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Understand your motives -

If you are making the decision to start a new career later in life, the likelihood is you have the benefit of experience on your side and know to take your time over such an important decision.

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Understand your motives -

However, it still happens all too often that career changers jump the gun and end “in mourning” over their previous career and everything that went with it.

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Understand your motives -

Make sure you take time to really sit back and take stock of your life. Think about why exactly you want to change your career and exactly what you want to achieve.

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Get your life in order -

It is vital that before making any sort of career change, you are in good physical shape. Change is always stressful, but being fit will help you rise to the challenge.

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Get your life in order -

Remember that a career change is always a big move and that if you want to give yourself the greatest possible chance of success, being in great shape is very helpful.

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Get your life in order -

Equally important is being in good financial shape. If you are currently in debt, a career change probably isn’t the right move. Debt seriously limits people’s opportunities.

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Be practical -

It is important to stay realistic and practical in your quest for a new career. For example, you may need to further your education, but that doesn’t mean you should jump straight into an undergraduate degree.

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Be practical -

Why not start with one class at a time, adding more as your direction becomes clearer? You may even look into part-time classes while you're at your current job.

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Be practical -

Another aspect of being practical is to avoid overspending. There is no point shelling out for an overpriced resume service while your plans and options are still up in the air.

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Find a mentor -

As with anything, it can be helpful to have a mentor. There are plenty of people out there who would be willing to give you advice; most of us enjoy it because it’s flattering!

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Find a mentor -

You might like to try a traditional careers advisor, but another option would be to reach out to someone who has already been successful in the field you are interested in.

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Find a mentor -

Sites like LinkedIn are great places to find industry professionals, or you may even have a contact from your previous job who would be willing to help.

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Be prepared for setbacks -

It is impossible to overstress the importance of this one: be prepared for setbacks. It is inevitable that things will go wrong during this process, and you need to be able to weather the storm.

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Be prepared for setbacks -

Remember that if you have laid the proper groundwork, you have a greater chance of success. Change is never easy, but it will be worth it.

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Be prepared for setbacks -

If you are struggling, don’t be afraid to lean on your friends and family for support. Their support is invaluable, and they will normally be more than willing to give it.

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Volunteer or moonlight -

For people who have spent a long time in employment, the idea of working for nothing can seem strange. However, volunteering or moonlighting can be an invaluable experience.

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Volunteer or moonlight -

There are plenty of stories of people who left their high-paid jobs to volunteer for a while. It is often a helpful way to work out what is important to you and what should come next.

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Volunteer or moonlight -

Of course, you need to have money in the bank to tide you over while you are not earning. But if this is not an issue for you, it can be a great option.

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Research -

As an experienced worker, it is a good idea to look for jobs and careers that leverage your experience. There are plenty out there.

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Research -

If you are changing your career at a later stage in life, there are plenty of sites you can use for inspiration, such as encore.org and workforce50.com.

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Research -

Whatever your age and level of experience, be sure to do your research before making any big moves. As with anything, knowledge is power when it comes to career changes.

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Don’t obsess over salary -

A common hurdle for career changers is accepting a pay cut. For most people moving into an entirely new career, a lower salary is inevitable.

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Don’t obsess over salary -

The best idea is to try and accept that fact; pare back your expenses where possible as you adapt to your new income level.

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Don’t obsess over salary -

In many cases, career changers will get back to the salary they had in their previous career, but in others not. If this is a deal breaker for you, a career change is perhaps not the best option.

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Keep your savings -

A common mistake made by career changers is that they dip their hand in the cookie jar; they rely on their core savings to support their career move or launch a business.

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Keep your savings -

Think very carefully before you do this: tapping into savings has an obvious effect on your retirement security.

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Keep your savings -

It can be a good idea to save for a while before making a career move. That way you’ll have a savings pot especially for that move; one that is separate from your other savings.

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Take baby steps -

While it is important that you think carefully before making a career change, you don’t have to have everything mapped out. What’s important is that you have a clear idea.

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Take baby steps -

Once that idea is formed in your mind, try and do something small every day to move towards your goal.

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Take baby steps -

There is no point waiting for the perfect starting point or path, but it is important that you get things going by taking small steps on a regular basis.

Sources: (Forbes)

See also: The best ways to show your work team you appreciate them

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