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Even if you chose your major in college for all of the right reasons, sometimes your professional happiness can depend on re-evaluating after a few years in the workplace. (That is, if you've landed within your profession of choice. If you're still trying to break in, don't give up too soon.) If you've put some time into a business that is directly related to what you earned your degree in and simply don't like it, it might be time to come up with a Plan B. Don't just jump in without planning, read over the following pointers first:
1. Beware of choosing a career based on hobbies. Even if you simply adore children, chucking your business degree in favor of assisting at a daycare center could be a bad move. You have to think about spending upwards of 40 hours per week at whatever it is you think you love. That's a lot of time. Maybe you are the kind of person who needs quiet time to be productive and chasing a playground full of toddlers isn't exactly quiet. Sometimes personal interests need to remain personal, rather than professional.
2. Volunteering is a great way to test the waters of a new field. Spend your evenings and/or weekends exploring different things to see if there's potential for a new career for you. Do an internet search on volunteering opportunities and see what is needed at a local level. Nearly every charitable organization has a paid staff at some level in the hierarchy. Maybe marrying your marketing degree with your desire to help disaster victims could lead you to work in public relations at FEMA, for example.
3. Build a nest egg before you quit your job. Switching tracks into a new career path can be costly so it's best to do so with a relatively clean slate. Pay off your credit cards and college loans and have some savings to fall back on if it takes a while to get hired in your new area of interest. Ideally, you should find a new job before you give notice to your existing one.
4. Brainstorm for every networking opportunity. Every time you are ready to find a new job, the people you know (and the people they know) are usually your best resource. If you put your degree in finance to work as a bank teller but are ready to move on, maybe your uncle who works in insurance can point you in a different direction. As they say, the world seems to get a bit smaller every day. You are likely surrounded by people who can help to open doors for you.
There's nothing wrong with changing career paths several times in your life. Your college time served as a meaningful transition between adolescence and adulthood and provided plenty of examples you can draw from when interviewing. Don't settle for anything less than a career that you are happy to share your life with, even if it was your major. Each day provides an opportunity to evolve.
1. Beware of choosing a career based on hobbies. Even if you simply adore children, chucking your business degree in favor of assisting at a daycare center could be a bad move. You have to think about spending upwards of 40 hours per week at whatever it is you think you love. That's a lot of time. Maybe you are the kind of person who needs quiet time to be productive and chasing a playground full of toddlers isn't exactly quiet. Sometimes personal interests need to remain personal, rather than professional.
2. Volunteering is a great way to test the waters of a new field. Spend your evenings and/or weekends exploring different things to see if there's potential for a new career for you. Do an internet search on volunteering opportunities and see what is needed at a local level. Nearly every charitable organization has a paid staff at some level in the hierarchy. Maybe marrying your marketing degree with your desire to help disaster victims could lead you to work in public relations at FEMA, for example.
3. Build a nest egg before you quit your job. Switching tracks into a new career path can be costly so it's best to do so with a relatively clean slate. Pay off your credit cards and college loans and have some savings to fall back on if it takes a while to get hired in your new area of interest. Ideally, you should find a new job before you give notice to your existing one.
4. Brainstorm for every networking opportunity. Every time you are ready to find a new job, the people you know (and the people they know) are usually your best resource. If you put your degree in finance to work as a bank teller but are ready to move on, maybe your uncle who works in insurance can point you in a different direction. As they say, the world seems to get a bit smaller every day. You are likely surrounded by people who can help to open doors for you.
There's nothing wrong with changing career paths several times in your life. Your college time served as a meaningful transition between adolescence and adulthood and provided plenty of examples you can draw from when interviewing. Don't settle for anything less than a career that you are happy to share your life with, even if it was your major. Each day provides an opportunity to evolve.
About the Author:
Alan Greene has written dozens of essays and articles about online degree programs, scholarships, and career preparation.
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