| You spent years climbing the management ladder at | | | | continue your current job until you feel ready to |
| your office, only to realize your ultimate goal in life is | | | | make a move. |
| to open a gourmet doughnut shop. Sound familiar? | | | | Do Freelance Work |
| Don't worry, you're not alone. As you're probably | | | | Don't wait for your dream job to come knocking. Log |
| heard a million times before: life is what happens | | | | some freelance hours in your new field. Post your |
| when you're busy making plans. | | | | services on Craig's list, offer to design a friend's |
| So now the question is, what do you do? Can you | | | | wedding invitations, or be the photographer at your |
| throw away years of hard work to start a new | | | | Grandpa's retirement party. Like volunteering, |
| career? Will you be able to support yourself while | | | | freelance work (whether it's paid or unpaid) will help |
| you're starting over? My answer to you: yes, you | | | | build your resume, generate referrals, and give you |
| can. Making a career change might be scary, but it | | | | the business contacts you'll need down the road. |
| doesn't have to be hard. With some careful planning, | | | | Plan a (Financial) Exit Strategy |
| you can get a lot of the early legwork done while | | | | Ok, so your current job makes you want to stick a |
| you wrap up your current career, so the transition | | | | fork in your own eye just so you don't have to go |
| will be smooth and the bills will be paid. Here are | | | | into the office. I hear you. But before you throw up |
| some tips to help you get started. | | | | your hands and walk out those doors, make sure |
| Take Classes | | | | you have a financial exit plan in place. Instead of |
| Do you have three degrees in computer engineering, | | | | quitting tomorrow, figure out how much money you'll |
| but what you really want to do is graphic design? Not | | | | need to get by for a few months, and get that |
| a problem. First, figure out exactly how much | | | | money stashed away in your savings account. Having |
| experience you have in your new field. Do you | | | | a cash cushion will help you in the first few months |
| already know it inside out, or do you need additional | | | | of your new career, and ensure you don't get |
| training? Decide what you knowledge | | | | sidetracked by financial woes. |
| need—maybe it's fundamental theories of graphic | | | | Be Flexible |
| design or how to use InDesign and Photoshop. Then, | | | | In order to start down a new career path, you might |
| sign up for classes at your local community college. | | | | have to take an entry-level position or intern. If that's |
| You can also look for certifications or Associate's | | | | the case, have a flexible back-up plan that will allow |
| Degrees in your new field, which can be a fairly quick | | | | you to make ends meet while you work your way |
| and cost-effective alternative to getting a Bachelor's | | | | up the ladder. Ask yourself this: how did you support |
| degree. | | | | yourself in the past? Did you wait tables? Work |
| Volunteer | | | | security? Deliver uniforms? You probably already |
| Volunteering is a great way to get experience in your | | | | have a skill set in place that could land you a lucrative |
| new field, as well as network for future job | | | | second job. And if doing so allows you to pursue |
| opportunities. Plus, volunteering can usually be done at | | | | your passion, serving a few bowls of ice cream or |
| night or on the weekends, which means you can | | | | changing flat tires will be well worth it in the long run. |