How to Change Your Career Path

Change Your Career Path | How-to & Examples

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Often, some individuals find that they’re ready for a change in their career path, which might involve finding a new job or seeking work in a different industry. Changing career paths can change the course of a person’s life and affect their salary and benefits. Discover more about career paths along with a list of necessary steps to consider when changing your career path.

What is a career path?

A career path can refer to an individual’s growth throughout their time with an organization or throughout their whole career. It is typically made up of the various positions you take through your career journey, from entry-level positions to upper management and executive ones. The term career path is often used interchangeably with career ladder. When individuals use this term specifically, they’re referring to vertical growth within an organization. Alternatively, a career path makes up all the directions and decisions made throughout a career, not just vertical growth.

Examples of career paths

Here are some examples of career paths that rise vertically with new job titles.

Office receptionist to office clerk to office manager

For example, as an office support professional, you might begin your career as an entry-level receptionist. This role has limited responsibilities, such as answering phones and scheduling clients or customers. After a year or two, you might earn a promotion to office clerk. This role now brings additional responsibilities such as filing, bookkeeping, mailing, and data entry. Depending on the role, it may also involve managerial duties, transitioning you into the role of office manager. Managers oversee all processes within the office environment. Their role is to use their experience to implement new tactics for efficient work within the office space.

Editorial assistant to assistant editor to editor to editorial director

You may start in an entry-level position as an editorial assistant for an editorial career path, performing research and reading prospective manuscripts. After some time in this position, most move into an assistant or associate editor role, reading and editing manuscripts and enforcing deadlines for both writers and assistants. Proving yourself through managerial duties such as enforcing deadlines helps move you into an editor position, making final decisions on manuscripts or articles, or managing the direction of a full publication. The final step is often an editorial director, managing all editorial activities and processes, having more influence on publications than editors and even the editor-in-chief.

Throughout your career, in most cases, you rise vertically. With every new job title, you also earn a pay raise.

Why change your career path?

People change their career paths for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons often include needing new challenges, focusing on other things, or following a new passion. When you interview for a new position, you may need to prepare an answer explaining why you left your previous role. This answer can be one of the most important aspects of the process, as your answer either encourages a hire or a pass from the employer. Before you decide to change your career, there are a few concepts to consider and steps to take.

How to change your career path

Use these steps to follow the best procedure for changing or modifying your career path.

1. Firstly, understand why you need a change

The first step is to take a moment to understand your conditions. Identify why you need the change and what it relates to. This allows you to address potential problems before resorting to a full career path change. For example, if the problem relates to your commute, there may be a carpool solution with a coworker. If the problem relates to the environment, try searching for a new job in the same field rather than a career change. If you find that you no longer enjoy what you’re doing and the same problems exist anywhere you work, then changing your career path is the best option.

2. Secondly, research easy alternatives

Changing your career path can be challenging. It often depends on how significant the change is. For example, if you have a background in family counseling but wish to work in journalism, become a freelance psychotherapy journalist and focus your writing on the topic of counseling and therapy. Alternatively, if you are an office manager who wants to become a paleontologist, the career change may be long, expensive, and challenging in multiple ways.

3. Thirdly, network any way you can

Networking not only helps general job seekers but also provides avenues for career changes as well. Knowing someone in the field you’re interested in significantly improves your chances of earning a position. Even without knowing someone in your new field, you may know someone willing to vouch for you after spending years in your current position. If you currently have no contacts that can help, try attending conferences related to your new area of interest. They provide both valuable learning and networking opportunities.

4. Fourthly, prepare to answer questions related to the change

One of the most important steps in this process is understanding why you need the change and articulating that in an interview. While some managers may not care why you changed careers, many want an answer so that they can make a good hiring decision. When posed this question, be honest in your answer. You do not need to supply every detail, but at least give them a general idea of your reasoning. Additionally, assure them of your commitment, instilling confidence within them that you won’t change your mind again in the future.

What a hiring manager really wants to know is whether you’re a good fit for the position. Consider how you talk about your previous position or the problems you had and how that may sound to them. Focus on the positives of your previous position and avoid any sensitive details that led to your departure.

Example: ‘I decided to pursue a career in law after ten years in restaurant management because of a lawsuit against me. I worked closely with my lawyer during my defense, and I was intrigued by the process. I ultimately won the case as a defendant and was inspired to help others by becoming a lawyer as well. It’s been a difficult process to go back to school and change my life, but I’m fully committed to my new path.’

5. Lastly, manage your expectations

It’s essential to manage your expectations healthily during a career change process. Expect to have a different salary and job level than the ones you left. For example, if you are a family doctor who recently left your role for journalism, expect to only get an entry-level position. Your previous title and salary mean little in a completely different environment. If you know your career change results in a significant salary differential, understand the major impact on your life. Ensure that you’re able to handle the difference and make necessary changes where needed.

Changing a career path involves some of the same considerations for any job search. Although it’s more challenging and often includes difficult decisions, following these steps can help you make the safest, smartest decision for you and your career.

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