Career Transitions & Changes: Pursuing a New Career Path

Heather Ishikawa

Director of Product Marketing

This article discusses six steps that you can take to pursue a new career path:

Understand your motivation for changing careers
Fill your skill gaps
Earn relevant certifications to distinguish yourself
Tap into your professional network
Develop an action plan to outline your career objectives
Embrace growth and reinvention

Charting Your Career Change: A Planned Path or A Winding Road?

Is your career unfolding according to a detailed plan, or has it developed more by chance? Some people start out with clear career goals from the start and a roadmap to achieve them. Others discover their paths as they progress, adjusting their course as opportunities arise.

Setting aside time to think about where you are now on your career journey is important because the path you are on may not lead you to where you want to go next.

Louis Pasteur famously said, “Chance favors the prepared mind,” and this holds true in the realm of careers. The more prepared you are, the better you’ll be at seizing opportunities as they arise.

With the year coming to an end, it’s an ideal time to reflect on your career journey. Are you on track to achieve your career goals? If not, what steps can you take to reach those goals?

Career changes require self-awareness and skills development

Seize this moment to evaluate your current skills. Have you evolved and expanded your skill set, or have you relied on what’s always worked?

A practical way to assess this is by reviewing recent job postings for the job title that you aspire to next. Make a list of all the skills needed, then make a list of the skills you currently have next to it.

Ask yourself, where are there skills gaps? Pinpoint the areas you need to enhance and dedicate time to learning.

How to navigate a successful career transition

Consistently reexamining and redefining your career path is both strategic and essential. Here are some tips on how to successfully and proactively plan your career transition.

1. Understand your motivation to change careers

Identify the core reasons behind your career change. What is unsatisfying about your current role, and what are you looking for in a new position? Personality assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Hogan Personality Inventory, or Strong Interest Inventory (all have free online versions) can provide deeper insights into your strengths and help direct you toward paths that align with your interests.

2. Fill your skills gaps

Developing your skills isn’t just beneficial—it’s crucial. A striking 87% of executives report skills gaps within their workforce, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing professional development. Luckily, online skills development platforms like Udemy offer flexible learning solutions in many fields. This lets you work on these gaps at your own speed.

However, online learning is just one piece of the puzzle. To truly enhance your skill set and stay competitive, consider exploring a variety of methods:

Take on stretch assignments such as filling in for a manager during an absence, volunteering for a new project, or giving a presentation to a larger work group that challenges you and pushes your boundaries. These types of assignments allow you to grow beyond your comfort zone.
Work with a career coach who can provide personalized guidance and career change advice to help you refine specific skills or areas of leadership.
Job shadowing is a practical way to gain firsthand insights into roles you aspire to. Reach out to a coworker and ask to spend a day with them. By watching your coworkers do the work you want to do, you can learn important knowledge and skills that are often not taught in a regular classroom setting.
Read books, listen to podcasts, and attend conferences. These resources can provide fresh perspectives, inspire innovative thinking, and connect you with thought leaders in your field.
- Podcasts: The Career Coach Podcast, The School of Greatness, Career Cloud Radio, and The Leading Up Podcast offer tips, strategies, advice, and interviews with successful people who share insights into their career paths.
- Online publications like Harvard Business Review and Fast Company offer case studies, emerging industry trends, and leadership articles that focus on career advancement and personal development.
- Books such as What Color is Your Parachute by Richard N. Bolles, Drive by Daniel Pink, and Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron, and Kelly Tieger offer unique perspectives on career development and personal fulfillment through self-discovery.
- Conferences like TED and SXSW cover broad topics including technology, product design, innovation, and creativity. But exploring industry-specific conferences can also offer diverse learning avenues where you can stay current with industry trends and continuously evolve your expertise.

Adding a mix of these strategies to your career plan can help you improve your skills, feel more confident, and get ready for a successful future in your chosen field.

3. Earn relevant certifications to distinguish yourself

Employers value certifications, which can enhance your credibility and demonstrate your commitment to growth. Investigate relevant certifications in your chosen field to validate your skills and boost your market competitiveness.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise in areas like project management with a PMP certification or tech skills with cloud computing certifications like AWS, these credentials can set you apart from the competition.

They act as proof of your dedication to mastering your craft, often making you a more attractive candidate to employers.

4. Tap into your professional network

Your professional network is a treasure trove of potential opportunities and insights. To use it effectively, start by identifying your own career mission and vision. Who in your network serves as an example that you can aspire to? Who are the people in your network that you can work with to reach that aspiration?

Conduct informational interviews within your network to seek advice and gain a deeper understanding of the roles you’re interested in. For example, asking questions like “how did you get this role?”, “what skills did you prioritize to reach that role?”, and “if you were starting over, what advice would you give yourself?” can provide you the direction you need to figure out the best next steps.

Engaging with your network not only provides valuable knowledge but opens doors to opportunities that might not be visible on the surface.

5. Develop an action plan to outline your career objectives

Treat your career as a strategic project that requires careful planning and precise execution.

Begin by developing a comprehensive action plan that outlines your career objectives, the steps needed to achieve them, and realistic timelines for each milestone.

Regularly review and reassess your progress to ensure you’re aligned with your evolving aspirations. Be prepared to face challenges, such as financial constraints or the necessity of accepting lower-level roles to enter a new field.

View these as opportunities for growth and learning rather than setbacks. By maintaining a clear focus and adaptability, you can smoothly navigate the complexities of a career transition.

6. Embrace personal growth and reinvention

Embracing a career transition is an opportunity for profound personal growth and reinvention. It’s a chance to redefine what fulfillment means to you and align your work with your personal values and goals.

With a well-defined strategy and an unwavering commitment to personal development, you can adapt to new environments and thrive.

Embrace ‌change as a catalyst for learning new skills, meeting diverse people, and exploring different facets of your professional self.

By planning carefully, learning a lot, and networking well, you can create a career that is more satisfying and enjoyable. It’s possible.