When you’re growing up, adults ask you what you want to be when you’re older. Most of the time, what you want to be as a 5-year-old changes at least 10 times before you go to college or trade school. But your career path can change even after you settle into the career that you once wanted.
It’s OK to decide that you want to change careers at any age. On social media, we see people of all ages discussing their career changes. They share their doubts, their fears, and — once they take that leap of faith — their success stories.
If you’re like me, then you figured out your perfect career in high school and couldn’t wait to start learning the skills that you’d need to achieve your goals. You had no doubt that you were where you needed to be, and you knew what type of job you’d do (and love) for the next 40 years.
But it’s OK to change your mind.
It’s not that you were wrong in your freshman year of college when you decided to study engineering. It isn’t wrong that you earned a teaching degree but haven’t used it yet. Maybe you started your career and discovered that you don’t enjoy it as much as you hoped that you would. If you decide to start a new career path, you’re not “failing” or letting others down.
The only person you’ll let down if you stay in your current career is yourself.
Don’t worry about what your family might say. Don’t think about the many months you studied to pass the MCAT or the Bar exam. Maybe your original field wasn’t your calling. Everyone has a path, and sometimes you need to step out in a completely different direction to find it. Questioning your career path will often bring you to a better fit for your life.
Our work lives affect our emotional states, especially because we spend so much of our time at our jobs. If you aren’t happy in your career, it’s easy to take work stress home with you, which may affect others as well. Maybe it’s time to try a new career that energizes you instead of depletes you.
Before you switch careers, it’s important to plan what your life will look like if you take the leap. Make sure that you have enough income to pay your bills. Ask to shadow someone in your desired field to make sure that you understand the ins and outs of your potential new career, and ask plenty of questions. List the pros and cons of your current career to determine if now is the best time for a career change. Knowing these details can give you a smooth start to this major life transition.
Changing careers can be scary, but you won’t know how much more fulfilling your life can be until you take steps towards making the switch. The right career for you is out there, and with planning and patience, you can find it.
Feature image via Alireza Esmaeeli on Unsplash
