When you are ready for a career change you have a few different things to decide.
Do you want to stay in the same field but want a different position?
Do you want a whole new career?
Or do you want to start your own thing?
Each path is different and will take a different approach.
Let’s start with staying in the field you are now in.
If you want a new position in the field you are already in, you are in a perfect place to see how to do it.
You have mentors that are doing the job you want. This is a perfect opportunity to get information from people that you know that are already working in the position you want.
How do you get that information?
Ask them
They are probably happy to help.
Ask questions like:
- How did they get to that position?
- How do they like the job?
- Is the job what they thought it would be?
- What are the challenges?
- What are the rewards?
- What does a typical day look like?
You are one step ahead of the people who want to get into your field.
This doesn’t mean that the change will be easy. It still takes courage and determination to make the change.
But the path is different than going for something new.
My last few years in film production was spent encouraging young production assistants to pick a path and go for it. I watched too many of my peers never realize their dreams because they got used to the work and the money.
Making the change can be daunting. The dream can fade. It is hard to imagine yourself in your dream position after years of another identity.