Looking at making a career change this year? Making a shift can ultimately lead to greater satisfaction in your professional and personal life if done right. Here are four simple steps that will help you make your transition as smooth and success as possible –

#1 GAIN RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Before you can make a career change, you need to gain that experience in your desired career path. Starting over can be intimidating, but if you feel you’ve gotten off-track in your career and want to course correct, the rewards you’ll reap from making a change will make up for it. 

#2 HUSSLE OUTSIDE OF WORK

You’re going to burn the candle at both ends for a little while – this means you’ll have to hustle outside of work, dedicating time to your new path on nights or weekends. Create a schedule and goals for yourself that feel manageable so you don’t become overwhelmed.

#3 GET YOUR BOSS’ BUY IN

If you wish to make a switch within your organization, let your boss know about your plans as early as possible. One way to start this type of conversation with your employer is by talking about what you’ve already learned for your new career path and how you want to pivot. 

#4 MAKE THE SWITCH

Once you’ve looked into what kind of education and skills you’ll need, worked on your new career on the side, found possible opportunities, and gained the support of your boss, then all that’s left to do is go for it.

While it reads easy here, there will definitely be challenges along the way, but that will become part of your journey and part of your new level of strength and experience. This will only strengthen you, making you more prepared when you start in your new role.