5 Things to Know Before You Make a Career Change

5 Things to Know Before You Make a Career Change Asuccessful career transition takes planning. Youll need to prove to an employer you have transferable skills that will help you be effective in a new role outside your previous career path. Youll also need to communicate why a career transition makes sense for you.If youre planning to make a transition soon or are in the middle of one now, herbeie are a few things to keep in mind1. Know Your WhyYouve probably heard of Simon Sinek and his wildly popular book,Start With Why.The book is based on the notion that people arent influenced by what you do rather, they care about why you do it.In any job interview, you must clearly articulate your why. When making a career transition, its even more important. If you cant share a compelling reason why you want to change careers, a prospective employer wont be convinced that your decision tomake a change is a meaningful one.If youve ever interviewed nannies for yo ur children, youll understand the importance of a good why. Imagine you have two candidates. One tells you they are nannying because it is the best way to pay for their college education. The other candidate is also paying for school, but she tells you she loves kids. She believes childhood is the most impactful time in apersons life, and she wants to make a difference for the kids in her care. Both candidates have the same needs, but their whys are very different. Which candidate would you want taking care of your child?2. Know Your Strengths and SkillsIf youre making a career transition, certain skills may be transferablefrom your old career to your knew one. However, other skills required in your new role may need to be learned or developed through nontraditional avenues for example, through volunteer work.Knowing your strengths also ties back to your why. Lets say that, through volunteer work, you found opportunities to uitilize skills you dont get to utilize in your current jo b. Usingthese skills may bring you more joy than your job does, and this may lead to the realization that youre not truly maximizing your personal strengths in your current position. As a result, you may choose to make a career transition that allows you to take advantage of these neglected strengths.Whatever thecase, be prepared to articulate your strengths and skills as clearly as your why to a prospective employer. The goal is to show that even though this career path is new to you, you are still positioned to deliver value to the employer through your current skill tischset.3. Do Your ResearchPeople who arefrustrated in their current roles can make decisions in haste. The grass always looks greener elsewhere.However, even people who hold the most glamorous of roles will tell you their jobs are not as perfect as they look. Before making a career decision based on the emotion of the moment, abflug networking. Talk to people in positions you want to learn more about. Dig deep to ev aluate whether a career transition is really the right move for you.4. Surround Yourself With SupportAsuccessful career transition can be a long process, and you want to be sure you are surrounded by people who understand your situation and empathize with you. Because so much of our self-worth is tied up in our jobs even though it shouldnt be it can be fiercely demoralizing to be stuck between a job you hate and a new career you havent established yet. Working with a career coach may be a great way to keep yourself motivated, and they can also serve as a sounding board for frustrations and a guide when you feel lost.5. Its Okay toMourn Your Old JobIf you really cant stand your current job, you may feel like youll never look back once youve left. However, even making a transition from a role you hateto a dream career can be challenging.Leaving a familiar situation to walk into the unknownis unsettling. You likely feel a certain amount of comfort in your current role, and your new p osition may bring more pressure to perform and a new set of expectations to meet. Until you find your footing, you may second-guess your decision. Be kind to yourself, and take it one step at a time.A version of this article originally appeared on theAtrium Staffing blog.Michele Mavi isAtrium Staffings resident career expert.