Different businesses have different goals, values, and objectives and you must decide which industry best matches your individual skills. To be successful in your chosen career, you will need to have an open mind as well as a flexible schedule.
Gone are the days when students graduate from college and then begin working immediately in their field of study. You may find that the degree you have earned is not the career you really want. This is where you need to be flexible. In order to land that rewarding job you may need to change career paths altogether.
Below is a list of steps that can assist you in making necessary changes.
Keep an Open Mind
Maybe you have always dreamed about working in a particular industry or job. Maybe you have worked so hard to earn a college degree only to find out that you’ve made the wrong choices. Either way, it is never too late to change directions.
You may need to return to school and earn a different degree. Or you could enroll in a training program that will give you the necessary skills to break into a different field. Evaluating what your options are will give you a realistic idea of what it will take to get you to where you really want to be.
Set Small Realistic Goals
To advance in your chosen field, it is important to set small goals with a definite but flexible deadline. Zero in on the skills that will be needed for you to succeed in your new occupation.
A timeline will give you help keep you focused on your goals while providing you the direction of how to get there in the first place.
Maintain Your Flexibility
As you continue working in your chosen field, certain circumstances and people come along and influence the way we see ourselves. They also offer a different perspective on how we can best utilize our skills and abilities. Being open for change will help you to make the most of these opportunities.
As you are able to revise your plans, you might be able to see a more prudent way of making your dreams become a reality. Being able to maintain your flexibility is an important part of the career changing process.
A willingness to seek wise counsel will ultimately help you achieve your goal.
Evaluate Your Goals
Evaluating your career path frequently will help you to determine if you are making forward progress. You always need to assess your skills and, when necessary, take action – so that you remain competitive in the business world.
It is not wise to wait until your annual employee review to make a self-assessment. The idea is to strengthen your weaknesses before your employer points them out. Do not forget to always continue your education, as doing so will only make you more marketable in the future.
So even if you are not unhappy with what you are currently doing, it is wise to think ahead and prepare for the future. You want to keep your options open so that you’ll be prepared when an opportunity presents itself.

Recent surveys and news stories are addressing the issue of how many people are changing careers due to the recession. For many this is turning out to be a very positive experience. For some it is an opportunity to do something they have wanted to do for years, but never had the chance. Regardless of your reason for wanting to do something different, it should start with an assessment of your skills and which of these skills is transferable.

Jumping into a career change is tough enough, but not knowing what skills you bring to the party and how you can leverage these skills will make the transition even tougher. Many candidates believe that just because they have a skill it makes them marketable. This is not necessarily true. You are  only marketable if a need exists for that skill. You can’t assume that there is a market, and that the market is willing to pay what you are asking.

Also, others may have the same skill, and some additional experience using that skill, that makes them more desirable.

A suggestion would be to first conduct a skills assessment (CLICK HERE to download a FREE Assessment). We suggest that you complete this, but also that others complete it for you. Those that know you the best will see your skills from a different perspective.

Once you  know what skills you have rank them. The ranking should not only be based on how strong a skill this is for you, but also if it is a skill you really enjoy using. Just because you have a skill and are good at it doesn’t mean you enjoy it. For example, you may have a skill that allows you to really get into details, quickly grasp the issue, and come to a conclusion. However, if you hate getting down into the details, have dreaded it every time you have had to do it, it may be a strong skill, but not a skill you want to base a career change on.

Next you will have to determine if there is a market for these skills, where the market is, and the value of these skills in the market. More specifically not the value as a whole, but as it relates specifically for you. You can’t forget others that have these same skills. If they have some additional or unique experiences that you don’t, then your market and value in that market is decreased.

You can do some of the market research on the Internet. Go to the job boards and search open positions seeking these skills. This will give you an indication of market size and value. For example, if 100+ job openings appear and the compensation is in line with your expectations, you are more likely to be able to make that career change than if there were only one or two openings.

Don’t ignore the colleges and universities that have majors in the functional area in which your skills align.You might even discover some additional education you need to be successful.

Finally, I believe too often candidates don’t even explore the opportunities to buy a business or start a business. I would recommend contacting a business broker and at least having a conversation with them to discover if this is a viable option for you.

Making a career change isn’t easy, it takes time, planning, and the right set of transferable skills to be successful.

Download a free skills assessment from our Web site. Go to www.impacthiringsolutions.com and scroll to the bottom to the, “What’s New” section and click the Skills Assessment link.

Also, listen to our weekly radio talk show on Monday’s at 11 – Noon PST on www.latalkradio.com