Career Connections
“I am looking to change careers to something totally new. What are the first steps that I should take?”—submitted by Karen H. ’92
You may be wondering if now is a good time to make a career change. Typical signs that you are ready for a career change include your lifestyle has changed, the job outlook in your field is dim, you are experiencing job burnout, your job is too stressful, you find your job boring or you need to make more money.
Any time can be a good time for a career change, as long as you go about the process in a systematic way. Below are some great steps to take to start a new career:
- Take a moment to step back and reflect on why you want to change careers.
- Think about your last few jobs and make a list about what you liked and disliked about them.
- Register at MaroonCentral and go to Career Beam to find a battery of great assessment tools designed to uncover the hidden themes and insights imbedded in your values, temperament, personality, talents, interests and fascinations.
- Talk to and shadow professionals in the field that you are interested in. If you don’t know anyone in that field, try searching on MaroonCentral or LinkedIn for professionals that you can connect with.
- Sign up here for one of the webinars offered through the UMass Amherst Alumni Association on Charting Paths to a New Career.