How to Make a Career Change Without Missing a Beat

Recently, I've been writing quite a bit about making career changes. I've offered some ideas and advice designed to help professionals make the right moves as they begin the next phases of their careers. In this blog post, I'd like to speak to those of you who might be feeling apprehension about moving forward. If you're wondering how to make a career change without turning your life upside-down, I've got some tips that can help you move forward confidently.

The best way to make a career change is to have your new career lined up and ready to step into the moment your previous career has come to an end. Wouldn't that be nice? Unfortunately, this scenario is about as common as a July blizzard. Sure, it can happen, but it's pretty miraculous when it does.

More often than not, people become interested in changing careers because of the following circumstances:

• They've been laid off

• They've had to accept too many pay cuts

• The corporate office has decided to move jobs somewhere incredibly inconvenient

So, how can you make a viable career change under these circumstances, and ensure that the process goes smoothly?

Don't Sell Yourself Short

If you were removed from your previous career unexpectedly, you might not have the time or resources to plan appropriately for the next phase of your professional life. This can make you feel like you need to act quickly – or even rashly – to find your next career. You might even consider taking a job (retail, food service) that you would have considered an embarrassment just a few years ago. People do this all the time because they feel like they don't have much value to offer. If you're wondering how to make a career change more successfully than that, I recommend that you look at your skills and attributes in a different way.

If you've been surprised by the sudden loss of your job, don't twist the knife by entering a field that you're overqualified for and that will only make you unhappy; think of your situation as an opportunity to show that you have the skills and knowledge that the modern business world demands. It's a mistake to think that the fact that one company couldn't justify your full-time employment anymore means that you're not suited to work in a particular industry, or that the corporate world has chewed you up and spat you out for good.

Slide Into a Consulting Career

You have the perfect set of skills to become a consultant. Companies may not want to hire you as a full-time team member, but you can turn that situation on its head. Don't look for one company to resurrect your career; look at the ways in which you can use your talents and skills to help a number of companies that would be more than willing to hire your services as a consultant.

Mental Preparation is Fundamental

Even if you've prepared yourself well for the financial realities of losing your job, you might not be mentally prepared to move forward. If you need to know how to make a career change without missing a beat, you need to prepare mentally, as well. Proper mental preparation is seen as an afterthought by many professionals, but I think it's crucial to your success going forward.

Prime your mind for a new career by following these tips:

• Take time to retreat and reset your mind as well as your life's priorities

• Be mindful of the way you consider your thoughts – if your internal monologue is a parade of “no,” “can't,” “shouldn't” or “won't,” you need to reprogram the way you think

• Determine what success should look like for you, and think about it often

• Remember that just because one company laid you off doesn't mean that thousands of other companies won't jump at the chance to bring you (and your considerable) skills on board; have some confidence!

Unless your situation is truly dire, there's no need to rush into a new job after you've lost your previous one. Letting go of your normal routine and the lifestyle you've established is one of the most challenging parts of losing your job, but you can get yourself back on track and into a comfortable groove more quickly and easily than you might think. Your skills are needed desperately out there, and a positive mindset will help you find a career that will give you endless rewards.

If you're interested in learning more about how to make a career change, you should take a look at some of the other resources we have available here on Ex3Matters.com. Our free consulting guides offer valuable information about switching to a career as a consultant, and Buddy Hobart's free eBook, “Experience Matters,” is loaded with insights that can help you navigate this phase of your life successfully.