Have you reached a point in your job or career where you no longer find happiness in your work? Do you get bored, fed up, and frustrated at the office? Do you want to put your hands up in the air and say I quit? If the answers to all those questions are yes, then it might be the time to start thinking about shifting careers.

Making the change requires careful planning, research, and time. But with some effort and a lot of patience, you can effectively change your career without getting stuck in limbo.

First, let’s have a look at what a Career Shift actually is.

What Is A Career Shift?

Carrer shift means changing the type of job or profession you’ve been doing. It can be a move from Marketing to Design, for example, or from Sales to Product Development. A career shift can be a simple change in industries, a complete change in a profession, or a change in your type of employment.

An example of industry change is when someone is working in the IT industry and decides to search for jobs on Clothing eCommerce. The knowledge required is different, but you can stay in the same business area, in a different industry.

A complete change in your profession happens when, for example, you work with sales and decide to pursue a career in medicine. You'll go through years of study to complete your degree, as well as years of residency. Those are certainly bigger moves.

A change in the type of employment happens when you work for a company and decide to become an entrepreneur. You open your own company and become your own boss.

Now that you know what a career shift is, you can ask yourself. How do I make a career shift?

How do I make a career shift?

To make a career shift, there are eight recommended steps to follow:

1. Look at your options and decide what you want to do

2. Put together a plan

3. Start your day early

4. Use available resources

5. Network with the right people

6. Get the right training or education

7. Start changing careers as a side project

8. Learn from your career shift

1.) Decide What You Want to Do

Take some time to figure out what exactly it is that you want. Are you looking for a promotion? The same job in another organization? A different industry? Or do you want to switch direction and go for an entirely new career completely? There’s a way to monetize almost every skill by leveraging the power of the Internet. Find your superpower and do something about it.

2) Make the Plan to Shift Careers

While you’re still at the old company, do some analysis of everything you love doing, all the things you’re good at, and the ones you aren’t, considering the things people are willing to pay for. Compile your goals and ambitions and charter a plan that will get you there. To shift careers takes time, but without a plan, you’ll be in the transition phase for a much more extended period.

3) Start Your Workday Early

Here comes the time to start making sacrifices to be reinventing yourself. Every morning, no matter what, you need to be up early and work on what you believe in. You'll be more productive. Begin by doing your research on your competitors, your target audience, where are they spending time online, and how can you reach them.

Then start building your portfolio by creating a site with a professional-looking about and contact page. Add a blog and update it frequently. Share your insights on what’s going on in your industry, write practical articles on things on meaningful and helpful topics. If you’re already known in the niche, find potential clients and do some work for free. Let them know you’re available and are starting something on your own.

4) Use Resources Available

There’s a lot of useful tools and resources to help you to shift careers. Sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor or Indeed.com will provide reviews and insight on working in a specific industry, company, or job. You’ll get a good idea of what responsibilities the job entails, as well as its financial implications.

5) Network With the Right People

If you want to break into a new industry or company, contact people on the inside. When they know that you’re interested, they’ll inform you of a new job opening or perhaps personally recommend you. Hiring managers are always more likely to hire somebody who has been recommended by somebody they know. Change your environment to change your mindset, and thus your reality. Start networking with the people who are like-minded, creative souls.

6) Get the Right Education to Shift Careers

Depending on the career you are aiming for, you might find yourself facing a gap in skills and qualifications for the position. There are many places which offer part-time classes for working people in the evening after work. If you can, take some time out to gain experience as an intern, volunteer, temp, or consultant. Develop a parallel career alongside the one you are in until you reach a level of stability in your new position when you can feel safe to quit and go full-time in your new career.

7) Start Your Career Shift Project on the Side

Starting a side business is a great way to slowly make the change without breaking the bank. Besides, you will be learning new knowledge and skills at the end of the day or at least giving your resume a face-lift. A home-based business makes you independent of work constraints and the stagnant environment, allowing you to work flexible hours at your own will. If you have a good idea, then partner with somebody you trust and pursue it. Attend seminars, take online courses to get better at what you do. Also, learn other useful skills in demand, like copywriting, coding, web design, etc.

Conclusion

To shift careers is a serious mission. So, get clear about what you want to achieve and move forward with a plan to get there. It’s best to write that down in detail. Then, read it out loud every few days. What’s more, journal your thoughts every morning and go back to this vision. At the end of each day, review what you did connect to it and how you performed. That’s a sure way never to lose track of yourself and your goals or get distracted.

When the right time comes, and you’ve started making some income from your new endeavour (it may take more time, depending on how much effort and time you invest in it daily), quit your job and never look back again.