Starting a New Career

photo via CreateHerStock

Spring is the perfect season to restart any area of your life. We’ve been talking about this a lot lately here but today, we want to talk about starting a new career. It’s never too late to start a new career path whether you’re in your late 20s or your 50s. Do you have a passion for something you’ve always wanted to pursue? Do you want to start a home business? It can feel overwhelming to start because you are facing the unknown. It seems scary (and it is) but starting a new career for yourself can be an exciting journey to embark on. Here are a few little steps you can take if you want to get a start on launching a new career path:

1.) Start thinking about what you are passionate about.

Finding a new career is going to take some motivation. So many of us have just gone through the motions for so long without thinking about what it is that we really want. Take some time to figure out what you love to do. Ask yourself questions about your passions like can you monetize them or if this is something you can do as a long term career that can benefit society. Write these things down and come back to them often. After you have done this “self-assessment”, you will have some direction on what your new career or business could be. And If you don’t know what you are passionate about, start by documenting your life and your feelings. What are the things that make you happiest, what would you do even if you weren’t getting paid? Those are great places to start.

2.) Invest in yourself and your new career.

After you decide on what you want to do, now the real work begins. Education is key so start doing your research on the new career that you want. We live in an era where knowledge is accessible at our fingertips. A few Google searches and a quick trip to Barnes & Noble can take you a long way. What’s important is that you identify which skills you already possess that can transfer over to your new career and identify which skills you need to learn. Once you identify these, it’s time to invest. Don’t be afraid to spend $100 on a course that is going to be beneficial to your new career in the long run. Consider joining associations related to your new industry. Going back to school maybe a bigger investment than a 3-month e-course but if you think getting a degree is an investment worth making, make a plan. Bottomline, invest in yourself so others can invest in you.

3.) Network.

Go make those connections! Networking is very important in any career, especially if you are just starting out or starting over again. Use social media sites, like Linkedin or Twitter, to follow influencers who do the work that you do and reach out to them. Look for people in your field that are on your level who you can rely on, can keep you accountable, and grow with you on your new path. If you can, find a mentor who can take the time to help you out. Join Facebook groups or Twitter chats to begin making connections with others in your industry. And while social media is a great networking tool, make sure you are networking IRL too.

4.) Give yourself  (and your resume!) a makeover.

First impressions are everything and if you want the job, it’s helpful to look the part. If your sights are set on a new corporate gig, buying cute new business attire will help boost your confidence. And if you are pursuing a nontraditional career path, like freelancing or online business, find ways to make yourself appear professional–like updating your social media and portfolios. If you’re stepping into something completely new, take some time to do similar work that others can reference. Whether that’s a blog post related to a topic in your new field or creating mockups to showcase your skills.

And the final tip is be patient. Starting a new career is going to take time but that shouldn’t hinder you from getting started. The key to starting a new career path is to just start. So get to it and enjoy the process. Good luck!