Making a successful career transition will be far easier for you if you can meet with key people already in the field you are hoping to move into, or perhaps by simply talking to people doing a similar job to the one you are hoping to do. In either case, your major objective is to gain sufficient information and advice as to what skills are required to ensure you can make the move as smoothly and effectively as possible.
Networking and "information interviewing" can really allow you to explore your career options as long as you are confident and comfortable asking for the right information. By speaking to "experts" you can decide whether a particular career move is right for you or not.
Preparing your own SWOT Analysis (analysing your own personal strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats) can also be a very useful activity when considering a career transition as often this acts as a reality check by revealing potential areas for improvement, personal development or perhaps even further study that you may be required to undertake.
If you do not have all the necessary skills required to change careers, but you have some of the key qualities or competencies, you should understand that you may need to make a "Knight's move" as the initial step in your transition. Like the Knight in the game of Chess, you may need to move across before moving up ... but this is often a very successful, strategic and carefully executed move.
I am sure if you think about it, you will know someone who has taken the plunge, followed their ambition and pursued a career in their dream field. My friend moved from physiotherapy in to public relations. I moved out of the world of advertising in to recruitment, and another colleague of mine left a top-tier law firm and is now a very successful corporate staff motivator and trainer.
Whilst each of these newly chosen fields may appear totally unrelated to the careers which came before them, a positive mindset, the belief in oneself and one's transferable skills, together with a carefully thought out strategy will ensure that your decision to make such a major career change was always meant to be.
Image courtesy of: metrognome0
Great advice.
I find with my clients the more positive and focused they are in their goal even if it is a major transition, the faster a new appointment arrives.
People are skeptical and often nervous about a radical change, however, the global economy right now is encouraging people to look elsewhere and do some self assessment on their transferable skills.