In theory, the purpose of your career is to allow you to make money. For the majority of people, this is not the case. For many people, their work is their passion, and they reach the highest level of self-actualization through their professional accomplishments. Second, you simply spend too much time in your workplace. About 8-10 hours every single day, which means that you’ll end up spending a huge chunk of your life at work. Can you really afford to spend so much of your life doing something that doesn’t fulfill you?

Moreover, if you’re unhappy at work, you won’t be able to leave this sentiment at the office when you leave home. Instead, your personal life will suffer as well. People you care about the most will also be the victims of your bad career choice and your reluctance to make a change. It is another powerful reason to consider turning things around.

Making a decision to change something is a huge deal, which is why some people want to have a start that carries symbolism. What better way to achieve this than to turn a new page in a new year? With all of this in mind and without further ado, here are some tips to help you make a career change in the new year.

Understand the Situation

Before you make such a major decision (and make no mistake, making a career change is a huge decision), you need to be 100% sure that this is necessary. First of all, you need to try and figure out whether you are really unhappy with your work or if you’re just burned out. You might also be happy with the nature of work but unhappy with your income.

In either of these two cases, the shift is more of restructuring than changing your entire career path. In other words, the problem would be solved by reducing your workload, changing firms, or renegotiating these terms and conditions of your employment. It might be something that a simple raise or promotion can solve. While this is not minor, compared to other changes that you would have to make, things are quite simple and straightforward from this perspective.

Second, just knowing that you don’t want to do something is not as effective as knowing what you would rather do instead. So, try roleplaying a scenario in which you would quit your current job. What would your ideal future employment be? Better yet, make a list of several options and try to find one that’s the most feasible.

Getting Qualified

While we’re talking about a new career in 2022, it is quite unrealistic to expect that you can just make a lateral movement without any prior preparation. Building a career is a multiple-step process, which is why you need to take your time and build up your knowledge base, resume, and experience in the field.

Fortunately, in the digital era, gaining some industry-specific experience is not that difficult. For instance, by being a virtual assistant, you will get to handle a lot of administrative tasks instead of being an entrepreneur or manager. At one point, when it’s your time to take over their responsibilities, you won’t have that much trouble adapting. Sure, the responsibility will be a lot higher, but the administrative side of the business will be, more or less, the same.

You might want to consider the fact that, in this line of work, you might also need some specific qualifications. However, the majority of certificates will require you to take a course (some of which will take weeks and months of your time). Therefore, you need to start as early as possible.

How Far Are You Willing to Go?

Now, the biggest thing you need to understand is that this is going to take some self-sacrifice. You might have to move for work if that’s the case, how far are you willing to go? Are you willing to go to a different city, state, or country (possibly even one with the official language that you don’t currently speak)?

Chances are that during the first period in this career, you’ll make less than you’re making currently. No, this is not just a logistical setback. It’s a change of lifestyle (even quality of life) for a longer period of time. If you have a family, you will impose this on them, as well. However, the thing is that you don’t have to turn a new page on your own. Making a New Year’s Resolution as a couple or as a family can be even better. This way, there will be a lot of mutual encouragement going around.

You must also think about the long-term commitment. When it comes to money, for instance, even if you do like the idea of a certain occupation, how long are you going to stay passionate about it if it continuously fails to provide you with the quality of life that you believe you deserve? Remember that this will change a lot, and it is vital that you understand what you’re signing up for.

Remember that if your current career is depleting you emotionally, you might want to take some downtime. Sure, you have future career options worth pursuing but taking some time off to recharge your batteries is usually a solid plan. Still, remember that taking a break between jobs is like taking a long sleep. If you take too long, you risk waking up even more tired.

Networking Is a Priority

Making a network of contacts, even amongst people you currently believe you’ll never need, is essential for success in any given field. These are the people who can recommend you, mention potential opportunities that you would otherwise miss, and enrich your professional life, in general.

Still, how do you make professional contacts? Believe it or not, networking is not an innate trait. It’s a skill like any other, a skill that you can train, develop, and mold to fit your industry. One of the ways to progress on this path is to look up materials like How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Here, you’ll learn how to give people your full attention, how to actively listen, and how to make people feel good while you’re around.

Networking also requires the right opportunity. This means attending events where you can meet and mingle with the right people. Courses (that we’ve mentioned earlier) are one such opportunity. Conferences, industry-relevant events, seminars, etc., are also quite handy in this regard.

Adopt a Winner’s Mindset

Keep in mind that you’re making decisions and plans that will be incredibly hard to execute. Therefore, you need all the extra help you can get. Learning how to master your life and be more disciplined can change everything.

For instance, dropping bad habits, exercising regularly, properly hydrating, and getting a good night’s sleep every night can make you feel better and think clearer. This will boost your endurance, mental resilience, and even cognitive abilities, all of which are necessary for a successful career change.

Most importantly, establishing a healthy work-life balance early on and getting the support you need can make a world of difference. Sacrificing your personal life for the sake of your career might make you demoralized. You need to keep a perspective of why you’re doing all that you do, and this is the way to get it.

In Conclusion

Making a career change is a major decision, seeing as how it will affect your quality of life, how you spend the majority of your working days, and much more. Therefore, it’s not a decision that you should make lightly. Once you do make it, however, you have to go all the way. Working out the logistics around it can make this task a lot easier, while neglecting it can make it almost impossible. The choice is yours, and New Year’s Eve is a great potential breaking point.

About The Author

Stacey is a freelance writer living in Minnesota with her cat, and she’s passionate about yoga, languages, home improvement, and drinking strong coffee. Find her on Twitter @StaceyShann0n