Many of us dream about leaving the confines of a typical full-time job and moving into a business all our own. For many people, a full-time job is a means of gaining security. For others, it can be confining, and can potentially limit your income and happiness.
If you’ve thought about making a hard-right in your career, you are definitely not alone. For those of us who have a lot of responsibilities, making a big career change is not always possible. Bills, dependents, savings, and family responsibilities are all important considerations. Many of us can’t afford to walk away from a job that provides us with what we need.
But, with a world of emerging fields, digital opportunities, and positions that are more skill-based, a lot of opportunities exist today. It’s easier now than ever before to switch careers, build your own business, or find a work schedule that truly suits your lifestyle and personality. It can take a lot of work, but finding a new career that you can control, can be one of the best decisions you ever make.
Online Businesses
The world of online business is booming, with many opportunities for you to create a niche online. But that said, many startups take some time to get off the ground, and you may not have the money to dive into a large business immediately. If you’re hoping to transition to an online business (like drop shipping, sales, or services), taking the time to research, get set up, and start your business at a part-time pace can actually be a much wiser decision than risking it all to dive in.
Taking the time to get to know your market, do some trial and error testing, and truly align your business, your marketing, and your vision, while keeping your full-time income, is a wonderful way to get a business off the ground. You always have the option of transitioning into this as your full-time role, when things take off. Until then, it’s wise to keep your job.
Sales and Service
Online sales and service can be a money-maker for many people if they know what they are doing. Voiceover artists, translators, digital marketers, and many other skilled professionals have found success carving out their own side gig.
But, the world of competition is steep, and succeeding in sales or service roles requires hard work, dedication, savvy marketing, a lot of time, and some luck. Taking the time to research and start slow, can help you creatively carve out your place, and let you build a successful side business, as you transition out of your current career.
Freelancing on the Side
Working to make someone else rich can be exhausting, even though you have the benefit of a regular income. In many cases, skilled employees make less than they are worth in a salaried position, and miss out on a world of opportunity on the side.
If you’re a graphic designer, consultant, tax professional, writer, accountant, or programmer, there are numerous freelance positions available that will allow you to take work on piece by piece, to build a steady business. Keeping your current job provides the income you need to freelance on the side, while you build a personal brand and portfolio. Once you’ve perfected your pitch and have a steady flow of work that you can depend on, the transition from your full-time role to freelancing will be much smoother, and likely very successful.
Part-time Classes and Volunteer Opportunities
If you’re considering a drastic career change and need to develop skills to make it happen, part-time classes and volunteer opportunities are a wonderful way to develop these skills. By taking advantage of online courses (either paid or free) and seeking out jobs where you can learn hands-on skills while helping a worthy cause, you’ll quickly be able to build the new skill set required to make that career change happen.
Conclusion
Making a big career change is never easy, and there are points in your life where it might be truly difficult to make a change. But with that said, it is also very important to keep in mind that your happiness and your goals need to be a priority, and just because something is difficult, doesn’t mean it is not worth pursuing.
If you know it is time for a career change, don’t let the difficulty stop you. More often than not, the most difficult things in life turn out to be the best things. There are many paths forward and with a little trial and error, you’ll find the one that is right for you.
