Can I Still Change My Career?

By Kathryn Peters

Employment Jobs, Job vacancies, Employment

For many people, changing a career represents something they wish for, think about, possibly dream about and...do nothing about. It is such a common phenomenon, almost everybody knows somebody who desperately wants to change a career but doesn't know how. It is also common to most people to want to change their career without too much disruption and while still having a stable income.

For those of you who are in a similar situation, I would suggest the following. Nothing is impossible if you have clarity. Being clear as to what the new career should be, in which field, which position, with what level of income, is extremely important. It is difficult to create and execute any plan if you don't know what you are planning for!

Once you have your final outcome clear, you can decide which way to go about achieving it. There are two very realistic ways.

Option number 1: you stay in the same field initially but try to get a job in the industry that is of your preference. For example, if you are an accountant but desperately want to do PR in the music industry, then you should keep applying for accountant jobs within the music industry. After all, each industry needs an accountant, right? Getting a job like that should not be unrealistic at all. Once you work as an accountant in the music industry, you can start branching into PR by attending courses, following closely how PR people work within the company etc. With patience, persistence and outstanding work results the day will come when the PR department will look for a new person and voila, you will be the obvious choice!

Option number 2: you do it the other way around. You stay in your own company/industry and when you have built your reputation as a reliable and outstanding accountant, you ask the company to help you train and over time transfer into the PR field. It is not unusual for companies these days to try and accommodate the preferences of their employees (especially the best performing ones). Once you have achieved that and become a PR guru within the same company, give it some time, let the results speak for you and when the time is right and you feel you are ready, you can apply for a similar job in the music industry.

In both cases your performance, diligence and persistence are the key. When you add your clarity and belief in yourself to the mix, your career change can be done smoothly and most importantly, with joy!

Natalie Ekberg is an international Personal and Executive Coach and author. She leads executives through major life transitions including mid-life career decisions. As a result they drop struggle and stress leading to the clarity and courage needed to live their vision.