Just about everyone will experience a career change at some point during their lives. Whether they are changes that happen based on your internal desires or the marketplace mayhem, you will be way ahead of the majority if you start to take action now. Don't take for granted since you've been in the company for a long time that you will not suffer the effects of market forces. Many people who assumed are not working or work dead-end jobs they took to pay the bills. Even if you are incredibly happy with your current job, you may still end up facing a career change in the future.



The majority of people have multiple career changes in their lifetime. If you think that the career you started in may not be long-term, it is a smart idea to take action in your career changes. If you are prepared for the eventual possibility of a layoff, an unexpected illness, a corporate takeover, a company bankruptcy, or other potential disruptions of your current career, you can make the transition easier for yourself.

Keep a file of items like your five-year plan, updated resumes, cover letters, business cards, your network and an emergency fund ready in the event of a career change. By doing the research ahead of time on potential career choices that include your skills, you have the option during a career change to seek work in your field or look into another field using the same skills or those that you obtained while you were in your job.

You should put together several copies of your resume. One should be in Word format and have all the format the majority of resumes contain. One should also be electronic and be used for online submissions. It's also good to have a functional resume instead of a traditional one, if you have a lot of years of experience that may make you seem dated instead of fresh. This way you can group your skills by job experience rather than dates, making you appear younger at least on paper.

Together, with your professional network and other things you do to be prepared for a career change, you will realize that having an emergency fund is one of the wisest decisions you can make. You will have to pay your bills while you change from one job to another. You will have to cover transportation costs to interviews and continue to maintain a professional image, while having no income in many cases.

You will also need to build a professional network. Start to put together a network of professional contacts outside the company as well as within. You never know where your next job lead will come from, but it will probably be from an individual who knows someone trying to fill a position. Knowing the right people will supply opportunities when they are necessary. Remember, preparing ahead of time helps you not only advance in your career but also greatly reduces the stresses involved in career change.