Reader Email: "I Want to Change Careers"

When I get an email from a site visitor who is dealing with an issue many other people also face, I like to feature it here. That way, in addition to helping this one person, I can hopefully help others. I just received this today:

I am in a strange but true position. I really need to move forward with my career. I have been a chef for many years and just have the gut feeling that it’s just not for me anymore. I am looking into a way to combine my experiences with my education to find a new career ... I have been looking into the purchasing side of the industry and recently went on an interview, but, I have minimal experience. Another thing is that I get a little quiet and sheltered in front of other people, especially within a business/work environment. I know that’s not your area of expertise, but, maybe you might have some references. So, in a nutshell, I would like to change careers, what would be the next step? Get anxious in front of other associates, any help? I think it is because I don’t believe in myself, again another topic all its own.

First of all, this writer's situation is hardly unique. It's actually quite common for people to want to change careers sometime in their lives. I've written about this topic more times than I can count. There are a variety of things that may necessitate a career change. Some people don't choose their careers wisely and find themselves doing work that isn't fulfilling. Even those who chose their careers wisely may outgrow them. Over the years we change as individuals. Our likes and dislikes may change. As this happens we may find that the careers we chose, possibly many years earlier, are no longer suitable for us. Another reason for needing a career change is a change in one's life circumstances. For example a career that involved working every weekend and evening may no longer be appropriate for someone with a family.

So, what do you do if think you need a career change? First you make sure it's a new career you need and not just a new job. If you decide that you do need to change careers, then there are steps you should take to increase your chances of making a good choice. This writer would like to stay in his current industry. He hopes to combine his education and the skills he has acquired over the years to take a new career path. When making a career change, it is always a good idea to assess the skills you've gathered through various jobs, volunteer work, hobbies, sports, or other life experiences that can be used in your next job or new career. They are called transferable skills. As long as this new career is suitable for the new reader, he should follow this path, but first he needs to do his homework and learn what he can about it. Then he can decide if this is the right career for him.

The writer brings up another issue — the fact that he gets quiet and sheltered in front of other people, particularly business associates. Again, this isn't an uncommon problem. This writer's problem may be, as he suspects, that he doesn't believe in himself. Once he evaluates his skills and considers the unique perspective he can bring to this new career, he may get over that. If he has trusted colleagues, he should talk to them. They may be able to tell him whether his skills set is strong enough for this new path. If they say it is, then knowing that, he can approach his business associates with confidence. If they say it isn't, he may need to follow up by taking some courses that will bring his skills up to par. This may give him the boost in confidence he needs. If it's shyness, not just a lack of confidence, that is his problem, there are things he can do that will help him overcome it.

Here are some resources this writer will find helpful:

• Steps to a Successful Career Change
• Transferable Skills
• Shyness: Can It Affect Your Career?