Want a change of careers? 10 steps to clarity

Updated November 21, 2025.

After years of thinking, wondering, and waffling about it, you’ve realized it’s time for action: it’s time for you to change careers! But what will you do next? How will you figure it out? And how can you be sure you’ll follow through?

It all starts with a willingness to learn. To learn about yourself and develop new skills. Through self-assessment, exploration, research, planning, and deliberate action, you can make it happen!

5 Signs You’re Ready for a new career

Not sure if a new path is in your future? Here are some common signs that you’re ready to pursue a different industry.

1. You’re always thinking about work, and it’s never a good thing. You might have enjoyed this job once upon a time. You might have even thought this was the path you’d stay on forever. But now, your heart pounds. You feel sick every time you think about it — and you pretty much can’t stop thinking about it.
2. Your work doesn’t feel meaningful. In fact, it might be downright pointless. You work on projects that don’t “move the needle” (if you’ll excuse the corporate lingo). Maybe they don’t have a real impact for the company or your clients — or, even if they do, you don’t care.
3. Your compensation and benefits are the main reason you’re still there. If it weren’t for your salary and healthcare package, you’d be out the door. Or maybe you have golden handcuffs: stock options that won’t be fully vested for years. The benefits are great, but the work just drains you. And that’s something a new employer won’t fix — it’s a sign of misalignment with what you do.
4. You put work first, always. This COULD be a boundary problem. It can also be a survival instinct. When your job is wrong for you, but leaving feels terrifying, you might double down. You start pouring everything you have into the job, hoping to get something back… but all you get is anxiety.
5. You’re never satisfied — either bored or overstimulated. Yes, you can be bored in a high-stress job. You know the ropes, and every day is more or less the same. But since everything is urgent, and every problem is a fire, it’s a constant state of predictable but nerve-wracking anxiety. This can be a workplace culture problem, but it could also be the industry you’re in. (Hello, Corporate America!)

If any of this sounds familiar, there IS a way out. It may be hard to see now, but step by step, you’ll find your way out of this.

10 Steps to Identify Your New Career Goals

First things first: what do you want your new career path to be? Here are 10 essential steps to get started.

1. First step: start with self-assessment

The first step in changing careers is to assess yourself.

That includes your current job situation (job duties, likes and dislikes, overall career satisfaction) along with things like job history and skills… but it doesn’t end there.

Beyond your job, you also need to explore yourself as a whole person: your personal values, interests, goals, and priorities. This will help you identify careers that fit who you are and how you want to live — instead of shrinking yourself to fit into a box.

2. Get specific: what’s not working in my current career?

Ok, you hate your job. Why? What about it?

Whatever happened most recently will come to mind first, and that’s ok — jot all that down. But then, keep moving deeper.

Which themes come up repeatedly — not just this week?

What meetings and events amplify your Sunday Scaries?

What do you have nightmares about?

That’s the stuff you probably never want to do again. And knowing that gets you one BIG step closer to understanding what you really want from a career change.

Can’t quite put your finger on what’s not working? Career coaching can help you identify blind spots, themes, and patterns in your career wants and needs. Sometimes, you’re just too close to the problem to see it on your own!

3. Identify what you used to enjoy about your job (or previous jobs)

Now that you know what you hate, it’s time to remember what you used to love.

What drew you to this job in the first place? What about the industry as a whole?

It’s ok if it was a total accident. And it’s ok if you never loved anything about it. But if there were ever any glimmers — and maybe, some days, there still are? — now’s the time to capture what used to light you up.

While you’re at it, think back to old jobs and volunteer positions, too. All that experience gives you valuable information to unlock your ideal future career path.

4. Determine your core values

Core values: they’re not just for corporate websites anymore!

I felt cheesy AF when I sat down to determine my core values. Aren’t they just buzzwords that big companies use to sound aspirational?

Well, yes — but you can also use them behind the scenes to set parameters for big decisions. Knowing whether a relationship, move, job, or other decision fits with your core values can help you avoid regret later on.

To start, think about a time when you felt proud of yourself — a time you did the right thing, stood up for what you believe in, or got a sense that this was truly who you are. Describe the moment and how you felt. This will give you clues to your personal values!

Ideally, you’ll wind up with 3-5 core values in the end. These values can serve as a compass to identify the right career change for you.

5. Figure out your interests (hint: skills and interests are not the same thing!)

Gifted kids and overachievers, raise your hands! When asked about your “skills and interests,” do you gravitate to your best subject in school, what you get the most recognition for, or what people at work rely on you for?

It’s important to know all of those things… but most likely, those are all examples of your SKILLS — things you’re good at. And while this is a hard pill to swallow, our skills aren’t always the same as our interests — what we ENJOY doing.

Here’s how to find your interests:

Which tasks make you lose track of time, because you’re so lost in the moment?

What do you gravitate toward in your free time?

What did you used to love doing, but maybe quit because you made a mistake or “weren’t good enough”?

Prioritizing interests in your career change allows you to make a decision you’ll value and enjoy for years to come.

6. Detail your priorities in life (don’t skip this important step!)

What’s important to you right now? Is a career change a top priority, or lower on the list?

It’s essential to know this before you get too far in your plan to change careers. That’s because switching careers isn’t a passive endeavor! You’ll have to dedicate real time and energy to it, which can mean deprioritizing other things.

So take a moment to list out everything in your life: career, family, friends, home, travel, and anything else you can think of. Now, rank them in order.

Ideally, finding a new career shows up in the top 3 — because this allows you to really dedicate yourself to your goals. If not, that’s ok! But it may mean that changing careers isn’t something you can really devote time and energy to right now.

7. Research and explore

With plenty of context about who you are, what matters to you, and what you want, it’s time to find careers (both general industries and specific roles) that fit.

This is a good time to clearly list out your non-negotiables, wants, and nice-to-haves. Things to consider might include:

• Skill and education requirements (high school, bachelor’s or master’s degree, or doctorate — plus any relevant certifications)
• Job duties
• Salary and benefits
• Hours (part-time or full-time job)
• Work environment (large team, private office, warehouse, healthcare facility…)
• Location (including remote, hybrid, traveling, and in-person career options)
• Company mission and corporate values

You can hit job search platforms, scan social media (not just LinkedIn!) for real-life looks at different roles and companies, and research specific roles and companies. You might also find career fairs near you, or networking events that pique your interest.

Don’t forget to review your network. You might already know some folks you can reach out to for informational interviews!

If you can meet people in the fields that interest you, you can get valuable insights about what it’s like to work in those careers. Plus, any connections you make can be a huge help when it’s time to start applying to jobs.

8. Identify transferable skills for changing careers

Many of us start our journey to change careers here… but this can keep us boxed in. “Ok, I have project management experience, so I can… manage projects? Great.”

Like many career changers, this kept me stuck for a long time. Without context, I just couldn’t connect my current skills with any one of the infinite other careers out there.

But once I found what was important to me and what I liked doing, I started finding careers that fit me. And almost like magic, I could clearly see how my skills fit into those careers.

With a specific vision of what I wanted and why I wanted it, my brain could identify patterns and make connections.

So if you’re having the same experience, feeling like there’s a whole world of possibilities but not seeing how your skills fit into the picture:

Try allowing yourself to dream first, without setting parameters. With a little bit of trust in the process, you’ll piece the details together later.

9. Stuck? Try career tests and assessments

Much like identifying transferable skills, this step falls in the middle for a good reason! Starting with tests and assessments as a first step can lead us to rely too much on advice and the opinions of others — and I’m including AI as an “other” in this case!

Most quizzes, tests, and assessments will spit out a narrow set of results: as few as 1, or as many as 25+ seemingly ideal careers. And as you look at those results, a couple of things might happen:

a) You hyperfocus on the results. The test was designed to reveal your dream job, so it must be in here — right?

b) You skim through the results, but nothing stands out to you. You don’t feel any closer to finding the right career switch.

But when you know what you want and why, you can filter any test results through that lens. You’ll be more confident about accepting or rejecting any results, and move toward your decision more quickly.

10. Get outside support to change careers

Sometimes, you’re truly stuck. All the daydreaming, brainstorming, and assessments in the world don’t seem to get you any closer to the right career choices.

But the well-meaning advice of friends and family can leave us even more confused: it’s a mash-up of their own unrealized dreams, limiting beliefs, and lack of context about why we want to change careers — and what career growth looks like to us.

Ever asked someone for advice and gotten some version of what they would do “If I were you” … but ultimately, it’s just what they would do, period?

That’s where an objective third-party, like a career coach, can really be helpful. We bring curiosity without agenda. We’re genuinely interested in helping you discover what you want, whether or not that aligns with our own opinions — or the opinions of your friends and family, for that matter.

So if you’ve ever wanted a sounding board to help shut out the noise, filter through your thoughts, and discover your best career move —

A certified coach could help! Learn about my career coaching services.

Change of Careers FAQs

What should I do if I want a career change?

If you want a career change, the best thing you can do is to pursue your reasons why! What do you think a new career path will give you? What are you lacking now that you hope your next career move will provide? And what excites you about new opportunities in a different field?

Understanding your motivations is an important part of any career change. That’s because standing firm in your reasoning helps you stay focused on the end goal — even if plans go off course in the future.

How to figure out what career to change to?

Here are 10 steps to discover your ideal next career:

1. Self-assessment. Learn more about your career goals and yourself as a person. That’s a win-win!
2. Focus on what’s not working. Get a clear idea of why you dislike your current job and any past jobs. (This is easy for most people!)
3. Explore what you like(d) about this industry. Why did you get into this industry? What interesting things still show up at work?
4. Find your core values. How can a new path more closely align with who you are?
5. Pursue your interests. Working at a job you’re interested in is one of the most practical ways to improve your week (and your life).
6. Priorities: an important part of the journey! Can you prioritize finding a new role in your desired field right now, or are other things more important?
7. Research and explore jobs. Learn about different fields’ requirements and benefits: additional skills, education, pay, and more.
8. Transferable skills. Map your existing skills and knowledge to the careers you’ve discovered during this process.
9. Career assessments. Need an example of a career you may enjoy? Free online resources can help you develop a better idea of what works for you.
10. Talk to someone. A career coach can help you uncover your ideal career, develop next steps, and stay accountable to moving forward — even in the more challenging parts of the career switch process.

What is the best career change after 30?

Switching to a new field can be daunting, and most people like the prospect of an easy answer. But the truth is, there’s no one ideal career for everyone ages 31+. That’s because everyone’s interests, skills, experiences, needs, and priorities are unique!

For example, changing from an administrative role to something more creative may be perfect for someone, but swapping a creative job for something more administrative could be right for someone else.

No matter your resume, age, or location, there’s no one right answer. Like it or not, it’s up to you to use the resources at hand to determine your ideal role!

Navigating the Job Search and Transition to a New Career Path

Once you know what career you want, it’s time to make a plan! Your plan may include goals, smaller action steps, tools and resources, and accountability support. Exactly how you structure all that is up to you!

The best advice I can give you is to consider where you are now, in conjunction with where you hope to be. Even if the road ahead is unclear, ask yourself:

Five years from now, when I look back on this moment…

Would I wish I played it safe, or took the risk to go after a career I really want?

Because as long as you’d rather take the leap —

You can work through any challenges or setbacks that come your way.

Want support to get clear on your next career move, make a plan, and start taking action? 1:1 career coaching could be right for you. Start now with a free intro call!