Don’t Be Afraid to Change Careers! Tips on Making the Switch by Catherine Sergautis

Are you unhappy in your current career? Ready to make a change? It’s a tough economy, but that doesn’t mean you should remain in an unsatisfying career. Catherine Sergautis has experience with making this challenging switch – she went from working at an insurance firm to a satisfying career as a registered practical nurse.  Here she presents some tips on making a career switch.

ª Don’t be afraid to go back to school. In order to make the change from insurance to nursing, Catherine Sergautis went back to school to get a nursing degree. If you can’t afford to leave your job, look for a school where you can take night classes part-time towards the degree you need.

ª Think about what you want to change. What would make your work more satisfying? Catherine Sergautis suggests looking for volunteer opportunities that will fulfill that desire. Volunteering can be a way to test out possible career moves and get your foot in the door.

ª Polish up your resume. Make sure it reflects all of your capacities and is angled toward your new job. Catherine Sergautis recommends evaluating your current job to see what transferrable skills you have. For example, when she worked in insurance, Catherine Sergautis spent a lot of time doing customer service work. Those skills were critical for her job as a nurse because she is often the first person to greet patients.

ª Start saving. If you establish a financial safety net, you have more freedom to leave your job, or alternatively to take a lower paying job. Research the pay scale of entry level jobs in your desired field, Catherine Sergautis says, so that you know what your financial situation will look like immediately after the switch.

ª Network. Use all the resources at your disposal to find connections in your desired field. You probably have family members or friends who can introduce you to someone in your new career area.