1. Investigate Career Assessment Tools
Although you may have an idea about what you want to explore career-wise, you might be surprised to learn you're not suited for your dream job at all. Rather than finding this out the hard way and being forced to make another career switch, you can undergo a career assessment to discover where your natural and developed talents could be best put to use. Most community colleges and universities have career centers where students can undergo assessments, and these centers may be available to the general public for a small fee. You can also contact an employment agency to find out whether it routinely gives prospective clients career assessment tests. Although there are many assessment tests available online, you'll find most of them are unreliable and are designed to sucker you into buying products sold by the Web site offering the test. Your best bet is to stick to a certified career consultant or an educational institution.
2. Get Trained in a New Career
One of the biggest obstacles you face when switching careers is having the knowledge and skills to do the job. Talk to people in the field you are pursing to find out what training or education is needed. You can attend training conferences, seminars, go through certification courses or go back to college to pursue a degree in a new field. As an added bonus, your employer may have a tuition reimbursement program to help you get the education you need to switch careers in the future.
3. Find a Mentor Who Can Guide You
Create a relationship with an established expert in the field in which you're interested. You may have to volunteer your time at first and do some lower-level jobs as you learn the new career from the ground up. For example, many well-known coaches started their careers working for other coaches as an assistant. An added benefit of working with a mentor is he can help you meet people and help you find a job in the future. Your current employer may have a mentor program. Contact your human resources department to get information.
4. Create a New Resume Highlighting Your Skills
Adjust your resume to reflect the new skills you have learned for your career switch. List books read, conferences attended and formal education in the industry. Think about the work experience you had in the past and highlight skills and knowledge transferring from those jobs to the new job. If your career change is drastic, talk about it in your cover letter. State what interested you in the new career and the steps you have taken to be prepared for the job.
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