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.

An illusion many career changers fall under all too quickly is the belief that the grass will be greener on the other side.

You’ve already decided you want out of your current, dead end career. You’ve seen the signs and symptoms of a career rut, and know that it is time to move on.

And already you can see light at the end of the tunnel! After a doing a few tests and quizzes to identify your skills and competencies, and reading a few books, you already have what you believe is a great a new career alternative in your sights.

And you’ve been doing your homework. Not only have you identified a batch of transferable skills, but you’ve also been considering various courses and study programs, that will bring your qualifications up to par, and propel you into that new dream career.

Well about now would be a very good time to put the brakes on your career change ambitions, and slow down, especially if you are considering spending any sort of money studying, or taking courses.

While taking a few aptitude and competency tests is one thing, you certainly should not view their results as being absolutely definitive. While they may provide a very good indication of the direction you should go in, you still need to gather far more information before committing yourself.

Suppose it is your new found desire to be a journalist. You’ve decided you like researching and writing, and would enjoy meeting and talking to people as part of the job. And you know journalists also work to some very tight deadlines, but that’s fine also. This is your dream after all.

But what else is involved in being a journalist, beyond seeing your name in the newspaper bylines everyday?

At this point in your career change planning, it would be a very good idea to speak to someone already working in the career field you are interested in. Lets call them “Career Insiders”. People already making careers out of what you dream of doing, and who can tell you exactly what to expect from such a career.

They will be able to tell what a day on the job is like. From the time they arrive for work, to the time they leave. They’ll be able to speak first hand of the ups and, more importantly, the downs, of the the job.

And up to this point, you would have been looking at a potential career based on its positives, so hearing about the not-so-glamourous aspects is exactly the sort of counter balance you need. If you can see your way through those, then you can be far more confident you are on the right path.

You’ll probably also learn a few other things from your “insider”, such as insights on the profession’s culture, and other things you may not have thought about.

An “insider” may be able to tell you more though. They may even be able to make an assessment of your suitability for such a career. Remember you are talking to someone who is in the know!

So how do you locate, or find, a “career insider”? What if you would like to speak with a journalist about their work? If you don’t know anyone directly, first ask around friends, neighbours, or other associates, for some leads. If that doesn’t yield results try contacting a local newspaper. Often newspapers print journalist’s email addresses with their articles, so you may be able to make an initial approach that way.

In my experience most people are happy to respond to requests for information, particularly if your tone is polite, and you are prepared to be flexible. And that can mean going the distance sometimes.

If someone can offer you 30 minutes of their time, and it means you have to be on the other side of town at eight o’clock in the morning, so be it. You need to remember someone is giving up their time to assist you, so the least you can do is fit in with their schedule.

Before you meet your career insider, make sure you are properly prepared. Ensure you have listed, that is written down, all your questions and be ready to take notes when they are answered. Be sure to offer your thanks at the end of the meeting. It may even be a nice gesture to follow this up with an email thank you as well.

Remember an “insider” may be more than just a source of valuable information, they could become a potential contact, and possibly even play some part in assisting you find work in your new career field.