One of the biggest barriers for people who are trying to change career can be working out exactly how to make the change, especially if it is a dramatic one. The good news is that there are plenty of tactics you can use to help you make the transition. Here are our top tips
Consider a sabbatical
Discuss with your current employer the possibility of taking some unpaid time off from your job, and use that time to research your new career options. If possible, try to set up opportunities to "work shadow" someone in the kind of role you're considering, or at least arrange to talk to someone who does the job you fancy. The benefit for you is obvious, but there are also benefits for your employer: if you do decide to move on, it is better for them because there's no point in their having a bored and unmotivated employee. On the other hand, by trying out something different, you might just find that there are more positives in your current job than you thought! You'll come back to the company refreshed and re-energised
Explore the option of part-time or "portfolio" working
Making the move to a completely new career can be scary, especially if you're considering self-employment or commission-based work. There's also the fear that you might be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. One way to ease the transition and give you the chance to see how well your new career works for you is to try it out on a part-time basis. So, for example, you might cut your days in your current job down to 3 a week, leaving you a couple of days to work part-time in your new industry, set up your own business or whatever. The benefit of this approach is that it gives you a bit more security: you haven't completely abandoned your old career so you have a fallback position if things don't work out and, if you're setting up on your own, you still have some guaranteed income. It's also, by the way, a great approach for people who get bored easily or don't want to commit completely to one option. And it can actually be easier to earn more by working 2 or 3 days a week in two different jobs than fulltime in one!
Volunteer
Depending on the industry you're looking to move into, volunteering can be a great way of finding out more about the job, as well as making sure you're in the right place if job opportunities come up. Volunteering isn't just an option for those who are considering a move into the charitable sector, either: all sorts of organisations have opportunities for people to get involved on a voluntary basis. For example, if you're thinking about a move into marketing or event management, you could volunteer to help out with the administration of a marketing campaign, or offer to be an extra pair of hands at an event. The best way to set up opportunities like this is often via a friend or contact within the industry. The secret is to be imaginative, flexible and willing to turn your hand to anything, however mundane.
Try an internship
This is really just a slightly more formalised version of volunteering. Most large companies offer internships; often they will be unpaid, but you might get a daily subsistence payment. Some companies pay a small wage, and an internship is a great way of finding out whether the company is right for you, and can often be a stepping stone to a full-time paid position. Check out the websites of companies that interest you. If they don't advertise internships, consider a speculative application or use whatever contacts you have to get your CV in front of the right person.
Go freelance
Whether you want to be a writer, an interior decorator or a web designer, you can have a go at your chosen career without giving up the day job. If you're thinking about setting up your own business, often the best way to go about it is to set up on a part-time basis - evenings and weekends, for example. This gives you a chance to dip your toe in the water without committing yourself irrevocably. Yes, it means a lot of hard work, but it also means that you avoid a lot of the stress that comes from trying to make ends meet while you establish yourself.
Some - though not all - of the options we've suggested will mean that you have to take a drop in income. One of the best ways to ensure that you actually make your career change happen is to make sure that you have a financial buffer in place. Being able to go for a few months without working means that you can take advantage of opportunities like volunteering and work shadowing, or simply devote more time to your job search. It also means that you are less likely to end up taking a job that you don't really want simply because you need the money. So aim to get to a position where you have between 3 and 6 months' living expenses saved up. Yes, that's quite a tall order, but it will give you much more flexibility and security.
The bottom line is that the most effective way of changing career is often by making a gradual transition, rather than a big leap. It's less frightening and risky - so you're more likely to take action. And it's always sensible to "try before you buy".
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