Switching careers may sound like a scary endeavor, but it’s really no big deal. In fact, in this day and age, it is often encouraged – and is sometimes even necessary – to keep us mentally stimulated and on track with our professional goals.

This article outlines the five steps necessary to transition from one career to another smoothly.

• Ask Yourself, “What Do I Want in a Career?”

Your answer to this question shouldn’t be, “I’m just looking for something different.”

Get a clear picture of why you are looking to change and if it’s what you actually want. Try and be as specific as possible about the types of projects that interest you. Also, consider the work environment you would like to be a part of and how you want to feel while interacting with your boss and coworkers. Be realistic and evaluate what your true end goal is.

• Make a List

Once your end goal is clear, it’s time to create an action plan to achieve it.

Identify your transferable skills: Explore careers that value your skills, and remember that your experience can be a selling point when pursuing new positions.

Determine what you lack: Find out what new skills you’ll need and how to acquire them.

Figure out who can help: Think of people who can offer direction, write you a recommendation, or introduce you to new people.

• Do Your Homework

When changing careers, it is crucial to find out everything you can about the new field before jumping into it. To avoid the problems you had in your old job, make sure you’re getting into something different. At the same time, ask yourself the following questions to ensure that this field’s a good fit for you and meets the goals you defined for yourself earlier.

→ Are there opportunities available?

→ What are typical hours, working conditions, and salaries?

→ Will I need to study further?

→ Can I commit to getting the training and credentials required to secure a job in that field?

• Connect With Key Players in the New Field

Given how competitive the job market is, it will probably take you significant time and effort to land an interview. That said, a robust network of contacts will help you get to where you want to go in your new career quicker.

Remember to:

→ Talk to other people in the industry

→ Network and share tips about transitioning to a new field

→ Stay in the know by following industry news, blogs, forums, and social media

• Be Persistent

When you switch careers, be prepared to start at the bottom, take a pay cut, or be told over and over again that you’re overqualified (or underqualified). The transition will demand a lot of hard work, patience, and humility. But for people who are actually willing to put in the time and effort, it’ll be worth it.

It’s important that you take one small step at a time, and remember that all you’re doing is figuring out what you want to do next, not what you will be doing forever.