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If going-home time is the best moment of the day and you dread spending the rest of your working life in your current set-up, consider making a change. Here's how to examine your options and plan a new career path.
Make a wise choice
What is it about your current work that grates on you? Identify what you are looking for: more money, deeper satisfaction, a less frenetic working life? Knowing what you do and don't want helps you assess possibilities and make the right decisions.
Assess your skills
What knowledge and abilities could you transfer to a new field? Re-write your CV to reflect skills which are universally valued, such as displaying commitment to an employer or working well in a team.
Seek advice
Invest in a session with a careers counselling or advice service. Typically, they use psychometric testing and an interview to make a full assessment of your personality type and abilities, from which they produce a range of suggested careers and advice on how to enter them.
Consider retraining
Options range from full-time study to part-time or distance learning. Make detailed enquiries before committing. Expensive high-level qualifications aren't always necessary.
Meet people in the know
Talk to people who are already pursuing the career you'd love. Contact professional groups, attend networking events, ask questions.
Set well-informed goals
Decide where you'll aim to be over the next five years. Bear in mind how quickly you can retrain, what level you might start at, and what your ultimate aim is.
Organise support
Discuss your plans with family and friends, and get them on your side. Changing direction can be stressful, and having a firm support network will ease the way.
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