Having a career change plan, and knowing exactly what you are doing, and where you are going, not only makes the process a whole lot easier, it also keeps you motivated and focussed, especially during the inevitable periods of doubt and uncertainty that are bound to occur along the way.

Before I continue, the intention of this article is to briefly outline a career change plan. I have already covered some of the steps (which I will link to here), while more detailed articles covering other points will follow at a later time.

As with any itinerary or plan, it is a good idea to have it written out, for both reference and review, as you progress.

Step One. Having realised you want or need a change, you first need to seek the backing of your family and friends. This is especially important when a career change could entail some temporary lifestyle adjustments, as a result of reduced income, or less family time due to study requirements.

It will also be reassuring to know you can call on some moral support from time to time as well!

Step Two. Work out what you want to do. This step can, and in-fact should, take some time. The last thing you want to do, for instance, is sign up for expensive courses of study (particularly where full payment is required upfront), only to realise you made the wrong choice.

I know some people have difficulty with this step, and I will take a closer look at some of the methods of identifying new career direction in upcoming articles.

Step Three. Start researching your proposed new career. Leave no stone unturned! Read books, magazines and websites, ask others for their impressions, or seek out a good careers advisor knowledgeable in your field of interest.

If possible, find a Career Insider, that is, someone already doing what you would like to, and arrange an information gathering meeting, or interview, with them.

Step Four. Now that you some clear direction, carefully take stock of your existing qualifications and assess your transferable skills. Compare your current skill-set with what your new career requires.

Would some short study courses be sufficient to make up any skills “short fall”, or is formal study, that is a degree, necessary? This question is important because the answer could have a bearing on your career change ambitions.

For example, an accountant wishing to become a journalist could do so with only a good portfolio of well written articles, rather than needing any additional qualifications. An accountant wishing to become a dentist however, would require the appropriate professional qualifications, requiring a sizable investment of time and money.

Step Five. Having worked out what skills and knowledge you have, against what you require, it is now time to create, and set in place, a career transfer strategy. This step could take some time, especially if long term study is required.

If however you are able to redeploy much of your existing knowledge and experience, and only require minimal re-skilling or short term study, you can start planning a pathway into, or looking for work in, your new career field.

In other words, you can start thinking about how to find work. For instance, will you apply for advertised roles? Or make direct approaches to employers? Or perhaps locate, and tap into, an industry network?

Step Six. Look forward to your first day of work in a brand new career!

To quickly summarise the plan:

• 1. Enlist the support of family and friends.
• 2. Find a new career direction.
• 3. Research and gather information, and ask is the change feasible?
• 4. Assess current qualifications and transferable skills - is further study needed?
• 5. Plan and execute a career transfer strategy.
• 6. Start work in your new career!

Remember this isn’t an attempt to overly simplify the career change process, but rather set out the major steps involved. How long the plan takes to complete depends on a large, and varying, number of factors, and may take anything from several months, to several years.

Some people may find certain parts of the plan easier to step through than others. While some may enjoy the learning and studying stages, they may have trouble finding the work they want. Others may have trouble gaining family support. These difficulties will vary from person to person.

Finally, ensure that you set reasonable time frames to achieve goals, and carry out regular reviews of the plan as you progress. If things are not working, look closely at the reasons why. Also be prepared to make adjustments for any changes in your personal or family circumstances, should the need arise.