Having the desire to switch careers happens quite often to professionals, with the term ‘ten year career itch’ coined to describe it. So how exactly do you go about making a complete change to your professional life?  

While it may take some time to set in motion, the steps to switching your career are relatively straightforward. Let’s talk you through it. 

Step 1: Identify your new career path 

The first step is a little more complex than just knowing what new job you would like to have. Of course, some people will indeed have a strong idea of the new direction they would like to take their career in, but others may have some research to conduct first. If that is you, then you can talk to specialist recruitment consultants or a career coach to help get the ball rolling. 

There is also an element of soul searching to do, in terms of understanding what kind of work/life balance you want to achieve. You’ll need to think about what you have enjoyed in your current role, and what you would like to leave behind. There may also be elements of your studies that you want to explore and expand professionally. 

For inspiration, you can research different industries that pique your interest and learn the expectations and demands on people working there. Try and find someone in the industry to talk to, either that you know personally or can contact via professional social media such as LinkedIn. You can also simply scout the jobs market to see if something grabs your attention.  

Step 2: Audit your current skills and qualifications 

Researching industries and scouting job vacancies will also help you identify any skills gaps you have for moving into a new sector. You can then conduct a full audit of your skills and qualifications. You may already have some skills that are transferrable into your new sector, but there will likely be some work to do to achieve the full skill set required to change your career path.  

The skills audit will identify what types of training and qualifications you need to achieve before making the switch, so make a note of these when researching roles you are interested in. 

Now you just need to work towards achieving the necessary qualifications, as well as developing any soft skills such as communication or teamwork that you need to improve on for your new career. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be able to freelance, temp or apply for an internship to gain some relevant experience in the new sector. 

Step 3: a professional rebranding 

Once you have the necessary qualifications, skills and perhaps some experience, you can conduct a rebranding to present yourself as a professional in your new sector.  

This can begin with an overhaul of your CV and portfolio of work, which should now include all of your transferrable skills, new qualifications and any relevant experience you have gained. Rework every detail to be more in line with what a hiring manager in your new sector will be looking for. 

You will also want to rebrand your public profiles on social media, including any bios and personal information they contain. Start connecting with professionals in your new sector as much as you can, especially on LinkedIn, and follow all the major players. 

Once your rebrand is complete, you will be primed and ready to find that perfect role for your new career. 

If you’re looking for a new role in accountancy or the legal sector in 2024, get in touch with our specialist recruitment team here at Insite Recruitment.