Ready for a Change? How to Plan Your Next Career Move with Confidence

The average person will spend about 90,000 hours working in their lifetime, that’s one-third of your life, so it’s no wonder job satisfaction is so important. If you’ve been feeling unsure about where your career is headed, it might be time to start planning your next career step. 

Before deciding what the next step in your career journey should be, it’s important to understand what you want and need in the next phase of your career. Are you looking for career growth? Do you want to advance in your current field, take on more responsibility or a higher salary? Or are you ready for a change with a new role in a new industry? Whether you’re looking for growth or change, career planning is essential. 

Setting the Course for Career Growth 

Advancing in your current role requires an assessment of your strengths and areas for improvement. Conducting a skills gap analysis can help you identify key technical and soft skills you currently possess and, more importantly, skills you may need to obtain to move into a leadership role, take on more responsibility or earn that promotion. Upskilling through continuing education courses, professional certifications and management development training are great ways to acquire the skills you need and demonstrate to your employer your commitment to professional development. 

Leverage in-company opportunities and position yourself as a leader. Talk to your supervisor about taking on cross-functional projects or lateral moves. Be proactive and volunteer for projects that showcase your technical skills. Seek feedback from a mentor to help guide the direction of your career growth. This can be someone you admire who is willing to guide you or someone with knowledge and experience that can help you. Create a professional development plan using SMART objectives that align with your goals and your organization’s and refer to it during your performance check-ins. Setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals helps you stay organized and on track. 

Preparing for a Career Change 

Deciding on a career change isn’t as simple as transitioning to a new role in the same company. It often means getting started in a new industry, learning new skill sets and may even involve reductions in salary and seniority. 

“You can still grow into a salary and level of seniority you’re happy with,” says Tracy Diesslin, assistant director of enrollment services at UC Davis CPE, who went through her own career change and worked her way up in a new career. “But it’s more of a marathon, than a sprint. Taking a lower paid job but being happier and more fulfilled leads to better payoff all around.” 

Because of this, it’s important to carefully consider the timing of your career shift (aka leaving your current job). Plan ahead as much as possible, so you and your family are financially and emotionally prepared.

 Discover Your “Why”? 

Starting with a self-assessment is a good first step. Ask yourself questions like, “Why do I want to make a change? What do I want to do now? What are my talents, interests and passions?” Exploring who you are, what you want and where you want to go can help you shape a meaningful, rewarding career. While taking the time to evaluate yourself can be difficult or feel like you’re not making a change fast enough, understanding yourself at the beginning of your career change can save you time down the road. 

Explore Your Options 

The next step in your career change is exploring your career options. This can help accelerate your job search and guide you toward a satisfying career. Online research is an easy way to learn about different professions, including salary ranges, preferred education/background and skill requirements—which you can use to pinpoint transferable skills or define new skills you need to obtain. Many platforms, including CPE’s Virtual Career Center available to students, allow you to set up job alerts, so you never miss a job posting you’re interested in. 

To enhance your career exploration, consider other strategies as well. Job shadowing and informational interviewing are great ways to gain a better understanding of the work involved and learn about the day-to-day for jobs you may be considering. It also helps build your network, which is crucial when beginning a job search. Seeking a mentor (this can be a paid career coach or someone who knows you and has your best interest in mind) who can help you advance your professional development goals and provide personalized support during your career search can also be an effective strategy. 

Continue Your Education

 Education is key in a career change. In many cases, that no longer necessitates pursuing an entirely new degree or grad school. Reskilling with targeted certificates, badge programs, bootcamps and courses designed to help you enter a new industry can be ideal options to facilitate this transition. Continuing education is also a great way to grow your network in your field, as many of these programs offer opportunities to connect with peers and industry experts. For those currently working, online learning options allow you to acquire the skills you need without competing with your schedule. Internships, freelance projects or side jobs can also help you gain practical experience in your new field. 

Build Your Personal Brand 

Update your resume, portfolio and LinkedIn profile. Review best practices for cover letters, pitch statements and accomplishment statements to set you apart from your competition. And don’t forget to practice your interviewing skills. The most important phase of the job search, your opportunity to convince an employer to hire you, is the interview. Practice, practice, practice and prepare for your interview. Self-confidence, enthusiasm, knowledge of the organization and your ability to effectively relate your qualifications to the interviewer will create a positive and lasting impression. 

Regardless of where your next career step takes you, it’s important to be proactive and invest in your career development. Create a roadmap with short- and long-term goals and continually evaluate your progress. And don’t forget to celebrate your successes!