Sometimes in life, it’s easy to know when it’s time to make a change. Other times are not so easy to discern. The obvious ones will stick out like a sore thumb–a long-desired job opportunity presents itself on a platter and all you have to do is say ‘yes’. The times when it’s not so easy to know what to do is when things seem risky. Perhaps you’d like to go into the medical field, but don’t currently have the right degree or certifications. And this additional education will not only cost you to acquire but takes time to achieve as well.
I was listening to a very well respected keynote speaker and he pointed out that if you do not have to work to support yourself this can be a very straightforward thing to do. You just need to decide what has to be accomplished and go out and do it. But, if you’re like most adult people in the United States you probably already have a job and need the income from a said job in order to support yourself and perhaps your family. This generally leaves very little time for studying.
So, you’d like to walk the road to a new career track but don’t have the time, energy or money to do it. What now?
This is and has been a struggle for many thousands of people throughout the ages. What’s the modern take on conquering this question? The first thing to know and truly accept is that change is never comfortable. Get used to the idea right now before proceeding any further. If you do not your plan to make a serious life change will fail, without a doubt.
Change Feels Awkward
If you can accept that change feels awkward and is sometimes really downright painful, you’re on the right path to transforming your life. What you need to do next is decide what job you want and investigate the qualifications you’ll need in order to get hired in that position. Is there a school or organization that specializes in training people specifically for those types of jobs? You may be able to find out just about all there is know about the education needed in just one or two places.
As a professional speaker, I mentioned earlier said, it is important, however, to do research in more than one place. Verify that what you’re being told is an accurate and complete picture of the situation in which you’ll be placing yourself. For example, are the pay scales and availability of jobs correct? Will you really be able to get your qualifications in the time frame they’ve outlined or are their estimates greatly underestimated in order to get you hooked and in the door?
Always Get A Second Opinion
The other side of the coin is making sure you’ve got the time and savings behind you so you’ll be able to pay your bills while you’re in education mode. Make a realistic budget of how much you’ll need to live for the projected amount of time and then pad it. Then, pad it some more because life is like that. You wouldn’t want to get within a few months of being ready to make the switch only to be taken down by an unexpected expense.
As with all of life’s big decisions, changing careers can be extremely stressful. By making sure you’re well informed and adequately financed for the adventure you’ll be able to ride the wave of excitement without it becoming all about the stress. You’ll be able to enjoy the journey as well as the destination!
