• Home
  • Courses by Subject
    • Accounting
      • Accounting
      • Bookkeeping
      • Payroll
      • Xero
    • Administration
      • Administration
      • Business Administration
      • Medical Secretary
      • Personal Assistant
      • Secretarial
    • Animal Health & Wellbeing
      • Animal Care
      • Dog Grooming
      • Vet Assistant
      • Zoology
    • Building & Construction
      • Construction
      • Landscaping
    • Business & Finance
      • Banking
      • Business
      • Business Communication
      • Business Management
      • Consultancy
      • Excel
      • Finance
      • Logistics
      • Sales
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Trading
    • Design
      • Gardening
      • Graphic Design
      • Interior Design
      • Web Design
    • Digital Skills
      • Analytics
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing
      • CompTIA
      • CompTIA A+
      • Computer Science
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Cyber Security
      • Data Science
      • Ethical Hacking
      • IT
      • IT Support
      • Networking
      • Penetration Testing
    • Ecology
      • Sustainability
    • Education
      • A-Level
      • GCSE
      • Teaching
      • Teaching Assistant
    • Fashion & Beauty
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Massage
      • Nail Technician
    • Health & Safety
      • Construction Health & Safety
      • Work Health & Safety
    • Healthcare
      • Care
      • Childcare
      • Counselling
      • Criminal Psychology
      • Disability
      • Health
      • Healthcare Management
      • Mental Health
      • Nursing
      • Nutrition
      • Personal Training
      • Psychology
      • Public Health
      • Social Care
    • Hospitality & Events
      • Event Management
      • Floristry
      • Hospitality
      • Wedding Planner
    • HR
      • CIPD
      • Human Resources
      • Learning & Development
    • Law & Justice
      • Criminology
      • Forensic Science
      • Governance
      • Law
      • Legal
    • Management & Leadership
      • Agile
      • Change Management
      • Leadership
      • Lean Six Sigma
      • Management
      • Operations Management
      • Personal Development
      • PRINCE2
      • Project Management
      • Quality Management
      • Real Estate
    • Marketing & Communication
      • Digital Marketing
      • Marketing
      • Media
      • Music
      • Public Relations
      • Social Media Marketing
    • Microsoft
      • Microsoft
      • Microsoft Azure
    • Programming
      • App Development
      • Cisco
      • Cisco CCNA
      • Coding
      • Programming
      • Python
      • Software Development
      • SQL
      • Web Development
    • Tourism
      • Travel & Tourism
    • University
      • Business Management
      • Business
      • Criminal Psychology
      • Criminology
      • Finance
      • IT
      • Law
      • Marketing
      • Psychology
    • Blended
    • In-class
    • Online
    • A-Level
    • Advanced Certificate
    • Advanced Diploma
    • Award
    • Bachelors
    • CertHE
    • Certificate
    • Certified
    • CPD
    • Diploma
    • ELCAS
    • Extended Diploma
    • Foundation
    • GCSE
    • Level 1
    • Level 2
    • Level 3
    • Level 4
    • Level 5
    • Level 6
    • Level 7
    • Level 8
    • LLB
    • LLM
    • Masters
    • MBA
    • MSc
    • Postgraduate
    • Practitioner
    • Short
    • Undergraduate
    • University
  • Courses by Providers
    • Acudemy
    • Avado
    • BARBRI
    • Brunel University London
    • CIPP
    • Course2Career
    • DLC Training
    • DPG
    • Hudson
    • ICS Learn
    • Institute of Supply Chain Mana
    • International Career Institute
    • ITonlinelearning
    • Learning People
    • London Academy of Trading
    • London College of Contemporary Music
    • London Governance & Compliance Academy
    • London School of Business and Finance Online
    • Next Level Impact
    • Online Courses Learning
    • Open Study College
    • Samuel & Co
    • The Career Academy
    • TPT Consultancy & Training
    • University College of Estate Management
    • University of Essex Online
    • University of Liverpool Online
    • University of Roehampton Online
    • Walbrook Institute London
    • How To Become
    • The Workforce Training Hub
    • Career Advice
    • Study Tips
    • Quizzes
    • Resources
    • Industry Insider
  • Top Courses
  • Become a Partner
  • Contact us
 
Published 8 Oct 2018

3 Steps to Changing Your Career

by CoursesOnline Contributors

Browse Courses Today

There’s an infamous line by fictitious How I Met Your Mother character, Barney Stinson. He says, ‘new is always better.’

While there are plenty of issues with his logic, most of which are pointed out in the show, you might be looking out the window wistfully and considering a new career. The Balance suggests the following to be the most common reasons to change careers:

  • Negative relationship with the boss
  • Bored and unchallenged by the work itself
  • Opportunities to use their skills and abilities
  • The meaningfulness of the employee’s job

You might, however, have read one of our articles about a job sector that you hadn’t considered. These industries include the health sector, IT or catering. Each sector comes with its own challenges, benefits and routes to achieve the position.

Whatever your reason, a change can be exciting and scary in equal measures. Here’s our guide to how to plan a career move, how to execute it and anything else you need to know.

According to the Telegraph, the percentage of age groups looking for a career change is as follows:



0%

18 – 24 years

0%

25 – 34 years

0%

35 – 44 years


0%

45 – 54 years

0%

55 + years


Step One – Think, Then Research


In our opinion, these are three questions to ask yourself when you initially think about changing careers:


  • What did you want to do when you were growing up?

    Maybe leave out the idea of becoming a Teletubby, but certainly include those initial career ideas that you had at school. Your thoughts will have changed after an advanced understanding and certainly evolved, but your basic impulse is perhaps something to dwell on.

  • What are you passionate about?

    For this author, it’s writing. He’s done it since a young age so once he found out he could use this talent as a career, there was no turning back. Maybe for you, it’s art, if so, find out the many artistic careers out there. If you enjoy video games, why not think about a job where you create for others to enjoy, like becoming a game designer or developer? If, however, you’re only passionate about helping others, the health sector might be for you.

  • What do you want from your job?

    For some, money is the deciding factor. These people will take a large amount of stress or put up with an unsavoury workplace if it means some extra cash in the bank. That’s completely fine. Others might prefer a job that they can switch off from as soon as they’ve left the building and not think about it for the next twelve hours. Whatever you want from a job, apply it to your passion and what you’ve always felt like you want to do.

Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, it’s essential to research. Use tools like our careers’ blog or Google as a more extensive (and perhaps more obvious) search tool to find out what you must do to build towards your ideal job.

Talk to friends, colleagues, and anyone that will return your calls. Those that are doing the job are the best people to speak to. They can give you an honest rundown of the positives and negatives, as well as a realistic idea of how to get there.

Bonus: Gain some extra first-hand knowledge by taking part in work experience. Yes, it might be something that we did at fifteen, but it’s a great way to find out about the sector you’re thinking of moving across to.


The average person will change jobs
between

5 - 0

times in their
professional lifetime


In a survey to find out the reason why
people don’t change careers,

0%

of the respondents said it was due to financial commitments such as a mortgage

Step Two: Identify the Path


This step might come under the first one, but it’s crucial. You might want to become a writer, but you’ve trained as an accountant. How can you move sectors? These are the things to consider:


  • How to build up experience

    You might have to work for a lowered wage, and in some cases for free. Only work without pay if the experience satisfies the desired goal. For example, if the experience will genuinely benefit you when it comes to a job interview for your dream job.

  • What the professional end goal is

    Do you want to move careers to give yourself flexibility? Then a full-time career in the sector won’t be for you. Equally, if you’re ready for a long-term career investment, freelancing might be a good start, but it isn’t your end goal.

Step Three – Execution


Here, honesty is the most significant factor. Be honest with your boss, your colleagues, and most importantly, yourself. Remember the reason for leaving that career and think about why you’re chasing down this new opportunity.


  • Talk to your boss. Even if they’re the least understanding person, it’s professional courtesy to keep them in the loop.
  • Don’t leave tasks unfinished and your old co-workers to pick up the pieces.
  • Work until the end even if it’s merely because they can give you a positive reference.
  • Remember that your new career will have its own challenges.

It’s easy to feel obligated to stay in a career that you don’t like. It’s very easy to go along with what other people think you should be doing but remember; you’re the one that has to do that job, so why not find something that makes you happy?

To discover the educational opportunities available to help you get where you need to be, why not explore your options:

Browse Courses Today

Sources:


The Balance

The Telegraph, It’s official: most people are miserable at work

Enjoy this article?

Subscribe now to receive articles like these straight to your inbox
CoursesOnline Contributors

Navigator Illustration
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!
gator tooltip icon
Our course navigator helps refine thousands of courses into a personalised list that suits you. Click to answer each question, so we can provide you with the best possible courses, tailored to your preferences.
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!

Try our navigator tool and find the right course.

Start Here
Navigator Illustration

Related Articles


The Secret to Finding a Job in the UK: Upskilling

The UK is facing one of its toughest periods of unemployment...

wpengine
Jul 9, 2024
Read More

5 ‘Future Proof’ Careers in the UK (Updated)

In this rapidly evolving employment landscape, some of the m...

Claudia Reiners
Jul 11, 2018
Read More

5 of the Best Creative Jobs in London (New Guide)

London is known for its many different types of art, from th...

Claudia Reiners
Jul 11, 2018
Read More

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get expert advice, insights, and explainers on tricky topics — designed to help you navigate your learning journey with confidence.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"
  • Popular Subjects
  • Qualification Type
  • How to Become
  • Bookkeeping
  • Computer Science
  • Counselling
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Human Resources
  • IT
  • Networking
  • Payroll
  • Psychology
  • University
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Web Development
  • View More
  • Advanced Diploma
  • Bachelors
  • Certificate
  • Diploma
  • ELCAS
  • Foundation
  • Level 2
  • Level 3
  • Level 4
  • Level 5
  • Level 6
  • Level 7
  • Masters
  • MBA
  • MSc
  • Postgraduate
  • Short
  • Undergraduate
  • A-Level
  • Award
  • University
  • View More
  • How to Begin a Career in IT
  • How to Become a Bookkeeper
  • How to Begin a Career in Trading
  • How to Become a Change Management Consultant
  • How to Become a Cloud Architect
  • How to Become a Construction Health & Safety Officer
  • How to Become a Cryptocurrency Expert
  • How to Become a Forensic Scientist
  • How to Become a Financial Modeller
  • How to Become Java Certified
  • How to Become a Leadership Coach
  • How to Become a Manager
  • How to Become a Mentor
  • How to Become Microsoft Certified
  • How to Become a Psychologist
  • How to Become a Public Health Consultant
  • How to Become a Software Developer
  • How to Become a Software Tester
  • How to Start Your Career in Human Resources
  • How to Become Xero Certified
  • View More

Newsletter sign up

We'll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.
Courses
  • All Courses
  • Online Courses
Education Providers
  • Our Providers
Resources
  • Our Blog
  • How to Become
About us
  • About CoursesOnline
  • FAQs
Contact us
  • Advertise your course
  • Become an Affiliate
Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Certified B Corporation
Tafecourses Facebook Tafecourses LinkedIn Tafecourses Instagram
Certified B Corporation
Copyright © 2025 Coursesonline.co.uk
All Rights Reserved.
Back to Top

Newsletter Sign Up

We’ll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"

Coursesonline.co.uk uses cookies. By continuing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more.

GDPR - Logo
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Additional Cookies

This website uses additional cookies to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Cookie Policy

More information about our Cookie Policy