ALT-4 How to Change Careers after a Layoff
So you have been laid off, and you wonder if you can really keep going with the career that you are currently in. Maybe you never really wanted to be doing what you have been doing the past few years, and now might be a good chance to find new work. However, it can be hard to just up and move to another career, and there are lots of things to consider before you make a change that is so dramatic. Here is what you are going to want to do if you want to change careers.
First off you should consider what might happen if you change careers. Will be able to handle any school work you might have to do while you work at a new job? Some careers might involve new training, and some certification that you might have to obtain, and balancing that with work can be a hard thing to do. If you are trying to be a teacher for example, you might have to go back and get your master's degree, and that is a lot of work to do while teaching full-time.
Can you move your family if you have to take a job far way to pursue a career. Would you be able to even leave them behind while you figure out what if this career change is something that is going to work out for you? Sometimes you have to start at the bottom when you change careers, and if you have to start at the bottom, it could be that the entry level jobs are across the country. The company I work for has stores in Virginia, but they also have stores in Rochester. What if you lived in Virginia, but had to start in Rochester? Would you be willing to do that?
Consider your age and experience before starting a new career. If you are 50 years old, it would make sense that a career in sports is certainly out the question no matter how many goals you score in the local hockey league. However, there are some careers like writing, or teaching where age isn't that big of a deal. All you need is a knowledge of what you are teaching or writing about, and the passion to want to succeed, and help others.
You need to be all in if you want to change careers after a lay-off. Make sure that you have some money saved up, or make sure that you handle working a side job while you await your new employer, and until you are getting a steady paycheck. If you want to be a writer you might not get paid much right away, and you would probably still need a job on the side to help you pay the bills. If you are passionate about wanting to change careers this shouldn't be an issue though.
Basically if you want to change careers you just need to make sure you are invested into your change. Consider all the factors that are going to go into your decision, and make sure you are doing something that makes sense. Make sure that you have money saved up for the change, and make sure you use all your connections to make it in the next lifetime so to speak. As long as you happy with your choice, that is really all that matters win or lose.
