my future sister-in-law, Sarah, I walked into the offices of a social start-up – and I knew in a matter of minutes I'd found something that was totally me.

Had I just seen the organisation's website or a job ad in a newspaper, I might never have discovered the connection I had with them. But it was made real by meeting the team, seeing the environment and getting a feel for the energy of the place.

In short, action precedes clarity, not the other way round.

3. Look for people, not for jobs

"Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They're attached to people. If you're looking for an opportunity, you're really looking for a person." – Ben Casnocha.

Job sites, recruitment consultants, CVs / résumés and Google all have their uses in your career change. But they're not the place to start.

Focus instead on connecting with people.

The power of being in front of people is that you can present the whole you – something a CV or résumé simply can't do.

I'm an introvert. So, you won't find me exuberantly working a room at a networking event. But I am comfortable meeting people one-on-one, or having phone calls.

So that's what I did – and with a whole set of people whose roles interested me.

It took time, there were many 'dead ends', but ultimately it led me to a role in a field I didn't previously even know existed.

More than that, this approach meant I avoided the ruthless filtering that happens with conventional job applications.

I wasn't 'qualified' to work in the social start-up I fell in love with. But what I did have was a ton of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. That was never going to come across on my CV or résumé.

I didn't get the job there through a formal application. I got it because I built relationships with people in the organisation. I did some pro-bono work, which led to consultancy work, which led to an interview for a full-time job.

Oh, and if you're curious to know, I had the worst interview of my life for that role. I so wanted the job that my brain froze, I stumbled my way through the questions, and I left thinking I'd blown it. Catastrophic. Or it might had been, had that been my first interaction with the team. But it wasn't and, because of the strengths of the relationships I'd built, I still got the job.

Remember: people first, jobs second.

What your next steps should be

"To know and not to do is not yet to know." – Buddhist proverb.

Making a career change isn't easy – otherwise everyone would be doing it.

But it is possible.

There are hundreds of stories here in our success stories section and elsewhere that show it is.

And remember, this isn't just about your career; it's about your life.

It's about how you feel every morning; it's about how that rubs off on your health and your relationships; and, ultimately, it's about the impact that you can make on the world through being alive in what you do.

The stakes are high.

But they're higher still if you don't do anything about it.

So, for goodness sake, don't just read this article. Do something because of it. Please.

And let me know how you get on.

What have you learned? What actions are you going to take? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Richard Alderson is the founder of Careershifters. Disillusioned with corporate life, Richard quit his job in search of something more meaningful. He's since gone on to found / co-found multiple social businesses in India and the UK.

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Starting a New Career: How to Build Your Path to Success

The author of this article is tech expert Pieter Murphy.

In this article

Getting a new career started is a daunting task for anyone. Some have never had a career and are looking at their options (often at a younger age and fresh to the workforce), some are transitioning from one career to a brand new one (often after being in the job market for a considerable amount of time), and others are looking to expand their options (often by getting new certifications).

No matter where you are on this journey, preparation when starting a new career path gives you the highest chance of succeeding. As with anything that has the potential to shape your future, starting or switching to a new career requires a lot of effort.

In this article, we are looking at the essential aspects of beginning a new career, including what it means, when to pursue a new path, what to consider, the pros and cons, and the steps to follow along that path.

Let’s dive in.

What Does Starting a New Career Mean?

Looking to start a new career could mean different things to different people. For those new to the workforce, it is a chance to enter and take on a new role or industry. For those who have been around for a while, it may mean pivoting to something more aligned with their interests or recalibrated life goals.

It is a chance to take on new challenges, explore new paths, and open up new possibilities. Some of the motivating factors that prompt us to build a new career include:

Challenging ourselves

Working the same job for a long time can leave you feeling stagnant, unwilling to continue, and in need of a challenge to get out of the rut. When you begin a new career, you start learning new things, reinvigorate the zest for life and work, and give you new opportunities to work in different environments and grow yourself further.

Renewing our purpose

Many of us seek purpose in life, and for those lucky enough to combine their interests with their careers, purpose acts as a true north we can rely on. Changing careers can help us find new purpose in work and make us excited enough to get out of our comfort zone. A renewed sense of purpose is also a great way to feel happy at work and boost productivity.

Increasing salaries

While more money may not necessarily mean more happiness for everyone, higher incomes are generally the best way to achieve a healthier life and more satisfaction. When you start over in a new career, it can be an opportunity to choose a path that means you get more compensation than in your previous job. For some, this opportunity might not even mean a career change but a negotiation for a pay raise.

Finding the work-life balance

The nature of work availability, our interests, and our lives make it so that we often don’t end up in the roles we want. This may necessitate changing careers to find work environments that allow us to have a healthier work-life balance, which may include better benefits and better hours/flexible schedules.

This is not all a new career start could mean for you, but it is representative of the core motivations that drive people into career changes.

But when should you do it?

When Should I Pursue a New Job Path?

When you want to start a new career, it requires preparation and good timing to get it right. So, when should you pursue a new job path? According to most sources, these are the signs to watch out for that clue you into the fact that you may need a new career:

You pause or deflect when asked what you do.

You have lost interest in hobbies or interests outside of work.

You have become a ‘yes’ person at work, not questioning flawed logic or actions.

You are no longer learning new things about your career.

You have stopped giving your career the total commitment you may have felt earlier.

You struggle physically to get to work every day.

A vacation does nothing to rejuvenate you.

You have a nagging feeling there is something else you could do.

The list goes on and on, but it all points to the signs that show you have stagnated, are unhappy, and have mentally checked out of your career. There could be a turnaround for some of us along the way, but often, it is a sign that things will only stay stagnant and slide backward.

Now that you know you must make the change, what should you consider when considering how to start a new career path?

Things to Consider When Beginning a New Career

How well-positioned are you to make a career change? That’s the question you ask yourself before you embark on the journey. Before you get started in a new career, consider the following key things:

Career changes require some financial stability or assurances to see through. For example, you may need to take on new classes, lower pay to start, commit more time initially, or make other changes that require money. Knowing the potential expenses and how prepared you are to meet them is vital to a successful transition.

What does your new career require of you, and do you have the necessary skills to fit in? Before leaving your current role, research the one you want to pursue and determine the feasibility of closing that gap. It also prepares you for what courses you may need to take, how much work they require, and how that could affect your transition.

Motivations

Motivations are the reasons driving you to get a brand new career. They can come from within or external factors. It is also worth noting that they change over time depending on values, interests, and life circumstances. Your motivations can affect your performance, well-being, and satisfaction, and you must come from the right place to avoid disappointment later.

Anything that could significantly impact how successful the shift or transition is should come into play, including the potential role and responsibilities you may fit into, the career tools and guidance you need, your passion for it, a change in income, and more.

Pros and Cons of a Career Change

Before we get into the steps to start a completely new career, let’s briefly run down the pros and cons.

You can alight your passion, interests, or talents with your career.

You can earn more money or be in a better financial situation.

You can make a positive difference in the world or other people’s lives by aligning your values with your work.

You can challenge yourself and grow as a person.

You can improve your work-life balance and well-being in a career with flexibility, autonomy, and diversity.

You might feel uncertain or insecure about your new career path and face criticism from former colleagues, family, or friends.

You may have to go through a difficult transition or trial period in your new job, forcing you to make new changes.

You could end up in unemployment or underemployment for a while.

You may make the situation worse instead of better.

There could be stress and anxiety from the transition process.

You may have to invest money, time, and energy into learning new skills and getting new qualifications.

8 Steps to Start a New Career

For our final section, we look at the tips for starting a new career from scratch. These steps serve as a brief guide on what to focus on for a simpler/easier transition:

1. Discover Your Interests

Start by finding out what your interests are. Often, doing work related to or incorporating your interests means that you find fulfillment and are more passionate about it. You can start by taking a personal inventory of your values, goals, and skills and exploring matching options. For instance, if you want to become a test engineer, lead, analyst, manager, or other high-level testing jobs, being a tester is a good start in it .  

2. Make a List of Your Experience

Next up, review your present and past work experience to highlight the skills and achievements relevant to your desired career path. You can include any internship, volunteer, or extracurricular activities showcasing your abilities and potential. You can leverage online tools like resume builders to showcase your experience professionally and attractively.

3. Learn New Skills

The third step is to get new skills or qualifications required or beneficial for your new career. How? You can start by taking online courses, attending workshops or seminars, reading books, or watching videos that teach the necessary skills and knowledge. You can also enlist experts, mentors, and coaches or get tips from a career consultant to guide you through the learning process for the best results.

4. Search for Job Opportunities

With your skills ready and your resume polished, it is time to seek job opportunities matching your interests, goals, or skills. You can do this by browsing job boards, searching social media, visiting company websites in the industry/field you want to enter, and more. Some of the best ways to start a new career include looking at online resources like Glassdoor or Indeed to help you find and apply for jobs that suit you.

5. Polish Your CV

Your resume should be updated to reflect where you are when applying for jobs. You can use clear, concise language, with KWs and phrases matching the job description and emphasizing your transferable skills and achievements. You can leverage online tools like Hemingway or Grammarly to help check grammar, readability, and spelling.

As you seek job opportunities and even in the lead-up, focus on building a network of people who can help you with the career change. They can be anyone from existing friends, family, colleagues, or even former employers. They could help you with referrals, recommendations, and advice. There are also online communities, forums, or groups in your new career field of interest that you can join to share interests and find opportunities.

7. Apply for Jobs

Start applying for jobs that align with your needs and goals. Make sure to submit your CV and cover letter to the jobs you are most interested in that match your qualifications. You can do this by following the instructions and requirements on each job posting and tailoring your CV to respond to your potential employer's needs. Tools like Cover Letter Builder and Resume Genius can help you customize each cover letter and resume.

8. Consider Your Soft Skills

Every career requires that you have some soft skills. These attributes, qualities, or abilities enable you to work well with others, adapt to different situations, and solve problems creatively. Some examples of soft skills include emotional intelligence, teamwork, critical thinking, leadership, etc.

For instance, to become a UX designer, you may need to develop the teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, and other skills required to work smoothly within a development pipeline. You can leverage tools like Skillsoft and MindTools to help you learn and develop these skills.

These aren’t, by any means, all the things you can do to give yourself the best chance at transitioning to a new career, but they represent some of the core tenets to keep an eye on. Anything you can do to make yourself as suitable for the job you want as possible is welcome.

Successfully starting or switching to a new career is not accessible by any stretch of the imagination, but you can prepare for it. With the insights and steps outlined here, you can launch your journey with some idea of what to expect and focus on as part of your preparation.

It can take patience, courage, passion, and incredible strength to switch to or create a new career, but with preparation to go with it, you can make it happen at almost any stage of your life.

When looking at where to start a new career today, you have more options thanks to remote work, the changing nature of work, the ability to upskill or gain new skills to take on new jobs, and an interconnected workforce that helps each other.

What Is the Best Way to Start a New Career? 

As extensively discussed, the best way to start a new career is to be prepared! When you have all the tools going in, the drive to see it through, the patience to take the difficult moments, and the will to go the distance, switching a career can be much easier to navigate, even when you are new. 

How to Get a Job With No Experience? 

Getting a job without experience , which can be difficult, can be made more achievable by:

Highlighting your transferable experience from any previous work that may not necessarily be related to what you want to do.

Emphasizing your soft skills.

Taking on internships or volunteer work that aligns with what you want to achieve.

Learning new skills that improve your chances of getting hired even without experience.

Polishing your resume.

What Age Is Considered a Late Career?

There is no definitive age that is considered late. It all depends on individual circumstances, the industry, the profession, and other factors. Since not everyone follows the same career stages or timeline, some people could experience a later career stage than others or start new careers at any age, affecting how long their careers last.

Career Advice

The ultimate guide to changing careers: how to start a new chapter in your professional journey.

By Will Etheridge - 09 June 2023

Ready to take your career to the next level?

CV Wallet is the world's first career management app. Our suite of tools is built to make finding your dream job faster and easier.

Are you feeling stagnant or unfulfilled in your current career? Are you yearning for new challenges and opportunities that align better with your passions and goals?

If so, you're not alone. Many professionals reach a point in their lives when they contemplate changing careers to find greater satisfaction and meaning in their work.

Embarking on a career change can be both exhilarating and daunting. It requires careful planning, self-reflection, and a strategic approach.

This comprehensive guide will provide you with invaluable insights, practical advice, and actionable steps to navigate your career transition successfully.

In this article, we will explore the various aspects of changing careers, including the signs that indicate a need for change, how to research and explore new career options, tips for writing a compelling career change CV, considerations for deciding between changing jobs or careers, and strategies for starting a new career.

Additionally, we'll introduce you to the CV Wallet mobile app, an innovative tool designed to empower job seekers in managing their careers.

Is It Time for a Career Change? 

Before diving into the process of changing careers, it's essential to evaluate whether a career change is truly the right path for you. Here are some signs that indicate it might be time to consider a new direction:

• Lack of Fulfilment: Do you feel unfulfilled or unsatisfied with your current work? Are you no longer passionate about what you do? A lack of fulfilment can be a clear indication that it's time to explore new career possibilities.
• Persistent Stress and Burnout: Are you constantly feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or burnt out in your current job? Chronic stress can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being, affecting your overall quality of life. If your work environment consistently drains your energy and leaves you feeling depleted, it's worth considering a change.
• Limited Growth and Development: Do you find yourself stuck in a professional rut, with limited opportunities for growth and advancement? A lack of challenges and learning experiences can lead to stagnation and hinder your long-term career prospects.
• Mismatched Values and Goals: Are your core values and personal goals aligned with your current career? If your work environment or industry conflicts with what you truly believe in or if your career trajectory is not aligned with your aspirations, it may be time for a change.
• Loss of Interest or Passion: Has your enthusiasm for your current career waned over time? Are you no longer excited about the work you're doing? Losing interest or passion for your job can significantly impact your motivation and overall job satisfaction.
• Desire for a New Direction: Do you have a strong desire to explore a different field or industry? Are there specific interests or skills you've always wanted to pursue? If you feel a calling toward a particular path or have a burning curiosity to explore new territories, it's worth considering a career change.

Self-reflection is a crucial first step in determining whether a career change is the right choice for you. Take the time to assess your current situation, identify any signs of dissatisfaction or unfulfillment, and envision what you want your future career to look like.

How to Change Careers Successfully 

Research and exploration.

One of the most critical steps in changing careers is conducting thorough research and exploration. This process will help you identify new career options that align with your interests, values, and skills. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this phase effectively:

• Self-Assessment: Begin by assessing your skills, interests, values, and goals. Consider what you enjoy doing, what motivates you, and what you envision for your future career. Self-reflection exercises, career assessments, and discussions with trusted mentors or career coaches can provide valuable insights into your strengths and passions.
• Identify Transferable Skills: Take inventory of the skills you've gained throughout your current career. Many skills, such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, and project management, are transferable across industries. Recognizing these skills will help you position yourself as a valuable candidate in your new career.
• Explore Industries and Roles: Research different industries and job roles that align with your skills and interests. Look for emerging fields or industries that offer growth opportunities. Online resources, professional networks, and informational interviews with professionals working in your target industries can provide valuable information and guidance.
• Conduct Informational Interviews: Reach out to professionals already working in your desired field and request informational interviews. These conversations can provide insights into the day-to-day realities of the job, the required qualifications, and potential challenges. It's an excellent opportunity to expand your network and gather firsthand information.
• Gain Practical Experience: If possible, seek opportunities to gain practical experience in your desired field. This could include volunteering, freelancing, or taking on side projects. Practical experience can not only strengthen your skills but also demonstrate your commitment and passion to potential employers.

Gaining New Skills and Education

To enhance your prospects in a new career, gaining new skills and education is often necessary. Here are some avenues to consider:

• Online Courses and Certifications: Explore online learning platforms that offer courses and certifications related to your target field. These can provide you with valuable knowledge and credentials to support your transition. Look for reputable platforms that offer recognized certifications in your desired industry.
• Professional Development Programs: Some industries have specific professional development programs or industry associations that offer training and resources. These programs can help you gain industry-specific knowledge, network with professionals, and stay updated on the latest trends.
• Networking and Mentorship: Attend industry events, join professional associations, and engage in networking activities to connect with professionals in your desired field. Seek out mentors who can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights into the industry.
• Utilise the CV Wallet Careers Hub: The CV Wallet mobile app's Careers Hub provides AI-powered support and access to leading assessments for upskilling. Take advantage of these features to gain valuable insights, career advice, interview preparation tips, and expert guidance on writing covering letters and application forms.

Continuously developing new skills and knowledge will not only make you more competitive in your career change but also demonstrate your commitment to growth and learning.

Should You Change Jobs or Careers?

When contemplating a career change, one important consideration is whether to change jobs within your current field or pursue an entirely new career path. Both options have their merits and challenges. Here are some factors to consider when making this decision:

• Growth Potential: Assess the growth potential in your current field versus the potential in the new career you're considering. Research the job market and industry trends to determine which option offers more opportunities for long-term growth and advancement.
• Transferable Skills: Evaluate the transferability of your current skills to the new career path. Changing jobs within the same field may allow you to leverage your existing skills and experience, making the transition smoother. On the other hand, pursuing an entirely new career may require additional skills or qualifications that you'll need to acquire.
• Personal Fulfilment: Consider your level of personal fulfilment in your current job versus the potential fulfilment in the new career. Changing jobs within your field may provide a fresh start and renewed sense of purpose. However, if you feel that your interests and passions no longer align with your current field, a complete career change may be the better option for finding greater fulfilment.
• Work-Life Balance: Reflect on the work-life balance you desire. Changing jobs within your field may offer familiarity and potentially more control over your work-life balance. In contrast, starting a new career may require more time and effort initially as you adapt to a different industry or role.
• Financial Considerations: Assess the financial implications of changing jobs or careers. Consider the potential salary differences, investment required for acquiring new skills or education, and the potential for long-term financial stability in your desired field.
• Risk Tolerance: Evaluate your risk tolerance. Changing jobs within your field may involve less risk, as you already have some level of familiarity and expertise. However, pursuing an entirely new career may involve stepping into the unknown and facing greater uncertainties. Consider your willingness to take risks and embrace new challenges.

Ultimately, the decision to change jobs or careers depends on your individual circumstances, goals, and preferences. It's important to take the time to carefully weigh these factors and consider the potential impact on your professional and personal life.

How to Start a New Career

Starting a new career can be an exciting and transformative journey. To make a successful transition, it's essential to have a clear plan and take proactive steps. Here are some strategies to help you start a new career on the right foot:

• Set Clear Goals: Define your career goals for your new path. What do you want to achieve? What milestones do you want to reach? Setting clear goals will provide you with a sense of direction and help you stay focused during the transition process.
• Create an Action Plan: Outline the steps you need to take to achieve your career goals. Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. This could include acquiring new skills, updating your CV, building a professional network, or pursuing educational opportunities. Having a well-structured action plan will keep you organised and motivated.
• Network and Build Connections: Networking is crucial when starting a new career. Reach out to professionals in your desired field through industry events, online platforms, and informational interviews. Building connections can provide valuable insights, mentorship opportunities, and potential job leads. Leverage the CV Wallet app's features to enhance your networking efforts and increase your visibility to employers.
• Gain Practical Experience: Consider gaining practical experience in your new field to strengthen your skills and enhance your credibility. This could involve internships, freelance work, or volunteering. Practical experience not only allows you to apply your knowledge but also helps you build a portfolio or track record in your new career.
• Continuously Learn and Upskill: Stay current with industry trends and advancements by investing in continuous learning and upskilling. Attend relevant workshops, webinars, or conferences. Leverage the CV Wallet app's Careers Hub, which offers access to leading assessments for upskilling and personalised career advice. Stay curious and embrace a growth mindset as you navigate your new career path.
• Embrace a Positive Mindset: Starting a new career can come with challenges and uncertainties. Embrace a positive mindset and believe in your ability to succeed. Be open to learning from setbacks and view them as opportunities for growth. Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, mentors, or fellow career changers who can provide encouragement and guidance along the way.

By following these strategies, you'll be better prepared to embark on your new career path and navigate the challenges that may arise. Remember, starting a new career is a process that takes time and patience. Celebrate small wins along the way and remain committed to your goals.

Conclusion 

Remember, changing careers is a personal and transformative journey. It requires careful planning, self-reflection, and a commitment to continuous growth.

The CV Wallet mobile app can be your invaluable companion throughout this process, offering tools and resources to streamline your career transition, from automating job applications and tracking to providing AI-powered career support and Blue Tick verification.

Now, armed with the knowledge and insights gained from this guide, it's time to take action. Download the CV Wallet app, create your career action plan, and embark on your exciting new career journey. Embrace the possibilities that lie ahead and trust in your ability to create a fulfilling and successful professional future.

Remember, you have the power to shape your career destiny. Best of luck on your new path!

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Your Career Development Journey. Consider These Six Different Routes You Can Take

• Posted in Career Conversations , Career Development , Talent Development
• May 11, 2021

In my last blog post, ‘ Career Development has changed. It’s time for a meaningful 21st century definition ‘, I talked about how the world of work has changed. If ladders still exist, they are harder to climb. Here we explore other ways to take your career development journey.

People still move upwards in a career. In some organisations, people get promoted into a more senior role. In many more organisations, people move organisations to apply for and take on a more senior role. Up is still an option. But it’s not the only way. And it never was never the only way or the best way or even the most satisfying way to navigate a career. But, for many years, that was the accepted image of career progression.

When we think of career development as a journey, we can see that there are many ways to get to the same destination. You can take the direct route, the indirect route, the fast way or the slow way. That means the options available may include a change in role upwards or sideways. But the greatest opportunities often come from finding ways to develop in your current role.

Career progression is specific to each individual. It is about how you improve your enjoyability and employability. And those two things will be different for each individual depending on how much you want to grow, stretch, learn and transform. I will share six different kinds of career journey. How those might contribute to your personal progression is up to you to decide.

1. Continuing on the same path

You can continue on the same path and make a current role more interesting and challenging. You might get rid of some tasks. Take on others. A small shift can transform your current job into a more exciting opportunity to learn new things. Specialists build entire careers from continuing on the same path. They get better and better at what they do and deepen their contribution along the way. Ask yourself what you learned this week or this month. You might be surprised.

This is the route I have taken since starting my business nine years ago. My role remains unchanged but I continue to focus on improving my performance and developing new skills. And I can assure you. I am NEVER bored!

2. Finding out the route others have taken

Finding out the route others have taken gives you the opportunity to explore possibilities for your own career development journey. It may involve short-term work assignments or shadowing someone who is in a position you may be considering. The exploratory experience could be as simple as having a conversation about the requirements of a role that seems attractive to you. It’s a chance to check things out to see what will work – and what might NOT work. Exploring is very smart step to take before investing time and energy in pursuing other routes. Think about an assignment that intrigues you. How could you learn more about it?

This is what I did at the start of my career. About four years after graduating, I realised I was not excited about developing washing powders (I was a Technical Brand Manager for P&G). I had started getting involved in corporate training and found that much more interesting. My mentor helped me secure an opportunity to deliver training to Ph.D. students as part of the company’s graduate recruitment efforts. It was a great way to test out a new role before making the move.

3. Reversing or braking

People sometimes choose to pause their career development journey or reverse back to re-focus. Maybe the current role was just not a fit and you’re brave enough to admit it. Maybe this step opens up a whole new vista that seems exciting in a part of the organisation that’s new or growing. It can also be about finding a role that is less demanding, more enjoyable and better aligned with personal priorities. With the ever-increasing focus on work/life balance, a reverse move is sometimes based on a personal need that, if ignored, might result in resignation and exit. Reversing usually means letting go of certain responsibilities, time commitments and potentially salary. Whatever the reason, it’s a valid, important option.

This is the route I took when I made the decision to leave my role in product research for P&G and take up a role in training and development. I moved to a new organisation, took a pay cut and started again. But it was worth it.

4. Moving sideways

Moving sideways refers to broadening your role by taking on extra challenges or responsibilities. Or it might involve a new role where status and scope of responsibility are typically the same or similar. A new perspective is the payoff from moving sideways. You get to see a different part of the landscape. When you take on a role in another function or department, you get to view your responsibilities and the organisation through a new lens.

By moving sideways, you can fine-tune your skills, build new relationships, and learn a new or different approach. You can get deeper hands-on expertise, see the organisational operations from a different angle and add to your knowledge base. What sideways options could offer you a new view?

My most significant sideways move was when I moved from a training role in Accenture to a training role in Avanade. The status and scope of responsibility were similar. But Avanade was a start-up with very different challenges to Accenture. It opened my eyes and remains one of the most defining moments of my career.

5. Taking the uphill option

As I’ve said, the ladder hasn’t completely disappeared. The rungs aren’t all gone. For some people, a move up makes absolute sense. When it works for the organisation and the individual, a vertical move should definitely be included in the journey. Vertical moves can bring with them many of the traditional symbols of success like titles and monetary compensation. A vertical experience could mean leading a team or project and taking on a more visible role. In reality, they can also come with headaches. So careful thought about when, if and how a vertical move would fit into your career experience is essential. How will you know when or if a vertical move is right for you?

I have made many vertical moves in my career. Some were positive, rewarding and exciting. Some were less so.

6. Starting a new journey

You don’t always have to continue on the same journey. Starting a new journey means leaving for an entirely new organisation or industry. It’s awkward and sometimes tough to acknowledge this one. But it is real. And every person knows the option to start a new journey is there. In the past, once you started a new journey, there was no opportunity to return. Today, it’s exciting to see how many who leave an organisation are welcomed back when they decide to return. And bring a wealth of new knowledge with them.

I started a new journey when I left corporate life and set up my own business. Starting a new journey is a strong option if you have a strong desire to be an entrepreneur. It might be the right option if you can find job satisfaction ONLY in roles that are not available in the organisation. So, there are six different possible career routes you can take. And, as you have read, I have taken them all at one time or another. Ultimately, the selection of the different experiences is down to you. Everyone’s career journey is unique to them. But one thing is true for everybody. Taking a broad and flexible approach to growth is key in this fast-changing world. Adopting a mindset that views change as an opportunity can open new landscapes for development.

If you would like some help thinking about the right route for you, check out our Career Compass Workbook .

29 thoughts on “Your Career Development Journey. Consider These Six Different Routes You Can Take”

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Here's how much money I made as a software engineer at Meta, Apple, and Oracle

• Sandeep Rao is a software engineer who has worked at Meta, Apple, and Oracle. 
• When he first started his career as a new graduate, his compensation was only $15,000.
• He explains how, thanks to high performance and negotiation skills, he now makes nearly $700,000. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sandeep Rao, a 32-year-old software engineer based in San Jose, California. Business Insider has verified his income with documentation. This essay has been edited for length and clarity.

My salary journey in Big Tech has seen my total compensation — which includes base salary, bonuses, and stocks — increase from $15,000 in 2012 to $685,000 in 2024.

I'm a staff software engineer and have worked at three different tech companies, moving from Oracle to Apple to Meta. Over my career, I've led the development of successful software apps and features from scratch that are used every day by millions of people across the world.

While I have made my career moves primarily based on which areas of software engineering I'd get to work on, compensation is also important to me, so I've been strategic and negotiated for higher salaries with each move.

Tech companies use tools like additional equity to retain high-performing employees. In my experience, if you're consistently a top performer at your organization, it's certainly possible to keep your pay at or above market level and have a rewarding career within your company.

I took a low-paying job to get my foot in the door

While I got my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering , I realized midway through college that software engineering was my passion and pivoted to pursue a career in software instead.

My first job was as a software developer at Oracle in India. While Oracle isn't generally low-paying in the tech industry, my salary of 850,000 rupees, or $15,000, was low compared to what new grads were making at that time in competing Big Tech companies like Microsoft or Amazon because it was a "take it or leave it" new grad offer.

The work was unappealing to me because it didn't align with my career interests — I didn't want to continue building expertise in that specific area of software engineering — but I took it to get my foot in the door of a Big Tech company and build credibility.

I knew I eventually wanted to end up where all the action is — Silicon Valley . I worked at Oracle from 2012 to 2014, and during this time, I applied to graduate schools in the US because I felt a formal computer science degree would help me compete with the talented people in the Valley.

I got accepted into a graduate program in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. I left behind my family and friends in India and moved to the US with nothing but a suitcase and $65,000 in student debt.

Grad school was hard, but the doors it opened for me made the struggle worth it.

I was ecstatic to get a job at Apple

I finished grad school and got a job as a software engineer at Apple in Cupertino, California, where my base salary was $115,000.

I was ecstatic to work at one of the best companies in the world and felt my dreams were coming true. But I realized I wanted to work on more direct user-facing applications rather than on technology that ran under the hood.

Initially, I considered looking for new opportunities within Apple, but between high taxes, the high cost of living, and my student loans, I felt more compelled to switch companies, given that I'd likely receive a significant salary bump .

I had gotten a very small cost-of-living raise on my base salary at Apple, but it wasn't significant; not getting a bigger raise wasn't a big motivator in my decision to change companies, but it certainly made my choice easier.

My negotiation skills helped me get a 10% salary increase

At the end of 2017, I moved to Meta (then Facebook) in Menlo Park, California. I wanted to experience the culture of younger internet-based companies whose products are used by billions of people.

When I received my offer, I did my research to get a clear understanding of what my market value was and what salary I wanted to land on. I also learned what parts of my total compensation are negotiable, such as stocks and the sign-on bonus, and what is non-negotiable, like base salary and annual bonuses.

I was prepared to negotiate and walked away with an offer of $140,000, which was 10% more than their original offer.

In 2021, I landed a large-scale project at Meta that added a lot of value to the Messenger app and worked with several cross-functional teams across engineering, design, data science, and legal.

My accomplishments, such as this one, and high performance at work got me the promotions, visibility, and leverage to negotiate for higher pay and a successful salary journey.

Every year between 2018 to 2023, my base salary increased — as did my total compensation — through a combination of performance-based yearly stock refreshers, additional boosts from promotions, and stock market appreciation.

Related stories

Compensation in a tech career usually gets more and more equity-heavy than salary-heavy, so base salaries don't increase as quickly as equity, but my salary and total annual compensation steadily rose:

2012-2014: $15,000 total compensation

Grad School

2014-2016: $0 total compensation

Student loan debt: $65,000

2016: $130,000 total compensation

2017: $165,000 total compensation

2018: $230,000 total compensation

2019: $240,000 total compensation

2020: $350,000 total compensation (promotion)

2021: $510,000 total compensation

2022: $375,000 total compensation (promotion, but total compensation dropped due to stock price drop)

2023: $545,000 total compensation

In 2024, I'm projected to make $685,000 through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock.

Five strategies for increasing my compensation package

Over the years, I learned five salary strategies that helped me grow my salary and overall compensation:

1. Always do your homework about market rates for your role, level, and location — especially when you switch jobs.

Switching jobs is a good way to increase your income.

Even if money may not be the primary motivator for a job switch, I always make sure to be conscious and strategic about my compensation by doing salary research to avoid leaving any money on the table.

When I started doing salary research during my switch to Meta, I found out my market value was much higher than what I was making at Apple at that time. This helped me start my negotiations with Meta at the market rate rather than the salary I was making.

I used Levels.fyi , Blind , and Glassdoor to find salary information and clearly understand my market value. Keep yourself updated on these benchmarks even if you don't plan on a job change anytime soon, so you know you're on par with the market, and any salary difference is offset by other factors such as better work-life balance.

2. Never let your bad salary "baggage" carry over to your new job.

If your salary isn't up to market standards right now, don't let it affect your pay at the next job. Otherwise, it'll lead to a cycle where you'll be underpaid for the rest of your career.

Employers and recruiters could use your salary history to give you only a modest raise, while your actual market value could easily be double or triple your most recent salary.

In California, labor laws make it illegal for employers to ask you about your current salary and salary history. You're also allowed to ask potential employers for the pay range for the position you're applying for.

If your state has similar protections, just being aware of this law can help you make any corrections to your pay during negotiations. This helped me start offer negotiations from my market value instead of my current pay.

3. Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith to make that 10x impact on your career.

That could involve switching from a non-tech job to a tech job or taking a short-term hit for long-term gain. For example, I picked Oracle for my first job despite the low pay and unappealing work so I could build credibility to get into a Tier 1 grad school.

I also took a loan of about $65,000 to pay for Carnegie Mellon, even though I could have chosen to go to a cheaper public university.

Deciding to work at Oracle and attend Carnegie Mellon cost me a few years and a lot of debt, but doing so opened doors unlike anything else, and I haven't looked back ever since.

4. Negotiate to keep your base salary from falling behind

It's inevitable for your salary to fall behind as you stay longer at a company, especially in tech due to restricted stock unit (RSU) "cliffs."

Most RSU packages offered to new employees in the tech industry have a two- to four-year vesting period. Unless the employer offers a significant pay bump along the way, total compensation usually takes a drop after this vesting period. Many companies also offer annual performance-based stock refreshers to lower this salary gap, but they're usually not as large as the initial grant. 

If you love working at your company and feel forced to move just to get a raise, you can ask your senior leadership to make a "correction." After all, it's much more expensive and time-consuming for employers to hire new people than to retain good employees.

Most Big Tech companies have employee retention programs like additional or discretionary equity. Additional equity programs are mainly used to retain high-performing employees, so they're usually highly selective.

This is how I was able to keep my compensation at or above market level despite spending six years at Meta. When I was reaching the end of my vesting period in my fourth year, I had a conversation with my senior leadership to see if there was any room for a pay correction so I could go back to focusing on my work 100% without worrying about salary.

Being prepared with my predicted compensation drop and market data greatly helped me build a cogent narrative going in. If you're consistently a top performer at your organization, it's certainly possible to keep your pay at or above market level and have a rewarding career within your company.

5. Don't assume people will reward your work or anticipate your needs — ask.

Always ask for what you want , whether it's a raise or that interesting project that just came in. The worst that will happen is you'll get a "no." If you don't ask, nobody will know, or even worse, people may assume that you're happy with what you have and move on. 

I used this strategy when I heard of a new company initiative and asked to be a founding engineer because I was looking to create more impact in my role. Despite the high risk and ambiguity involved, I successfully delivered on the projects, which eventually led to a promotion. None of this would've been possible if I hadn't asked. 

At the end of the day, you're your biggest advocate when it comes to your salary and career journey. There's no substitute for hard work, but being strategic about how you achieve your goals can go a long way. Sometimes, you have to take big risks and step out of your comfort zone to get that high-paying dream job.

If you want to share your career progression and salary journey, email Jane Zhang at [email protected] .

Watch: Nearly 50,000 tech workers have been laid off — but there's a hack to avoid layoffs

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California’s new cradle-to-career system can illuminate student pathways

From our smartwatches giving us metrics on our last workout, to utility dashboards helping us meet our environmental conservation goals, we are living in an increasingly data-driven world. But when it comes to figuring out an education or career path, it can be hard to find useful information to make sound decisions.

Where do young people from my city go after high school? What education or training programs can help me earn livable wages? How do I figure out college applications and get financial aid? These are all questions that have been difficult for Californians to answer as they decide what jobs to pursue and whether to attend college.

But California recently took a big step toward making data available in tangible, easy-to-access ways. The new  California Cradle-to-Career Data System  (C2C) connects the dots from early and K-12 education, to higher education and the workforce. It’s a new, longitudinal data system that can enable people to make more informed decisions about their lives. As early as 2024, Californians will have access to C2C’s first planned dashboard.

The longitudinal data system will illuminate the journey from cradle to career. A guidance counselor wonders whether her former students stayed in college. Universities working to help students succeed can’t see what K-12 supports students did — or didn’t — receive.

The C2C system can stitch together data that can tell those stories across time. Those connections and transitions become visible only when the data from multiple education systems is linked together.

How will people be able to use that data that stretches over time? Before the data system launched, the system’s  data providers  worked together with members of the public to map out  priority topics  for specific data dashboards. Each one will create a “data story” focused on topics like:

• student pathways from high school to college and career.
• the experiences of community college students aiming to transfer to a four-year university.
• employment outcomes illuminating paths to jobs with livable wages.

We’re prioritizing the needs that communities have voiced before developing useful tools. The California Legislature took bold action in passing the  Cradle-to-Career Data System Act . It wrote into state law that the data system must prioritize the needs of students and families. This means listening to communities first, and then working to build data tools people will actually use.

What have Californians shared? Right now, the most requested feature is the ability to break down the data by geography and demographics. People want to know, “What story does the data tell in my community?”

What challenges are Californians in rural areas facing in their education and workforce sectors? What needs are not being met to ensure educational success and individual prosperity? People with lived experiences in these communities can best answer these questions. 

To get input from across the state, C2C hosts  community conversations  where people can voice their priorities, both online and in-person.  Recent events  were held in Sacramento and Oakland, and the Central Valley and Southern California are up next. Building the country’s most inclusive data system requires collaboration, and that is top of mind for the Cradle-to-Career data system.

Launching an  intentionally inclusive  data system has taken a historic, governmentwide effort. Those of us in the Legislature are working with the Newsom administration to break down the silos that can make it hard to share data with the public.  Champions  of the data system understand that data works for individuals when it empowers them to make decisions about their futures. Informed decisionmaking is key to ensuring every Californian has the freedom to succeed, and that starts with a reliable and actionable statewide longitudinal data system.

Mary Ann Bates is the executive director of the Office of Cradle-to-Career Data. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin represents California’s 42nd District. Sen. John Laird represents California’s 17th District. They wrote this for EdSource.

More From Forbes

Top Skills To Transition From Career To Entrepreneurship

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Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship after a career can feel both exhilarating and scary. Many women find themselves at mid-career ready to make this leap , driven by the desire for independence, the pursuit of passion, or the aspiration to make a tangible impact.

Switching careers can feel like starting from scratch, but it's really not. Think about all the skills you've picked up at your old job — organizing your day like a pro, juggling tasks without breaking a sweat, or coming up with clever fixes for tricky problems. These aren’t just things you did to get by; they're your secret weapons.

When you step into a new role, these are the tools that help you hit the ground running. They're familiar friends in an unfamiliar world, giving you a head-start and the confidence to tackle this exciting chapter.

By capitalizing on these skills, you're not just changing the game, you're setting yourself up to play it on an entirely new level, ready to face fresh challenges with a foundation of proven competencies.

Here are top skills that can seamlessly transition from your career to your new business, setting a foundation for success:

Gmail and youtube hackers bypass google s 2fa account security, apple confirms innovative iphone 16 pro upgrade, it s going to zero legendary billionaire predicts rapid cataclysmic u s dollar collapse and a 5 trillion post halving bitcoin price boom, 1. leadership and management.

Leadership is about inspiring and motivating those around you, while management involves the nuts and bolts of running a team or project. In entrepreneurship, these skills are critical. You’ll need to lead with vision and manage your resources efficiently to thrive.

2. Financial Literacy

Understanding budgets, financial statements, and cash flow management is crucial in the corporate world and absolutely essential in running your own business. The ability to make informed financial decisions can mean the difference between success and failure.

3. Strategic Thinking

In your career, strategic thinking might have involved planning projects or developing long-term goals for your department. As an entrepreneur, this skill helps you identify market opportunities, foresee trends, and position your business for growth.

4. Networking

Building and nurturing professional relationships is valuable in any career. For entrepreneurs, a robust network can open doors to new clients, partnerships, and opportunities for mentorship. It's not just about who you know, but who knows you and what you can do.

5. Marketing and Branding

Understanding how to market yourself and your projects is crucial in the corporate world. This skill becomes even more critical when you’re trying to build a brand from scratch. Knowing how to communicate your value proposition effectively is key to attracting and retaining customers.

6. Problem-Solving

Every job involves problem-solving, whether it’s dealing with a difficult client or managing supply chain issues. As an entrepreneur, you’ll face a whole new set of challenges. The ability to think on your feet and devise innovative solutions is invaluable.

7. Resilience and Adaptability

The corporate world can be tough, but it teaches you how to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changes. This resilience is crucial in entrepreneurship, where the only constant is change. Being adaptable allows you to pivot your business model when necessary and persevere through tough times.

8. Time Management

In any role, managing your time effectively is crucial to productivity. For entrepreneurs, who often wear many hats, this skill is even more critical. Learning to prioritize tasks and delegate when possible can help you focus on what’s most important for your business.

The bottom line that that transitioning from a career to entrepreneurship is a bold move that requires courage, determination, and a solid skill set. By leveraging the skills you’ve developed in your career, you can navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship more effectively. Remember, the journey of entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Equip yourself with these skills, and you'll be well on your way to building a successful business that not only fulfills your passion but also makes a significant impact.

Melissa Houston, CPA is the author of Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating a Profitable Business . She is the founder of She Means Profit, which is a podcast and blog . As a Finance Strategist for small business owners, Melissa helps successful business owners increase their profit margins so that they keep more money in their pocket and increase their net worth.

The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace any professional or expert accounting and/or tax advice whatsoever.

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A mexican drug cartel is targeting seniors and their timeshares..

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A massive scam targeting older Americans who own timeshare properties has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars sent to Mexico.

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