Changing careers can be a challenging step in life. Nonetheless, many people feel like it's a necessary step for them. Some reasons behind such a drastic decision are low income, stressful tasks, an uncomfortable workplace, a stagnant career, and a changed mindset.

It's not uncommon to feel like you can't reach your career and life goals because of your job. Sometimes we mature and figure out what we want. We change our perspective and learn that the place we are in now doesn't suit us anymore. But that's a fantastic realization because it means we've grown and we're making progress in building a more meaningful life.

On the other hand, maybe you feel like your potential isn't being used as it should and that you're not being paid enough for your responsibilities.

This radical change in your career can come early, after a few months on your first job. However, it can happen after a dozen years on the job. Moreover, your age, dream job, and current job don't matter. The only thing that matters is your determination to switch it up.

So, how do you change your career? Here are a few essential tips and tools to help you successfully change your career.

Motivation: do you have it?

Changing careers isn't always smooth sailing. Most of the time, the process requires effort and patience and can even be stressful before you can harvest the fruits of your work.

So, when switching careers, you might want to understand why you're doing it.

• Is the work itself not your cup of tea?

• Is the workplace toxic?

• Are you unhappy with the schedule and pay?

Try to understand the motivation behind your desire to change because it might be necessary. For instance, if your problems don't have to do much with the work itself, you might want to change your workplace and work for another company. Otherwise, the problem might be deeper.

If you don't like your job anymore, that might require much more effort, including additional education. For example, if you work as an accountant but wish to become a nurse, you have a few years of education before quitting your job and working as a nurse.

On the other hand, changing your career might require you to have a few trial jobs without pay. In that case, you might need to rely on your partner or savings for a few months. This is something to calculate and talk about with your partner.

Moreover, try speaking to people already in the business, friends, associates, family, and your partner. Explain your thoughts and see how they can help. On the other hand, don't get discouraged when you're met with negative comments. Some people might not know your potential and your background. Nonetheless, getting some input from other people might be a good idea.

Just like all projects, switching your career requires a bit of brainstorming to find the best path and backup plan for you. So, don't hesitate to write down your reasons and move only when ready for a drastic change.

Evaluate your skills

Your desired career might require most of the skills you already have, so going from one job to another won't be that difficult. Or your new job offers you the option to learn as you go. In most cases, you might need to understand the transferrable skills.

What are transferrable skills? They are the skills you used for your old job and can take with you to your new job.

Most of these transferrable skills might be soft skills such as working in groups, talking to clients effectively, creating a supportive workplace, etc. But some hard skills might transfer too. For instance, if you're great at using specific software, that might become a valuable skill that separates you from the rest of the candidates and employees.

Write a new CV

Once you find your skill set, what do you do with that information? It's time to write a new CV.

Your resume should target your desired job. Hence you might want to bring up the skills you already have that seem to fit the new job best.

In addition, if you apply for different companies with distinctive values, you can tailor your resume for each. This means that if a company you're applying to is open and leverages working in a big group, you might want to highlight your "people skills" more. Otherwise, you might highlight your self-management skills if another company looks for independent workers.

However, be careful when you write your CV. If you try to over-advertise yourself, you may turn your recruiter away. Hence, you may use online service for writing a resume to make sure you're application doesn't sound "fake."

As you continue to write your CV, remember that most today's companies look for more than just employees. They look for people who can add value to their company. So, don't hesitate to add your personal twist to your CV.

For instance, most career change resume writing services advise writing a cover letter where you let your personality show more. This way, your potential employer will see that you've put in the effort and will get to know you before an interview. Moreover, they might remember your story and some things about you that make you stand out.

Find the best tools to apply for a job

How do you start to apply for a new job? After all those previous steps, you might want to learn some helpful sites:

• Indeed. This is one of the most reliable websites where you can create your professional profile and learn to network. Moreover, you can apply for jobs.

• Googlejobs. As with any tool that Google provides, this feature is trustworthy. You can look for jobs here and narrow down your field.

• Ziprecruiter. You can look at data about different jobs and find salary insights. Also, you can apply for jobs on this website.

• Careerbuilder. This is another reliable site for applying. It's a website that offers information and advice too.

• UpWork. If you're looking for freelancing jobs, this website is one of the largest. You can create a profile and start applying right away.

Take a break to re-center

Sometimes, even when things are going well, we might lose our center. Try to step back and rearrange whenever you feel overwhelmed or confused.

Especially if things aren't going as planned, it's vital to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation instead of going up the hill without making progress. Sometimes you need to talk to someone about your situation. Maybe it's your associate, partner, friend, or therapist. But perhaps you just need a few days off and remember your purpose.

Sometimes you might need to invest in yourself and sign up for a class, get professional advice from a site like UK.CareersBooster.com, or get certified. Whatever you might face, do it with a clear head.

Last thoughts

Changing your career might be challenging, but once you go through it, you'll experience many fantastic things, such as a more fulfilling job, better pay, less stress, etc.

Try to understand what motivates you and the skills you can work on. Also, revise your CV, then start applying. Remember to take breaks when needed and rearrange.