Turn the Page of My Career - Can I ??

Is it possible to begin a new career in a different domain, after years of experience in another field?

If you are pondering this thought, the answer is Yes, it’s absolutely possible.

But, what’s the disclaimer that comes along with this?

Here are few learnings from my experience, that can be useful before making the decision to switch career domain.

➡ Purpose :- find your Purpose on “Why do you want to make this career change? “. Answer for this question can be the huge motivator in your journey, to not quit in the middle.

➡Calculated risk:- If your new career requires you to quit current job, then take the calculated risk. A minimum of 6 months financial backup will be a good start, to make sure you and the people you support does not have to face any immediate impact out of your decision and break the rhythm.

This planning also gives you some freedom, if the initial income is not matching to the current lifestyle expenses.

➡Mental strength and high self-motivation :- changing career altogether, can come with unpredictable challenges. You might have to start from bottom, and take steps one by one. As you are starting the new career after few years of work experience in other domain, the challenges you may face can be different from a young fresher in the field. This requires your high mental strength to sustain, continue thriving to achieve your goals. It will be a wise choice to find out a good backup ‘Supportive system’, a person who can ignite your motivation back, if you perish it on the way.

➡Willing to be patient with the process and with yourself:- as you come with some work experience and enjoyed the freedom (can be personal or financial), you may rush to reach that level in new career as soon as you start. It may or may not happen. Be ready to show the patience. Remember, you climbed the stairs one by one, in your previous job also.

➡Be a continuous learner:- Have an open mind to gain and absorb knowledge in the new area, be ready to learn (may be a bit more than how you used to be), be open to feedbacks and keep improving.

Career pivot is challenging, but it can be the most satisfying experience if you are doing it wisely and with passion!

Image credits: Edited from the image in npr.org