Have you been feeling like you’re not where you want to be in life? Maybe you’ve been wondering ‘how do I change careers?’, or feeling uninspired and stuck, constantly searching for something more fulfilling? A career change could help you get your spark back.
Changing careers can be scary, but it’s also a completely common part of modern life. Recently, over 1.1 million people have changed their jobs in one year1. So, if you’re thinking of changing yours, you’re not alone!
So how do you make change? Well, upskilling or reskilling can be a great way to set the wheels in motion for your next move. With undergraduate, postgraduate and short courses, on campus and online, we’d love to help you discover your next career path.
What you’ll learn
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
- How to know if a career change is for you
- Step by step guide to changing careers
- Upskilling for a career change
- Hear from others like you
- Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
- Expert tips to explain your career shift in interviews
- How can Charles Sturt help you change careers?
- FAQs
How to know if a career change is for you
If you’re thinking about a career change, you can assess your current situation with these five points.
| Job situation | Are you feeling unhappy or uninspired in your current role? If your current job is leaving you with a glass half empty outlook, maybe it’s time to see what other careers you might enjoy. |
| Lifestyle | What is your current work-life balance and daily routine looking like? Are you able to manage your personal commitments and fulfil your career aspirations at the same time? |
| Compensation | Does your current role meet your salary expectations and provide financial stability? Is there a clear pathway to move into higher roles within your role? |
| Motivations and life goals | Think about where you see yourself in five years. Is it still within your current career? |
| Skill set | Will your current skill set and qualifications get you to where you want to be in your career? Are there skills you could build on to help you? |
If you’re curious about a career change but don’t quite know if it’s for you, try our career change quiz.
Step by step guide to changing careers
So you want to change your career, but don’t know where to start? This step-by-step guide will help you begin your journey!
1. Self-assessment and reflection
The first step in a career change is to identify what you enjoy doing, your strengths and values. Think about what you want to get out of your career and where you see yourself in five years. Are you someone who enjoys working with numbers, or maybe you think more creatively?
Reflecting on your current career is important when deciding if you want to make changes. Think about what you enjoyed and which aspects you want to keep or leave behind. What don’t you enjoy, and where can you find inspiration for a new career pathway?
Have a go at making yourself a Skills Gap Analysis template. This can help you identify where you could upskill and progress into your desired career path. We put together an example table for you.
| Target Skill | Current level | Gap | Action plan | Priority |
| Example: cybersecurity fundamentals | General IT knowledge | Lack of formal framework knowledge | Enrol in a microcredential: Cyber Security Fundamentals | High |
| Transferable skills | ||||
| Technical skills | ||||
| Soft skills |
2. Research and exploration
Exploring your career options is the next step in your career change. If you can already see yourself in a specific career, begin researching courses and skills that you might need to get there. If you’re still unsure of where you want to go in your career, we suggest doing some research. Look at:
- in-demand fields
- job listings that align with your interests
- contacting professionals in your desired field via LinkedIn or networking events for their expert opinion.
3. Skill building and planning
The next step is to identify new skills, qualifications, or experience you might need to achieve your career goals. Identifying your weaknesses might be confronting, but it’s the best way to see where you can upskill and get ahead in your progression towards your new career goals.
Upskilling might mean you need to enrol in short courses, workshops, or certifications. Some careers might require you to complete an undergraduate degree. We suggest completing short courses first if you’re still unsure about your direction.
Creating a visual roadmap is a great way to lay out your plans. Developing a clear, step-by-step map of your upcoming journey can help you stay on track. This could include due dates, milestones and budget plans if needed.
4. Networking and marketing
Your next step is to build your network in your desired workspace. This doesn’t only mean reaching out to people for jobs, but also for advice. Connect with people in your target industry and ask them all your burning questions about their career.
Revamping your resume is your chance to highlight your transferable skills from your past career and add the additional skills and qualifications you have developed for this new career.
Once you start applying for new roles and attending interviews, you should develop a compelling narrative to explain why you’re changing careers. This helps employers understand why you want to be in this new career and shows intention and stability. Your narrative is a bridge between your past and your future; it helps build confidence in yourself and your future employers.
5. Execution and resilience
When deciding to change careers, you might find yourself wanting to jump right into it. It’s important to start small. Experimenting with industry events, work experience, or small projects is a good way to test the water and spark your interest.
Changing careers can be a long process. It can require a lot of effort and time to become great at something new. It’s important to remain adaptable and resilient. Not everything will go the way you imagine; expect challenges! However, you should try to view obstacles as opportunities for growth and for learning more about your chosen career.
Upskilling for a career change
Upskilling is one of the most important aspects of moving into a new career. It ensures that you’re putting your best foot forward as you approach this huge decision. Further education and skill development create new opportunities and outcomes in your chosen career.
There are many skills and courses required for different jobs. Some of those require years of commitment; others might only be a few months. It’s important that you know what is expected for your new career. Upskilling could come in the form of:
- free/paid short courses
- online/in-person undergraduate degrees
Certain careers require certification before you can enter the workforce. It’s important to understand what might be required to complete before you try to secure a job. Further studying can help you meet these requirements.
For example, you can’t decide to become a nurse and immediately start working with patients in a hospital. A Bachelor of Nursing2 degree at Charles Sturt will set you up with the skills and qualifications you need.
Hear from others like you
At Charles Sturt you will be able to unlock your full potential and begin the journey towards you new career. In fact, let’s hear from two of our alumni who did just that!
Felicity’s story
Felicity is a mature-aged student who worked in sales and customer service before deciding to study a healthcare degree.
“I always knew it wasn’t for me and that I wanted to work at something that was meaningful. Charles Sturt’s course was set up for people like me. Busy people, who aren’t just studying.”
Darren’s story
Darren is another mature-aged student who returned to Charles Sturt to complete his second degree with us, this time in education. After a successful career in marketing, Darren decided to return to university and shift into education.
“No matter how trying the day, I go home knowing that I have helped children to believe in themselves and to love learning. Yes, the job is very demanding, but there is no better feeling than when you help kids to learn and to hope.”
Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
Changing careers can be a tricky process. We want to help you by identifying where people go wrong and preventing you from making the same mistakes.
❌ Jumping in without research
✅ Make sure you do your research! Look at real job ads to see where you could upskill, the day-to-day work that would be required and if it sounds like something you can see yourself doing. You could even try reaching out to professionals within the field to ask them your burning questions!
❌ Underestimating the learning curve
✅ Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to complete your studies quickly. You should expect to feel like a beginner again, and that is completely normal. Set yourself realistic timelines and track your progress to stay motivated.
❌ Not building a portfolio or proof of skills
✅ Employers want to see why they should hire you. Building a portfolio or proof of skills helps employers see how you put your skills into practice and how you could add value to their team.
❌ Using a generic resume
✅ Your resume reflects your skills and your passions. Be sure to tailor it to each role and industry. Your resume should focus on achievements and results – it’s important to highlight transferable skills from your previous career.
❌ Fearing rejection and giving up too early
✅ Don’t give up! Remember – not everything will go as planned! Try to be adaptable and remember why you’re changing careers in the first place.
Expert tips to explain your career shift in interviews
You have an interview! This is a major achievement in itself. This means that the employer is impressed with your resume and is interested in learning more about you and what you can offer them.
Interviews are the perfect opportunity to tell your employer about your journey and what led you to this new career. It also gives you a chance to sell your skills and willingness to learn. We have five useful tips that can help you stand out and excel in your interview:
- Tip 1: craft a clear, positive career story
- Tip 2: avoid negative talk about your previous career
- Tip 3: highlight the research you did before making the switch
- Tip 4: emphasise your transferrable skills
- Tip 5: explain how your past experience makes you an asset
How can Charles Sturt help you change careers?
Ready to get started? Check out how we can help:
- Upskill with courses and microcredentials to ensure you’ve got the skills you’ll need in your new career.
- Look at our online courses to fit learning around your life. Changing your career doesn’t have to mean quitting your current job immediately!
- Review our support services to help guide you through this exciting new chapter.
Need help? Contact us for a chat, and let’s begin your journey to your new career.
FAQS
How do I choose the right career to switch to?
If you’re thinking of moving into a new career, ask yourself what it is about your current job that you don’t like. What’s missing from your current position and what would help you feel more fulfilled. If you want some help, try our career change quiz.
How long does it take to change careers?
It varies for everyone depending on how extensive the change is. Quick transitions could be 2–6 months, but a bigger change could take 2–3 years. Some career changes require you to start again from the beginning and that’s okay! You’ll be building your skills to make you the best candidate for your new career.
Do I have to quit my job before changing careers?
In most cases, no. Financial stability reduces stress and staying employed can help you explore other options without pressure of being unemployed.
And at Charles Sturt we understand that full-time study is not suitable for everyone, so we have part-time study options available to help you complete your studies while also meeting your other responsibilities.
- Job mobility, February 2025 | Australian Bureau of Statistics ↩︎
- Cricos: 0101019, 010599C ↩︎
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