These tips are an essential guide for assessing your strengths and weakness – and your areas of interest, as well as learning more about the options that you have when considering a new career, as well as transitioning to that new professional path.

Deciding when it is time for a change depends on assessing your current professional situation in a clear and unbiased manner. One of the ways to help make the decision easier is to unemotionally take a look at your current level of job satisfaction. keep a daily journal of how you react to situations that arise at work – and look out for clear patterns. That information will help you identify what you do and don’t like about your current job, management expectations, your coworkers, and the company culture. While engaged in this exercise you can be proactive about preparing to make the move to potentially greener pastures.  

Dispassionately analyze your areas of interest, your core values, and your skill sets. This will help you to identify the type of position you would prefer. Review past positions where you have had particular success – and found the work to be enjoyable and stimulating, this will also help to clarify your thoughts, as well as help to identify how your current position is not a match for your value system. An Internet search will reveal several free tools that can make the task of analysis far easier – and help you identify an ideal career path.  Brainstorm your career options with trusted sources such as friends, family, and networking contacts, and carefully do your research.

Be sure to also include your core values and skills when you are engaged in brainstorming. Try this private equity executive search. If you are still struggling to identify that ideal career path then consider meeting with a professional career advisor. 

Research is key. It allows you to dispassionately identify and compare the merits of a number of fields. Once you have narrowed down the field then you can engage in further detailed research. Thanks to Google obtaining the information on jobs that interest you is fast and easy.  

Make use of your personal contacts. If you have people you trust in fields that interest you then reach out to them and arrange an informational interview. One excellent resource is your college alumni network. Linkedin also has some excellent resources to help you identify contacts in specific fields.

Try shadowing. Being a ‘Job Shadow‘ is an extremely effective way to become more familiar with a particular job. Finding a professional to shadow for a few days offers valuable insight that may not be readily available through other sources such as articles and blogs. Visit a college career office for assistance in identifying alumni who hold jobs that are of interest. many of these alumni will be willing to take on shadow job searchers. You can find more information on the ins and outs of Job Shadowing here.    

Dip your toes in the waters of real-life experience. There are numerous volunteer organizations that will welcome your participation in their activities, as well as many freelance opportunities that can help you to gauge your interest in a particular field. A good example is publishing – try your hand at editing a PTA or local newsletter. Those interested in veterinary or animal-related careers can volunteer at the local animal shelter.  

Further your education. It may be a good idea to take some classes that will help you to bridge the gap between your current employment and your newly identified field. An evening course at a local college is ideal and online courses will also allow you to continue to earn an income while you study. One-day intensive courses or weekend seminars also offer a great way to provide you with new skill sets and ways of thinking. Local professional groups active in your newly chosen field can be the source of some excellent advice in this area. It’s good to review your progress in life now and again.

Focus on upgrading your skills. Explore ways that you can improve your skills or add new skills within your current work environment. If business analysis is needed in the new field you have chosen, try to become involved in departmental business planning or develop a new business plan from scratch as part of a working group. If the organization you work for offers in-house training take part in as many classes as possible. It’s a great way to learn without the time and effort required to go back to school.    

Sometimes a new job in your current industry or a new role can help you to leverage your existing knowledge. For instance, if you are a store manager for a national retail chain and are tired of extended hours or working weekends perhaps a move to corporate recruiting might be a good idea. if you are a programmer who is tired of the drudgery of programming then perhaps a move to project management or technical sales would meet your requirements.