essays on career change

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113 Career Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Choosing a career path is a significant decision that can shape our lives. Whether you are a high school student exploring your options or a working professional considering a career change, writing a career essay can be a valuable exercise in self-reflection and goal-setting. To help you get started, here are 113 career essay topic ideas and examples that can inspire your writing:

Why I chose my current career path.

The influence of my family on my career choices.

Exploring unconventional career options.

The impact of technology on the job market.

The role of internships in career development.

How to navigate a successful career in a competitive industry.

Strategies for finding work-life balance in a demanding career.

The importance of professional networking for career growth.

Challenges faced by women in male-dominated industries.

The role of education in career success.

The pros and cons of freelance work.

How to turn a hobby into a career.

The future of remote work and its implications for careers.

The impact of automation on job opportunities.

The benefits of pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector.

The role of mentors in career development.

The importance of continuous learning in a rapidly changing world.

Exploring careers in the healthcare industry.

The challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.

The impact of globalization on career opportunities.

The role of personal branding in career advancement.

The benefits of cross-cultural work experience.

The role of emotional intelligence in career success.

Exploring careers in the creative arts.

The challenges and rewards of a career in the military.

The impact of social media on career opportunities.

The importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The benefits of pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM).

The challenges and rewards of a career in education.

The role of leadership skills in career advancement.

The impact of climate change on future career opportunities.

Exploring careers in the hospitality industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in the environmental sector.

The challenges and rewards of a career in law enforcement.

The role of communication skills in career success.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job displacement.

The importance of financial literacy in career planning.

Exploring careers in the fashion industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in public service.

The challenges and rewards of a career in the entertainment industry.

The role of resilience in overcoming career setbacks.

The impact of social entrepreneurship on career options.

The importance of work culture in career satisfaction.

Exploring careers in the sports industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in the technology sector.

The challenges and rewards of a career in the aviation industry.

The role of adaptability in navigating a changing career landscape.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job creation.

The importance of work-life integration in career fulfillment.

Exploring careers in the tourism industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in the financial sector.

The challenges and rewards of a career in healthcare administration.

The role of organizational skills in career success.

The impact of online learning on career development.

The importance of workplace diversity for innovation.

Exploring careers in the film industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in engineering.

The challenges and rewards of a career in social work.

The role of negotiation skills in career advancement.

The impact of remote work on employee well-being.

The importance of emotional well-being in career satisfaction.

Exploring careers in the gaming industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in marketing.

The challenges and rewards of a career in nonprofit management.

The role of time management in career success.

The impact of social media on personal branding.

The importance of cultural intelligence in global careers.

Exploring careers in the culinary industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in journalism.

The challenges and rewards of a career in architecture.

The role of problem-solving skills in career advancement.

The impact of remote work on team collaboration.

The importance of work-life harmony in career fulfillment.

Exploring careers in the music industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in psychology.

The challenges and rewards of a career in event planning.

The role of decision-making skills in career success.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job satisfaction.

The importance of mentorship in career development.

Exploring careers in the automotive industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in entrepreneurship.

The challenges and rewards of a career in graphic design.

The role of creativity in career advancement.

The impact of remote work on organizational culture.

The importance of work-life boundaries in career satisfaction.

Exploring careers in the publishing industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in human resources.

The challenges and rewards of a career in interior design.

The role of teamwork in career success.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job security.

The importance of self-reflection in career planning.

Exploring careers in the education technology industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in healthcare research.

The challenges and rewards of a career in social media management.

The role of adaptability in overcoming career obstacles.

The impact of remote work on employee engagement.

The importance of work-life integration in career success.

Exploring careers in the renewable energy sector.

The benefits of pursuing a career in data analytics.

The challenges and rewards of a career in public relations.

The role of critical thinking skills in career advancement.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job recruitment.

The importance of lifelong learning in career growth.

Exploring careers in the e-commerce industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in healthcare policy.

The challenges and rewards of a career in software development.

The role of adaptability in navigating a changing job market.

The impact of remote work on work-life balance.

The importance of personal development in career success.

Exploring careers in the renewable energy industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in user experience design.

The challenges and rewards of a career in cybersecurity.

The role of emotional intelligence in career advancement.

These 113 career essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of industries, skills, and challenges. Whether you are passionate about a particular field or looking for inspiration, these topics can help you explore various aspects of careers and find your own unique path. Remember, writing a career essay is not only about showcasing your knowledge and skills but also about understanding yourself and the world of work. Good luck on your writing journey!

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How to Become More Comfortable with Change

• Kathryn Clubb

Overcome these three (very common) change-averse mindsets.

One of the most common unconscious mindsets is that “change is temporary,” but when you see something as temporary, you tend to cope with it instead of accepting and embracing it. The reality is that change is a constant, and you’ll need to navigate it often in your career.

• The authors identify three common change-averse mindsets: receivers, resistors, and controllers. Receivers see change as something that happens  to  them that shakes up their sense of control.
• Resistors push back against change, falsely hoping it might go away. And controllers find change overwhelming and isolating.
• By consciously examining how you approach change, you can adopt these strategies to move toward a more change-ready mindset, and welcome change as an opportunity.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

The pace of change has increased massively in light of the pandemic. Managing it now requires a strategy akin to whitewater rafting. New and unpredictable obstacles will continue to present themselves every day — and not just for companies, but for workers themselves.

• Kathryn Clubb  is head of  change and transformation  at  BTS , an organization that works with leaders at all levels to help them make better decisions, convert those decisions to actions, and deliver results. After being a partner in Accenture’s Strategy Practice, Kathryn was the Chief Innovator at WHWest, Inc. With decades of experience helping companies transform and execute strategy, Kathryn has extensive experience working with a variety of top global organizations.
• Jeni Fan  is a senior director at  BTS  and leads  change and transformation  for the East Coast of the United States. She serves as a strategist advisor and thought partner to clients undergoing large-scale change: from culture to strategy, to pre- and post-M&A. Taking a human-centered, evidence-based approach, her work focuses on alignment and building sustained systemwide change at all levels of an organization. Her work spans multiple industries and sectors.

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Essays About Change: Top 5 Examples and 10 Prompts

If you are writing essays about change, see below our best essay examples and writing prompts to help expand your horizon on this topic.

The only thing constant is change. It could be good or bad. It could be short-term or have a lasting impact. The best we can do is to ride on this inevitable and never-ending cycle of change and try coming out of it still standing, thriving, and smiling. This ability to cope with change is called resilience. 

However, some changes – such as the loss of a loved one or a livelihood — are too overwhelming to deal with that some fall into trauma and depression, in which case psychological support is highly encouraged. Read on to see our round-up of rich, well-written essays about change, and a list of helpful prompts follows to help you start your essay. 

1. “The Psychology Of Dealing With Change: How To Become Resilient” by Kathleen Smith

2. how prison changes people by christian jarrett, 3. six ways the workplace will change in the next 10 years by jordan turner, 4. “social movements for good: what they are and how to lead them” by derrick feldman, 5. “the right way to make a big career transition” by utkarsh amitabh, 1. changing your lifestyle for the better, 2. be the change the world needs, 3. adapting to life-changing events, 4. addressing climate change, 5. how did technology change our daily lives, 6. people who changed the world, 7. if you could change the world, 8. dealing with resistance to change, 9. coming-of-age novels, 10. changing your eating habits.

“If you can learn to cope with change, you’ll lower your risk for anxiety and depression. Your relationships will flourish, and your body will feel healthier. But if you can’t cope with change, only a minor amount of stress can make you feel overwhelmed by life. You might also struggle to set and meet the goals you have for yourself.”

Instead of fixating on events and people over which we do not have the power to control, we should focus on ourselves and how we can embrace change without fear. Some tips in this essay include practicing self-care, being in the present, and focusing on your priorities, such as health and well-being. 

Check out these essays about being grateful and essays about heroes .

“Ultimately, society may be confronted with a choice. We can punish offenders more severely and risk changing them for the worse, or we can design sentencing rules and prisons in a way that helps offenders rehabilitate and change for the better.”

In an environment where you are forced to follow the rules to the letter and worry about your safety and privacy daily, prisoners could develop a kind of “perpetual paranoia” or “emotional numbing” and deteriorate cognitive abilities. The essay suggests a rethink in how we deal with law-breakers to encourage reform rather than punish and risk repeat offenses.

Check out these essays about police brutality and essays about assessment .

“As technology closes the divide between geographically separate people, it introduces cracks in relationships and cultures. The remote distribution of work means that many employees will not build the same social relationships in the workplace, leading to issues of disengagement and loneliness.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has already disrupted our way of work in our new normal, but more changes are yet to unfold. This essay looks into the future of work where responsibilities and demands will see a sea change; machines will be co-workers; and the best employee is defined by digital skills, not years of experience.

You might also like these essays about cinema and essays about jealousy .

“Social movements for good establish a mass platform of action for a population, which helps inform and cultivate the awareness necessary to help prevent an issue from affecting more people. True social movements for good have the power to generate awareness that produces tangible results, helping the general population live longer, more productive, happier lives.”

A social movement for good aims to bring social justice to an aggrieved community by calling for tangible support and resources. To accelerate a movement’s momentum, an effective leader must possess certain qualities in this essay.

“There were so many questions running through my head during this time. Why should I quit to make this my full-time job? Is this what I really want? When should I quit? Poet Mary Oliver’s words kept ringing in my head: ‘What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’”

Deciding on a career change is more complex than deciding whether you want to do something different. A career shift entails lifestyle, mindset, and motivation changes, each of which has to be carefully reassessed and prepared for. This essay guides you in deciding when or why it is right to leave your job.

10 Interesting Writing Prompts on Essays About Change

Below are thought-stimulating prompts to help with your essay: 

Committing to regular exercise or getting to bed earlier may be easier said than done. Moreover, the determination that was burning at the start of your lifestyle change journey may wane in the latter part when things get tough. So, for your essay, provide practical tips from wellness experts and your own experience on how to sustain a routine toward a better lifestyle. You can split your essay into sections for each health and wellness tip you recommend.

This is the gist of the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Unfortunately, many of us get frustrated over people refusing to change but fail to see how this change should start with our perception and action. In this essay, write about what an individual can do to focus more on self-improvement and development. 

Have you ever faced a situation where you had to adapt to a drastic change? It could be moving to a different city or school or dealing with losing a loved one. Share your experience and list the traits and practices that helped you through this challenging phase. You may also research what psychologists recommend people to do to keep from falling into depression or developing anxiety. 

To offer a unique highlight in your essay, tackle what your school or community is doing to fight global warming. Interview city councilors and mayors and learn about ongoing initiatives to keep the city clean and green. So this essay could help entice others in your community to work together and volunteer in initiatives to slow climate change.

List down the advantages and disadvantages technology has presented in your life. For example, seeking clarification from teachers about an assignment has been made easier with the many communication channels available. However, technology has also enabled a work-at-home or distance learning arrangement that is causing burnout in many households. 

Feature a person who has revolutionized the world. It could be a scientist, artist, activist, writer, economist, athlete, etc. Preferably, it is someone you idolize, so you do not have to start from scratch in your research. So first, provide a short profile of this person to show his life and career background. Then, write about their ultimate contribution to society and how this continues to benefit or inspire many. 

If there’s one thing you could change in this world, what would it be? This sounds like a question you’d hear in pageants, but it could be a creative way to lay down your life advocacy. So, explain why this is where you want to see change and how this change can improve others’ lives.

Resistance to change is most common when companies modernize, and the dinosaurs in the office refuse to learn new digital platforms or systems. Write about what you think leaders and human resource units should do to help employees cope with changes in the new normal.

A coming-of-age novel tells stories of protagonists who grow up and undergo character transformation. From being eaten up by their fears, the main heroes become braver and better at confronting a world that once intimidated them. For this prompt, share your favorite coming-of-age novel and narrate the changes in the hero’s qualities and beliefs. 

Delivering fast food has become so easy that, for many, it has become a way of life, making it an enormous challenge to replace this practice with healthy eating habits. So, research and write about nutritionists’ tips on creating a lifestyle and environment conducive to healthy eating habits.

If you’re still stuck picking an essay topic, check out our guide on how to write essays about depression . For more ideas, you can check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Yna Lim is a communications specialist currently focused on policy advocacy. In her eight years of writing, she has been exposed to a variety of topics, including cryptocurrency, web hosting, agriculture, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy and international trade. A former journalist in one of the top business papers in the Philippines, Yna is currently pursuing her master's degree in economics and business.

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How To Change Career When You've No Idea What To Do Next

Newly Updated

Image by Israel Sundseth

Stuck in a job that isn't you? Ready for a career change, but have no idea what else you could do – or where to start? Drawing on his own story, Richard explains how by ditching the conventional career rules, you'll radically increase your chances of finding something you love.

It was one of the most difficult periods of my life.

On the surface, I had a good job in a well-known company. I'd been promoted several times. I had a mortgage, I was travelling with work and had great prospects ahead of me.

Inside though, I was deeply unfulfilled. I wasn't enjoying my work, I felt like I wasn't using my full potential, and I longed to wake up feeling like my work was making a difference – to someone or something.

Yet, I didn't have a clue what else I could do.

Indeed I'd struggled on and off for years to figure out a way to change, but without making progress.

Eventually, as you'll read below, I came out the other side. But it wasn't an easy journey.

These are the lessons I learnt along the way.

What you need to know

If you're stuck in your career change, there are three main challenges – or paradoxes – that you're going to come up against.

1. It's you that wants to make a change, but it's also you that's your biggest obstacle

In the depths of my despair about my job, there were signals from all around me that I wasn't in the right place: I was embarrassed to talk about my work with others at parties; I couldn't imagine doing my boss's job (nor the one her boss had); and I was petrified that I'd reach 60 or 70 and not feel proud of the work I'd done in my life.

On a day-to-day basis, I just felt numb – uninspired by the meaningless work I was doing, and seemingly stuck in a Groundhog-Day reality of waking up to the same story every morning.

Yet, at the same time, I had no idea what else I wanted to do (or if I did, no sense of whether those ideas were feasible) – and no idea where to start.

Looking back, I now realise something I didn't at the time – that I was blinkered in my view of the world of work. All I knew was the industry I was in. I had surface-level visibility of some other careers, but there were so many fields and roles that were completely off my radar screen.

I was also scared of taking a cut in salary, scared of what my family and friends would think, and scared of losing the status I'd worked so hard to achieve.

These weren't obstacles in the outside world; they were obstacles in me. It was me – my lack of knowledge and my fears – that was most holding me back.

Does this also hold true for you?

2. You can't figure it out by figuring it out

I was a knowledge worker: paid to think, to solve problems, and to interact with others.

Why then, couldn't I figure what else I wanted to do?

My initial approach was to come home from work, wrap myself in my bedding, and go round and round in circles in my head analysing what else could I do.

I didn't come up with answers.

I also read every single career change book I could get my hands on, scoured the internet for guidance and did numerous profiling tests.

But still no clarity.

The simple reality is that if the solution to your career change lay in more analysis – in making more lists, reading more books, taking more psychometric tests, or simply figuring it all out in your head – you'd have found it by now.

3. You won't find a job by looking for one

When I started to look for something different, recruitment consultants were my natural first port of call.

They talked excitedly to me about roles with competitors or other positions in smaller organisations.

But it all just left me cold.

It was more of the same. I wanted to do something radically different and they couldn't help.

You may have spent hours trawling through job sites or job alerts, and just made yourself more miserable by seeing again and again that you don't have the experience or skills that are being asked for. Or you may have had similar experiences to mine with recruitment consultants. Or you may have sent off your CV / résumé for jobs in different fields, thinking you might at least get an initial interview. But nothing. 

These are all functions of a traditional job market that isn't designed for career changers.

Through no fault of your own, you're simply not going to stack up against other people with experience and skills in the different field you're interested in.

What you need to do

There are solutions to each paradox, but they're likely not what you think they are (they weren't initially for me).

1. Do it with others, not alone

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller .

The biggest challenge I faced in my career change was inertia. I wanted to change, but I didn't want to risk the security of the job I had.

I was comfortably uncomfortable.

I would have bursts of energy to do something about my career, followed by periods where I'd get swept back into 'life', surfacing weeks or months later and realising nothing had changed.

I only really started to make progress when I deliberately put others around me.

I started seeking out others in my company who also wanted to escape; I enrolled not one, but two career coaches; and I started to meet and hang out with different types of people (one of whom was to end up leading me to a job I loved – see more below).

The net effect was different ideas, different connections, and accountability – all of which, finally, led to forward movement.

Think of your career change as an expedition, not a day-trip.

If you were climbing to the base camp of Mount Everest, it's possible you could do it by yourself, but it's highly likely you'd want to go with others – peers, a guide, a support team. It makes the journey safer, faster and, heck, a lot more fun.

2. Act it out, don't figure it out

"Ideas occur when dissimilar universes collide." – Seth Godin.

In my career-change journey, it took me four and a half years to get out of a career that wasn't right for me.

For most of that time, I was trapped in analysis paralysis.

As the coach I worked with at the time said, "Richard, it's like you're standing in a forest and you have a number of tracks in front of you. But you're paralysed because you don't want to make a mistake. And the challenge is: if you don't take any of the paths, you're never going to get out of the forest. If you take one of them, it may not be the right track initially, but you can course-correct."

When I started to act rather than analyse, things started to change.

The following are some of the things that I did.

I enrolled in a part-time journalism course. I loved it, but it quickly became clear that it wasn't for me as a career.

I shadowed my friend who worked in PR for half a day. I did the same with a friend who worked as a Japanese yen bond trader in an investment bank. Both fascinating worlds, but neither appealed.

Notice what I was doing, though.

As Seth Godin talks about, I was stepping into different worlds – sparking ideas and, at the same time, crossing off possibilities, rather than leaving them as open questions in my mind.

I was also testing ideas in a way that meant that I didn't need to leave my day job before I'd figured out what I really wanted to do ( see more in our lean career change approach  on how to do this).

Finally, thanks to an introduction made by my future sister-in-law, Sarah, I walked into the offices of a social start-up – and I knew in a matter of minutes I'd found something that was totally me.

Had I just seen the organisation's website or a job ad in a newspaper, I might never have discovered the connection I had with them. But it was made real by meeting the team, seeing the environment and getting a feel for the energy of the place.

In short, action precedes clarity, not the other way round.

3. Look for people, not for jobs

"Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They're attached to people. If you're looking for an opportunity, you're really looking for a person." – Ben Casnocha.

Job sites, recruitment consultants, CVs / résumés and Google all have their uses in your career change. But they're not the place to start.

Focus instead on connecting with people.

The power of being in front of people is that you can present the whole you – something a CV or résumé simply can't do.

I'm an introvert. So, you won't find me exuberantly working a room at a networking event. But I am comfortable meeting people one-on-one, or having phone calls.

So that's what I did – and with a whole set of people whose roles interested me.

It took time, there were many 'dead ends', but ultimately it led me to a role in a field I didn't previously even know existed.

More than that, this approach meant I avoided the ruthless filtering that happens with conventional job applications.

I wasn't 'qualified' to work in the social start-up I fell in love with. But what I did have was a ton of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. That was never going to come across on my CV or résumé.

I didn't get the job there through a formal application. I got it because I built relationships with people in the organisation. I did some pro-bono work, which led to consultancy work, which led to an interview for a full-time job.

Oh, and if you're curious to know, I had the worst interview of my life for that role. I so wanted the job that my brain froze, I stumbled my way through the questions, and I left thinking I'd blown it. Catastrophic. Or it might had been, had that been my first interaction with the team. But it wasn't and, because of the strengths of the relationships I'd built, I still got the job.

Remember: people first, jobs second.

What your next steps should be

"To know and not to do is not yet to know." – Buddhist proverb.

Making a career change isn't easy – otherwise everyone would be doing it.

But it is possible.

There are hundreds of stories here in our success stories section and elsewhere that show it is.

And remember, this isn't just about your career; it's about your life.

It's about how you feel every morning; it's about how that rubs off on your health and your relationships; and, ultimately, it's about the impact that you can make on the world through being alive in what you do.

The stakes are high.

But they're higher still if you don't do anything about it.

So, for goodness sake, don't just read this article. Do something because of it. Please.

And let me know how you get on.

What have you learned? What actions are you going to take? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Richard Alderson is the founder of Careershifters. Disillusioned with corporate life, Richard quit his job in search of something more meaningful. He's since gone on to found / co-found multiple social businesses in India and the UK.

We also recommend

Career Change And Uncertainty: What To Do When Everything’s Up In The Air And You Don’t Have Any Of The Answers

How To Avoid Shifting Into Another Career You Hate

3 Ways To Answer 'What Do You Do?' When It's The Last Thing You Want To Talk About

View the discussion thread.

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• MBA>Application Tips

MBA Essay Writing Tip #11: Explaining Career Transitions

April 16, 2021 :: Admissionado Team

Ever wonder how to write about a career transition?

LOADS of people do. It’s a tricky situation in real life, and that makes it even harder to write about. You’ll want to come off as confident and determined, not apologetic or insecure.

Take this example: “Contemplating my GameSoft experience, I realized that my role dealt principally with management. I wanted to shift towards the business side to work for a gaming company with more room for product development. As a result, I now work for General Electric’s corporate aid and strategy division, which acts as an in-house consulting and financial advisory for the company. Although it is not in the gaming industry, I am learning about the complex decisions that a Fortune 500 company, including MBA admissions consulting companies , has to make, a crucial skill to possess when I formulate corporate strategies for the gaming company I work for in the future.”

Why doesn’t this work? First, the link between Gamesoft and General Electric is a weak one at best. We fail to see a clear reason for her career switch, right? Because of this, the writer uses too many words, diluting the impact of her essay while also choosing an overly apologetic tone, which makes her seem lacking in confidence.

Instead, the writer needs to convince us that this career move was a well-thought step in her overall plan. The best way to achieve this is to be punchier, not mention the downside (it’s not in the gaming industry), and to showcase continuity between what she learned at her previous job and the skills she’s now acquiring.

This is what she came up with: “While I learned management at Gamesoft, I wanted to focus on product development. Considering strategy-focused roles so I could get a taste for the complexity and intricacy of improving a company, I now work in General Electric’s corporate strategy division, an in-house consulting and financial advisory team. I am learning about capital allocation, operating expense reduction, and expansion strategies, all crucial decisions I’ll make when I lead the gaming company of the future.”

Why is this better? First, she shows a clear and compelling reason for her career switch: she learned management at her first job but needed to learn new skills for her long-term goal. Then she highlighted those skills without ever mentioning the downside (she left the gaming industry). Finally, she used 25% fewer words, delivering punchier phrasing and a direct message that’s confident and compelling.

That’s a winning career-change essay if we’ve ever seen one!

Like this post? Check out more of our MBA Essay Writing Guide Tips!

• Tip #12: Researching Your Dream School
• Tip #13: Writing On A Deadline
• Tip #14: Avoiding Application Fatigue

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Interview Questions

Comprehensive Interview Guide: 60+ Professions Explored in Detail

Why Career Change? Interview Question and Answers

By Biron Clark

Published: November 15, 2023

Any time you look to make a career change, you’ll face the interview question “Why are you changing careers?” And if you aren’t prepared to answer, it can result in job rejections and potential failure in your job search.

As a former recruiter , I’m going to share:

• How to answer the “Why career change?” interview question (and why employers ask this)
• 9 good reasons for a career change
• 4 word-for-word sample interview answers to why you want a new career
• Mistakes to avoid when answering career change interview questions

Why Employers Ask This Interview Question

Employers ask interview questions about why you’re making a career change because they want to understand your career goals. In a job interview, they aren’t just looking to see if you can perform their job well; they want to know if you’re likely to stay long-term and enjoy the job. And the more you can show them that you have solid, well-thought-out reasons for changing careers, the more comfortable they’ll be in hiring you. If you seem unsure, they’re less likely to hire you into their organization. They also want to make sure you’ve researched and taken time to understand this new career/industry you’re looking to join. They aren’t going to hire you if you don’t seem like you understand the work and challenges that you’ll face.

Finally, they’re hoping to get a sense of whether you performed well in your past career or not. If you tell an employer, “I’m looking to switch into a different career because I’ve been getting poor performance reviews in my current job,” they’ll worry that you may struggle to perform well in their job, too.

So as you answer this question, it’s best to focus on the favorable aspects you hope to gain in your next role, and don’t talk too much about the negatives of your past industry. The only exception is if your industry is struggling as a whole and facing layoffs, reduced opportunities, etc. You’ll see this in the example answers coming up.

Let’s look at how to answer this question now…

How to Answer “Why Career Change?” in a Job Interview

When you face interview questions like, “Why are you looking to change careers?” you should address the question head-on with one or two clear reasons. Avoid badmouthing your current job, employer, or industry, and instead, focus on what you hope to gain in your next career path. You can talk about how it’s more in-line with what you’re passionate about or interested in, how you feel it’s a better industry for future growth and job security, or how you’ve always wanted to be a part of this industry and finally feel it’s the right time to change careers now. Also, highlight any ways in which your skills and experience from previous jobs will be relevant to the new career you’re pursuing.

If you can point out how your past work will help you succeed in this new job, it’ll make the interviewer feel better about offering you the position. And it’ll also explain why you want to change to this new career or job.

Also, it’s best if you point out one specific career you’re pursuing now in your job search. If you tell the interviewer that you’re looking at five different new careers, it’s going to cast doubt about whether you know what you want.

I’ll discuss this more in the “mistakes” section later in this article.

To recap, there isn’t one “right” answer here but you need to be direct and head-on. Avoid badmouthing, and stay positive in your answer.

Don’t worry if you’re still not sure what to say for why you’re changing careers. Coming up, I’ll give you sample reasons for why you want to change career, and word-for-word interview answer examples.

Why Make a Career Change? 9 Good Reasons

• More opportunities for long-term career growth and higher pay.
• Personal interest/passion in an area.
• Make a bigger social or community impact.
• Uncertainty about the long-term prospects of your current industry. (This isn’t considered badmouthing if you simply share your unemotional observations about the industry in general.)
• Seeking new challenges and personal growth.
• Taking a job that is better suited to your skills, experience, and/or personality.
• Following colleagues from a previous company who have made a successful career change and have recommended this new job/career to you.
• Higher salary potential. (It’s best to combine this with another reason above.)
• Starting a new career that’s more aligned with your idea of your “dream job.”

4 Example Answers to “Why Are You Changing Careers?”

Example answer 1:.

I want to change my career path for future growth potential and new challenges. I feel my skills and experience will transfer well into this new career. For example, I saw your job description mentions communication with clients and the ability to lead projects, which were key parts of my last job. And overall, I’ve received career advice from a few colleagues who have successfully made this same career change and recommended it as a way to grow, earn more in their career, and find new challenges.

This is a great answer to “Why make a career change?” for a few reasons. You’re pointing out your relevant skills and experience. You’re mentioning a few colleagues who have successfully made this change, which will put the hiring manager’s mind at ease about whether you’ll “work out” in this new career. And you’re explaining your personal reasons for wanting this new career path… such as higher potential for career growth and earnings.

This is a solid interview answer to why you are looking to change careers. Let’s look at more examples.

Example Answer 2:

My current industry is struggling and I feel this industry has many overlaps with my current industry and role, so I’ll be able to use my skills quickly to contribute, rather than having to start over and learn from scratch. For example, in my current role, I manage projects for four to five large clients at a time and use many of the skills listed on your job posting, like leading teams, leading meetings, and interacting with clients to provide progress reports and updates. So I see this as a way to shift into a healthier, more stable industry while also keeping my relevant skills and being able to hit the ground running in my next position.

Notice how this answer is positive and direct.  It also shows how you’ll be able to perform well for this employer based on your previous work experience. All of these factors make this a good answer that will impress the typical company.

Example Answer 3:

I’m looking to change careers to join a company that’s more aligned with my personal interest and passion for community service. I want to make a positive impact, not just help a company generate profits, and I love that your company has a focus on social impact and responsibility to the community. I read about this in detail on your website and a few of your latest press releases and it’s one of the main reasons I wanted to apply for the position .

Example Answer 4:

Two colleagues from my previous company changed from the finance industry to the tech industry and have said they’ve found the work to be more exciting and fulfilling. They’ve convinced me that it’s a worthwhile career move, and since I have similar interests and motivation to those two colleagues, I’m confident I’ll enjoy working for a company in tech. That’s the entire focus of my job search now, and I’m not applying to any finance companies. I’m not unhappy in finance; I just feel tech would be more exciting and more aligned with my passions.

Mistakes to Avoid in Your Answer

All of the above answers will impress an interviewer and successfully answer those tough questions about why you’re looking to change careers. There are a couple of mistakes to always avoid, though, so let’s go over each mistake now. First, always address the question head-on. The interviewer will feel uncomfortable offering you the position if you seem to be dodging this question, unprepared to answer, or uncomfortable answering. Practice and prepare a direct answer ahead of time. Don’t ever go into the interview unprepared or unsure how you’ll answer this question because you’re not likely to come up with a great answer on the spot.

Next, don’t sound unsure of your decision to leave your previous industry and job. You need to sell yourself by sounding confident in your choice. You can re-read the end of the fourth example answer above to see how to do this. In the second half of that answer, you’re showing the interviewer that your entire focus is on joining this new industry, and you have no hesitations about your decision.

Employers don’t want to hire someone who may change their mind after three months and decide to search for another position. So you need to sound less risky, and you do this by showing that you’re sure about your decision to search for a new career.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, never badmouth in your job interview. Always sound positive and focus on what you’ll gain in this next job and career.

Even if an interviewer asks you, “Why do you want to leave your current job?” it’s not an invitation to badmouth.

Conclusion: Answering Why You’re Changing Careers

Answering questions about why you’re changing careers doesn’t need to be stressful. Practice ahead of time, stay positive, and address the question directly. Show employers that you have strong reasons for making a career change and you’ll get more job offers .

And don’t apologize for wanting to make a change! It’s not bad to be targeting a new direction in your job search. You simply need to be ready to confidently answer the interview questions that you’ll face on this topic, because employers will ask. Your interviewer may have even changed careers in the past (you can research them on LinkedIn to see if this is the case).

They’re not asking to trick you or trap you; they just want to know your motivations and reasons.

About the Author

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IELTS Essay: People Changing Their Careers

04/01/2021 04:31 PM

Two-Part Question

In this essay type, you need to answer two given questions. You can use Paragraph 1 to answer clearly the first question and Paragraph two to answer clearly the second question .  Try to support your answers with real-life examples (1 or 2) in each paragraph.

Ideas (Positive & Negative)

Before you begin writing, you should think about some creative ideas for the topic. You can use those ideas when d eveloping your paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 of your essay. You can even search for articles or videos on the internet about these questions. Some questions to think about are: 

• What can be some benefits of changing careers?
• Why do people change their careers? What are the causes?
• Is it good to stay in one career for more than 20, 30, 40 years? What are the benefits?
• What impacts the development of careers?

Changing is Positive

People can Explore Different Horizons  

There are many who think that they should work what they have studied in university. However, reality is that universities offer very little, in order to prepare a learner for the work field . After leaving university a lot of young people realize that they don't want to do what they studied and decide to try different careers. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as someone finds a direction in their late twenties and early thirties.

Passions Change Over Time

When we are teenagers, we see the world in one way. When we become young adults , we look at it in a completely different way from before. Passions change over time , and so what a person believes is a great job or career when they are a teen, usually completely shifts when they are in their late twenties or early thirties. This causes people to change their view of a career path .

Changing is Negative

You can ask your grandma about this... Or at least my grandma always said that I should find a stable job in one big company and stay confidently in it for all my life. Working in one career creates stability because the more time you spend in that career, the move valuable you become for your company. In the end, for them it will be very counterproductive to fire you or remove you, because you will be a well-experienced asset for their company. Not to mention that, if you play a bit more competitively , you can rise up in the company after time. Just be patient .

Fear the Unknown

Plenty of people do not change their careers because they are afraid of starting something completely new. Changing careers can be challenging , you might need to learn a bunch of new skills , you will have to start from the bottom , and you will have to get a pay cut in many cases. It might be your passion , but reducing your income or entering a new industry can bring a lot of unknown in your life . What if you don't like it? What if you don't fit in ? What if you fail? These are reasonable questions to ask yourself.

Example Essay:

“An increasing number of people are changing their careers."

• What are the reasons?
• Do you think it is positive or negative?

Introduction

We are living in a time when job security and reliability has diminished . People all around the world are struggling to keep a certain career due to many reasons in and out of their hands like the economy , corporate shrinking and technological advancements that lead to a massive job loss. At the same time, it has never been easier to get a new job thanks to the internet, and so in my opinion changing careers can lead to many benefits for the individual, such as financial improvement and personal career development .

Vocabulary:

job security - to have a safe job without worrying that you will be fired

reliability - to be reliable, to count on a job, to be safe

diminish - reduce, drop, go down

something is out of your hand - you have no control over this

corporate shrinking - large companies reducing their workers mainly because technology

technological advancements - new technology

financial improvement - improving the person's income like salary and benefits

career development - improving in your job

Linking Phrases / Sentence Beginners:

We are living in a time when ...

People all around the world are struggling to ...

________due to ________

At the same time, it has never been easier to ...

Paragraph 1

Firstly, I would like to discuss the financial side of the matter . A person’s salary or wage is fundamental when he chooses his long-term occupation . However , information about salaries and salary development over time is scarce . This creates a situation where young people graduating college might have no idea about what a job can offer. For example a young person who aspires to be an artist, might not know the reality of the career he chooses. It might be extremely difficult to start earning a living as an artist, at least at the beginning of his or her career. This problem might convince this young artist to try something different in the short or even long term . In the end , the switch to a different job or career could lead to a better financial success in that person’s early 30ties. This example illustrates that in some cases, changing our career could be absolutely beneficial for our financial wellbeing .

______side of the matter - one part of the discussion

fundamental - very important, essential

long-term occupation - a job or career that someone can do for a long time, or even all life

______ is scarce - there are very few of this

the reality of ______ - the real information, the real story of something

to earn a living   - to make enough money for living comfortably

long term - for a long time

to switch to - to change to

financial success - being successful and having enough money to grown and develop yourself

absolutely beneficial - very important and useful for a person

financial wellbeing - having enough money to take care of ourselves and our family

Firstly, I would like to discuss the ...

However ...

This creates a situation where ...

For example, a young person who aspires to be a ...

It might be extremely  difficult to ...

In the end ...

This example illustrates that in ...

Paragraph 2

The second reason for people’s transition from one career to another could be the lack of clear path for advancement in that career. Often times people are being taught in school and college that working hard is the only criteria in order to advance up the ladder in a company or organization . However, this argument does not take into account many variables like for example technological development , high competition , low retirement rate in certain positions and many more. Let’s take the example of   college professors. Unfortunately, the reality in this academic environment is that a person has to work for many decades in order to qualify and begin a career. Not to mention the fact that professors tend to stay in their positions until late retirement , and this creates very few opportunities for a young person to replace those experienced academics . This example can show that multiple young adults would be stuck waiting for a chance to get into that career field . Changing to a different field of work related to their education like becoming a scientist , researcher or writer , could bring them more success than anticipating for ages to enter academia .

transition - change from one thing to another

clear path for advancement   - clear way to improve in a job

criteria - requirement for doing something

advance up the ladder - improve up in your job, get a promotion

organization - a big company

technological development - the improvement of technology like computers, robots and so on

competition - other people trying to get the same goal as you

retirement rate - how often do people retire or stop working in that job after getting old

late retirement - leaving the job very late ( 70 years old or even higher)

academic environment - work related to teaching and education

decade - 10 years  (decades - many 10 year periods)

to qualify - to be good for a position, to match the criteria

opportunity - chance to do something

academics - people who work in the field of academia (professors, lecturers, researchers etc.)

multiple - many types, many kinds

career field - type of work, industry, area of work

to anticipate - to wait for long for something to happen

for ages - very long period of time

academia - the work field of researchers, professors and so on

The second reason for people's ________ could be the ...

Often times people are being ...

However, this argument does not take into account many variables like for example ...

Lets take the example of ...

Unfortunately, the reality in this ...

Not to mention the fact that ...

This example can show that ...

In conclusion, my personal opinion is that every person has the right and choice to change his career path , and that can be a positive prospect in their life. A person should not sit and struggle with a low wage , or waste years and years in hope for a single odd in their favor , and should take life in his hands . I believe that thanks to technology, we can create our own career path , and if we meet a bump in the road , we can easily turn in another direction , in order to achieve success .

have the right to - have the ability to chose by yourself, independently

career path - a way to progress in your work

positive - good, beneficial

prospect - chance, happening

to struggle - to have difficulty with something

low wage - low paid for your work

waste years and years... - waste a long period of time, waste your life

an odd in your favor - lucky chance, luck

take life in your hands - to control your decisions, to make good decisions about life

create our own career path - make our own choice for work

meet a bump in the road - meet a problem, face a challenge

achieve success - become happy, wealthy and fortunate

In conclusion, my personal opinion is that ...

A person should not ...

I believe that thanks to ________, we can ...

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Examples of Scholarship Essays for the “Career Goals” Question

Emily Wong is a writer at Scholarships360. She’s worked as a social media manager and a content writer at several different startups, where she covered various topics including business, tech, job recruitment, and education. Emily grew up and went to school in the Chicago suburbs, where she studied economics and journalism at Northwestern University.

Learn about our editorial policies

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Writing an essay is often the trickiest part of the scholarship application, not to mention the most time-consuming. However, the essay section also allows room for creativity and individuality. If you can communicate effectively, you can use the essay portion to stand out from the crowd. Let’s go over some tips for writing, as well as a couple of scholarship essay examples about career goals.

How to write a scholarship essay 

At this point, you’ve probably gained plenty of experience writing papers for school. However, it may still take a couple of tries to nail the scholarship essay. Since scholarship teams often have to get through a lot of applications, it’s important to stand out while staying concise. Here are some simple guidelines for writing scholarship essays.

See also: How to write a winning scholarship essay (with examples!)

Take five minutes to brainstorm

Before you even start your essay, take some time to gather your thoughts. Think about what you’ll want the paper to focus on. Why did you choose to pursue your career path in the first place? Where do you want to be in five years? How would this scholarship help you further your studies and work toward your goals?

Once you’ve jotted down a few ideas, choose one or two to center your essay on. Identifying the focus of your paper, it’ll make it easier to keep your thoughts organized. In turn, it’ll make it easier for the reader to follow.

Related : How to start a scholarship essay (with examples!)

Stay within the word limit

Unlike the four-page essays that you may have written in English class, scholarship essays are often only a paragraph or two. In order to respect the selection committee’s time, be wary of going too far about the specified word count. A general rule of thumb is to stay within 20 words above or below the limit. That may entail a few rounds of edits to get the wording just right.

Stay positive!

Feel free to use part of your essay to talk about your life’s challenges. After all, the selection committee often wants to give the award to a candidate who needs it. However, make sure your anecdote doesn’t devolve into a sob story. If you’re going to bring up hardships you’ve endured, try to balance it by talking about how you’ve overcome them. By demonstrating resilience, you can show readers how you would use the scholarship to succeed in your current situation.

Leave time to proofread

Especially for a short scholarship essay, proofreading can take as little as 5-10 minutes. Still, it can be tempting to just hit “submit” after your first draft. However, being too impulsive can leave your essay riddled with typos and grammatical errors.

Try to avoid unnecessary mistakes by finishing your draft at least 24 hours before the scholarship deadline. That way, you can proofread it with fresh eyes before you submit it.

If you’re struggling to close out your essay, read how to end a scholarship essay in five steps .

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How to write a 100-word “career goals” essay.

When writing a 100-word essay, you’ll have to choose your content carefully. Since space is limited, you’ll want to identify the most important details to include beforehand.

First and foremost, make sure to clearly communicate your current pursuits. Talk about your academic and extracurricular activities related to your career goals. Additionally, it’s important to be specific about what you plan to do in the future. Then, if you have extra room, you can talk about how the scholarship will help you reach your goals.

My name is Alison MacBride, and I’m a sophomore at the University of Illinois. I’m currently pursuing a major in Journalism with a minor in Natural Resource Conservation. After completing my program, I plan to combine my areas of interest to become an environmental journalist.

During high school, I volunteered at an eco-conscious farm, where I learned about how our actions affect the earth. Since then, I’ve been set on raising awareness for the environment. This scholarship would go a long way in helping me finish my degree with the skills I need to investigate and report about critical issues.

Word count: 100

How to write a 250-word “career goals” essay

For the 250-word essay, you can go into more detail. Give the readers some context by talking about how you first got interested in your chosen career. Storytelling can be especially effective in engaging your audience. Try to capture their attention by choosing one or two concrete examples and relaying them vividly.

Additionally, you can spend more time talking about the scholarship and how it’ll make a difference in your studies. Go into more detail about how and why you need the award, but remember to keep it positive! For more help, check out how to write a 250 word essay . 

I first decided that I wanted to pursue a career in environmentalism in early high school. The summer after my freshman year, I joined a volunteer program at an eco-conscious farm in my community. In addition to helping out with the operations, I learned about current environmental issues related to farming and other consumer industries.

After learning about the agricultural industry’s impact on the planet, I was inspired to make a difference. The next year, I started a monthly earth magazine at my high school in which we broke down environmental issues and offered tips on how to be more eco-friendly. When I started college, I founded an on-campus publication with the same mission.

In recent years, I’ve been troubled to see how some media outlets downplay the gravity of issues like climate change and deforestation. I’ve admired reporters who publish trustworthy and comprehensible information about environmental issues, and I aim to follow in their footsteps.

When I entered college, I was initially concerned that I wouldn’t have enough money to finish my degree. Fortunately, I’ve been able to cover most of my tuition using merit scholarships and paychecks from my part-time job on campus. Receiving this scholarship would allow me more time to focus on acing my classes and pursuing environmental advocacy work on campus.

Word count: 261

Final thoughts

Planning is essential in making your “career goals” essay clear and concise. Hopefully, these scholarship essay examples about career goals can be your guide to writing a scholarship-winning essay. Good luck!

Additional resources

Maybe you need to write a longer scholarship essay? We can help with our writing a 500 word essay guide ! Be prepared and learn how to write essays about yourself and how to craft an impressive personal statement . Learn the differences between a personal statement and a statement of purpose as the terms might come up on college websites. If you haven’t decided on a college already, check out our guide on how to choose a college . No matter where you are in your educational journey, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for!

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Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

April 15, 2019

MBA Admissions Advice for Career Changers

As an IT consultant, how do you know equity research is the right career for you? How do you know you can handle the hours, the more Darwinian industry and company culture, the stress of having a pivotal impact on huge investment decisions?

If you are an MBA applicant pursuing a career change , then you will have an extra challenge: you will need to demonstrate that you understand the new industry and/or function in practical terms. After all, you may genuinely be fascinated by equity research and even have much to contribute to the field but still not fit in with that industry’s culture. You must go beyond expressing sincere interest, and make a logical case for your career goals . You must show that you understand your chosen industry or function “from the inside.” Failure to do so will undermine the credibility of your goals.

The goals essay (or in some applications, a shorter goals statement in the online form) is the heart of that effort. You’ll need to explain how you plan to achieve your goals – the actual steps you will take.

Here are seven pointers for using your goals essay or statement to show that you know exactly what you are doing in making the decision to change career direction. Note that all applications differ, and may offer more or less opportunity to implement these tips.

1. Show the natural progression and evolution of your change in career.

To make the change seem as natural as the sunrise, tell the “story” of your motivation and evolving understanding of the field or function. For example, if you are an IT consultant seeking to become an investment research analyst, then you can talk about how interacting with people in different functions at client companies helped you discover how intrigued you were by the financial factors shaping not just IT decisions but overall strategy development. Describe your developing awareness and interest, detailing some of the more illuminating interactions.

2. Show that you understand the day-to-day reality of your desired industry or function.

Interactions with people such as those noted above are one way. You may also do informational interviews, audit courses, and read industry publications. Clarify in your essay your proactive efforts to understand the field and the insights you gain from these efforts.

3. Openly address challenges and obstacles you expect to face as a newcomer to the field, and how you plan to handle them.

This further demonstrates knowledge of the field or function and also your maturity and objectivity. It also enhances the adcom’s confidence that you can indeed make this change.

4. Demonstrate that you have the skills to make this change.

No doubt your current work has honed skills and provided knowledge that will be beneficial in your future career. For example, as an IT consultant, you may have developed communication skills in obtaining information from the client, which will help you draw information from company management as an equity analyst. In addition, your quantitative skills from engineering will apply. Presenting concrete examples of your skills and knowledge applicable to your chosen field underscores both your preparation for the role and understanding of its demands.

5. Highlight how your background is an asset.

You can likely argue that your “different” background will enable you to make a greater contribution in your new role. The IT consultant brings a deep understanding of real-world technology deployment that will facilitate analysis of a company’s true value and potential for continued success. Delineate such benefits, ideally supported by a concrete example or two.

6. Get the adcom “fired up” about your plans by articulating a vision for your goal.

This means clarifying something you want to accomplish or contribute during your career, and the impact you hope to have. For the IT consultant, it could be, “integrating deep technology know-how into the evaluation of all companies.”

7. Solidify your message by effectively using the “ why this school ” part of the essay question.

Ideally, your MBA studies will serve as a bridge to take you from where you are to where you want to be. Identify key learning needs for your new career, which will further strengthen the impression that you understand its realities and demands. Describe through specific details how the program under discussion will become that bridge.

As a career changer, you face certain obstacles in your MBA strategy and application. On the other hand, you likely have an interesting story to tell about your goals. Use that story to make your plans seem like the most inevitable, natural thing in the world.

View our MBA Admissions Services to learn how we can help you reflect on your experiences, select the anecdotes that best portray your singular self, and weave them into compelling essays that grab admissions committees’ attention, ultimately helping you gain admission to the best MBA program for you and making that career change.

Related Resources:

• From Example to Exemplary , a free guide to writing excellent admissions essays • From Wall St to Wharton, While Starting Wall Street Oasis , a podcast episode • 3 Tips for Highlighting Your Strengths in Your Application Essays

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After 23 years in corporate America, I took a career-change course to figure out what's next. Here are 9 tips that actually helped.

• After 23 years in corporate America, I decided I needed a career change and signed up for a course.
• Throughout the program, I learned how important it was to build a network and test out new things. 
• After eight months, I was finally able to confidently start doing more fulfilling work.

Career change, shift, pivot. Whatever you call it, after 23 years in corporate America , I wanted out.

I didn't know what I wanted to do next, but I was sure it wasn't what I was doing now.

Luckily, the US job market is more stable now than it's been since before 2020. But changing careers is more than finding a new boss or moving to a different company.

During one marathon search session, I stumbled upon Careershifters and paid $1,175 for its eight-week Career Change Launch Pad course.

Now that I've successfully pivoted, here are the best tips I took away from the course.

Step back and assess where you're at

We started the course by taking a quiz that was supposed to help us determine what stage of the pivoting process we were in (questioner, browser, explorer, pathfinder, and shifter).

These kinds of assessments can sometimes feel gimmicky, but it was helpful to zoom out a bit and reflect on where I was at.

The categories stretched from questioner (wondering whether you need to make a change) to shifter (successfully finding more fulfilling work), and the assessment told me I was an explorer (ready to change but not sure what to do).

Look for people, not jobs

Building my network was exponentially more helpful than skimming through endless job descriptions.

I recommend talking to everyone about your shift — family, friends, former colleagues, yoga teachers, LinkedIn connections . You never know what or who they know.

I met a McDonald's Happy Meal toy designer through a former boss, and my chiropractor connected me with a lifestyle magazine.

Don't try to do everything alone

Surrounding myself with a community of other people going through a career change made all the difference in my process.

My program included coaches who had changed careers and about 65 fellow participants from around the world — including a programmer in the UK, a writer in Greece, and an accountant in Brooklyn.

They all understood what it was like to feel stuck and overwhelmed, and we shared ideas, work experiences, and networks.

Related stories

Even if you don't want to do a course, there are career-change coaches , podcasts, books, and so many other resources out there to help.

Career shifts don't happen overnight

We're asked what we want to be when we grow up all the time as kids, but I hadn't had the opportunity to explore that question as an adult.

Deciding to pivot allowed me to take the time to discover more about myself, explore my options, and experiment with different possibilities.

Changing careers is a process — don't rush it. I was eight months into my career shift before I felt confident about what I wanted.

Don't start with updating your résumé

A résumé is all about where you've been. But a career shift is about what you want in the future.

Instead of rushing to update résumés or spruce up my portfolio, I tried to trust the process and focus on figuring out what I wanted.

My career experience up to that point had been something like, "You're perfect. You're hired. Now change."

But after a career-shift coach told me she gets paid to be herself, that became my new mission.

Physically try new things that get you out of your head

It's going to be really hard to find fulfilling work if you're just sitting behind your desk all day looking for opportunities online.

Instead of endlessly searching job boards , I did an informational interview with an author, ran promotions for a high-school musical, and went behind the scenes at a local bakery.

Even if I wasn't necessarily interested in those fields, physically getting myself out there and trying new things helped me along in my process.

Expand your reality bubble

Everyone has what I like to call a "reality bubble," and they're full of different ideas, perspectives, people, and experiences.

Simply expanding that bubble a little bit opened my mind to new possibilities for my career shift.

When I pushed myself to have new and different conversations, I met a gift concierge who helped me identify small businesses that needed marketing help and a Disney travel planner who ended up being my first client when I started working as a career-change consultant.

Take your ideas for a low-risk test drive

Attending workshops and testing things out with friends are great, low-risk ways to experiment with different career possibilities.

I did pro-bono marketing for a doggie day care , took an hourlong course on book publishing, and designed a line of 1980s-themed scented markers — along with 25 other short-lived experiments.

Through all these different experiences, I figured out what gives me energy, what I could get good at, and what I might actually be able to get paid for.

Holding one salaried job isn't the only way to work

When I started this process, I knew I didn't want to do one thing in one place with one company anymore.

Just because having a single source of income is the norm doesn't mean that's where you have to wind up. Eventually, I was able to create a hodgepodged career that met my goal of feeling like I was getting paid to be myself.

Now I work with a variety of people and companies as a freelance writer, career-change consultant, and small-business marketing strategist.

Watch: Marketing leaders from Amazon, LinkedIn, Lego Group and more tell Insider what pandemic-fueled business changes are likely to stick around

• Main content

A Guide to Changing Careers at 30 or 40 Years Old

While changing careers can be intimidating, it’s completely normal. Studies show that the average American will hold about 12 jobs during their lifetime, with an average tenure of four years working for each employer. Changing jobs is more frequent during our younger years, as we begin to navigate the workforce and discover our interests and talents. However, it’s entirely possible to change careers at any time in your life—even 30 or 40 years old!

And if you decide to change careers late in the game, you are not alone. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that, between the ages of 25 and 34 years old, Americans will change jobs an average of 2.4 times. Between ages 35 and 44, the BLS estimates about 2.9 career changes. It’s never too late to switch gears, learn new skills, and travel down a different road, especially if that means reaching a career that brings you fulfillment and joy. Changing careers at 30, or even 40 years old, just requires a bit of persistence and planning ahead.

How to change careers as an adult

1. identify your talents and skill sets..

As you think about changing careers, it’s important to pinpoint your strengths and your most transferable skills. For example, are you a strong communicator? Do you excel in project management and organization? Do you tend to think outside the box with good problem-solving skills? Take time to identify both your soft skills and your technical capabilities, and consider updating your (now possibly outdated) resume to reflect these strengths. Even if you do not have super relevant job experience, employers will love to see skills like critical thinking, communication, and project management on your application. In fact, research shows that an incredible 97 percent of employers today place high value on soft skills, deeming they are equally or more important than hard skills for a job.

2. Consider your interests and what you want out of a job.

On top of identifying your skill sets, it’s also essential to pin down your passions and interests. If you are changing careers at 30, 35, or 40 years old, it’s likely you have a good idea of what career you want to pursue next. However, if you do not know exactly where you want to go, try making a list of the things or topics that interest you most. Are you an avid lover of science, number-crunching, or creative writing? Do you enjoy helping people and making an impact in their lives? Or, do you prefer behind-the-scenes, operational work?

As you think about your interests, be sure to consider what type of job will bring you fulfillment and purpose. Oftentimes, many people leave their jobs because they crave more meaning in their careers. On top of aligning your career switch with your passion areas, also think about:

• What type of workplace culture are you seeking?
• Do you want to work on a team?
• Are you interested in a people-facing or operational role?
• Do you want a career that allows you to be a decision- and change-maker?
• Are you seeking a career that welcomes creativity?
• Do you desire a career where you feel challenged and pushed, or where you can grow?
• Is there a certain salary threshold you are hoping to achieve?

These are just some of the many questions you should ask as you consider what’s next in your career trajectory. Once you have a grasp on what’s important to you, you can then begin the process of working towards that job.

3. Research potential career paths and their requirements.

Whether you are exploring your career options, or have your sights set on a specific job already, take time to research the standard requirements for the position or industry. The pathway to some careers are relatively straightforward, with some on-the-job training or professional certification required. Others might necessitate going back to school , either to finish your degree or to start a new program where you can gain career-specific skills.

For example, many of the best jobs for adults switching careers ( according to Indeed ) are in the healthcare field. Most healthcare careers require some technical training and know-how, before being able to get licensed and/or practice in patient care. The great news is, many of these pathways are fast-paced and flexible!

Nursing, for instance, requires an associate degree that only takes about two years to complete. There are even faster nursing programs for those who already have a bachelor’s degree. On the other hand, careers in medical coding and medical assisting require a postsecondary certificate from an accredited program, taking even less time to launch an impactful career.

Every job and every employer will have their own set requirements. As you begin the process of making a career change, no matter your age, you should always begin with a knowledge of the required steps to get there. This will help streamline your career change and save you time and money in the long-run.

Interested in learning more about the process of changing careers? Read our article, here.

4. find an educational training program that meets your needs..

Once you get familiar with the requirements of your dream job, it’s time to check off the boxes. To do so, you must research local schools in your area, or possibly online programs, that offer your pathway of choice. Be sure to look for an institution that is reputable, accredited, and that supports your new career trajectory from start to finish. For example, if you are hoping to change careers to nursing , you should find a nursing school that offers the level of degree and training required by your state.

On top of finding a school or program that supports your career goals, you must also find an academic offering that supports you as an adult student. It’s scary enough to think about going back to school as an adult learner. However, many schools offer flexible programs that are designed for busy individuals like you! And, the right institution will be ready to offer you support services along the way. For example, at Goodwin University, you will find:

• Accelerated degrees and certificates, to get you into a career you love fast
• Comprehensive student services , including resume workshops, counseling, job search support, veteran services, and more
• Customizable schedules, tailored to your individual needs as an adult student
• Degree completion programs for adults needing to complete their bachelor’s
• Online and hybrid programs, to support distance learners
• Part-time program offerings, so you can continue to work while going to school

Going back to school is often an essential part of the process of changing careers. And right now you might be thinking, “Can you really teach an old dog new tricks?” The answer is yes! In fact, the vast majority (almost 75 percent!) of students at Goodwin University are over the age of 25. Many have transferred from other schools or institutions, and many are in the process of changing careers.

Rather than shying away from it, try your best to embrace and welcome the change. Going back to school at 30 or 40 years old is a great way to obtain new skills and gain relevant experience related to your future role. When choosing an educational program, it’s best to choose one that is highly focused on your specific career and building skill sets within that profession. Career-focused colleges and universities are designed to help students develop their skills, and become eligible for the workforce, as fast and thoroughly as possible.

5. Update your resume and begin your job search.

Once you gain relevant skills and the experience or training needed to launch a new career, it’s time to make the big moves: beginning your job search. Before you do this, however, be sure to dust off your resume and update it with any new skills you’ve gained, education you’ve acquired, and training or certifications you’ve completed as an adult. Don’t forget to add your most recent job experience to your resume, too, and remove anything that is especially outdated or no longer relevant.

At Goodwin, we offer our students and alumni support in recreating their resumes, writing cover letters, and preparing for job interviews. We also can help you begin your job search, if and when you are ready. As a career-focused institution , Goodwin has connections with employers throughout Connecticut and beyond.

What are the best career changes at 30 or 40 years old?

As an adult with experience in the workforce, you likely know what you like and what you don’t like in a professional setting. You likely have an idea of what you’re interested in doing for work, and where your talents lie. However, you may still be unsure how those all translate to a career, and which careers will be most fruitful—and feasible—for you at 30 or 40 years old.

While there is no “right” or “wrong” career choice, there are some that are especially popular for adults switching professions. Below are some of the most cited careers to consider at 30, 35, or 40 years old. Hint: These careers offer a comfortable pay, and can be achieved quickly, without a large investment in school.

• Dental hygienist (requires an associate degree)
• Entrepreneur or starting your own product/company (business experience recommended, but not required)
• Event planner (business or on-the-job experience preferred)
• HR specialist or recruiter (some business administration experience required)
• Medical assistant (can be achieved with a certificate or associate degree)
• Patient care technician (typically requires a postsecondary certificate)
• Personal trainer (certification is typically required)
• Project manager (a bachelor’s degree may be preferred)
• Real estate agent (training and professional license required)
• Registered nurse (requires an associate degree in Nursing)
• Web designer or developer (some training and experience required)
• Yoga instructor (certification required)

Should You Change Careers?

Deciding whether or not to change careers is a significant decision that requires careful consideration. After all, you have a life to protect. But you also have a life that’s worth living out to the best of your ability, and this may mean finding a job that better suits your interests and needs. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help determine if a career change is the right choice for you:

• Do you lack fulfillment in your current career?
• Are you limited in terms of your growth?
• Do you feel like your position is insecure or on the line?
• Do you strive for more work-life balance?
• Are you seeking a higher salary or more reward in your profession?
• Are you experiencing personal life changes that warrant a career change?

If you are unsure whether or not it’s the right time to change careers, you may consider consulting someone who has experience in this exact topic. As mentioned, Goodwin University’s student body is filled with adult students who are making changes in their professional lives. We are happy to speak with you, learn more about your situation, and answer any questions you might have about making a career change as an adult. Ready to get started?

Contact us at 800-889-3282 today. You may also request more information online here.

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‘It Feels Like I Am Screaming Into the Void With Each Application’

By Peter Coy

Opinion Writer

When I asked new college graduates last month to tell me about their job searches, I got back a ton of heartache. Unanswered applications. Lowered expectations. For some, a sense that college was a waste of time and money.

John York wrote that he was about to earn a master’s degree in mathematics from New York University. “I have submitted close to 400 applications. I have heard back from less than 40, all rejections,” he wrote. “I essentially cannot get any job, because there are no entry-level positions anywhere at all.” He has a patent, he passed the first-level exam for Chartered Financial Analysts and he’s getting his Series 3 license, another financial credential. Nevertheless, he wrote, “It is just so silent, it feels like I am screaming into the void with each application I am filling out.”

Mauricio Naranjo, who is seeking work as a graphic designer, wrote, “Over the past year, I have submitted more than 400 applications and consistently receive a response that appears to be A.I.-generated, stating that unfortunately, they have moved forward with another candidate who better fits their expectations. This is the exact phrasing every time. Very few respond, as most do not reply at all.”

“Exhausting. Utterly demoralizing,” wrote Beth Donnelly, who is graduating this month with a major in linguistics and minors in German and teaching English as a second language. “I’ve been searching since early August for full-time, part-time or internship positions after I graduate. I’ve started putting my ‘desired salary’ at $35,000 in hope that just one person will think, ‘Oh, I won’t have to pay this person a large wage, so they get a leg up in the hiring process.’”

I got some positive responses, too. Lucinda Warnke, who landed a job in journalism as a general assignment reporter, wrote: “I am optimistic and excited! I feel confident in my career trajectory and my ability to build a stable, satisfying career. The job I got out of school comes with a livable wage and benefits, so I can build savings in the event that I am laid off or have some other financially demanding emergency. I feel like I made a good investment in my education because I went to a school that was affordable and studied subjects that balanced my interests with my professional needs.”

A majority of responses were grim, though. That’s not too surprising, given that half of college graduates are underemployed a year after graduation, meaning that they are working in jobs that don’t require the degrees they earned, as I wrote in my April 29 newsletter.

There’s clearly something wrong when young graduates can’t find jobs at the same time that employers complain of not being able to find qualified workers. As of March, there were still fewer unemployed people than job openings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April the unemployment rate remained below average at 3.9 percent.

The responses I got aren’t a representative sample of all college graduates. It’s possible that unhappy people were more likely to write in. (I had to leave out some of the angriest and most dejected people because they didn’t want their names to appear.) Separately, my informal impression is that the people who wrote — happy or sad — were more likely to have attended a highly ranked school and to have graduated without student loans than the general student population.

Many students wrote that the jobs they were seeking or secured didn’t draw on what they learned in the classroom. “I will be using the skills I picked up in my data science minor, but nothing from my major (international relations),” Rain Orsi, a 2024 graduate, wrote. “A lot of the educational stuff could’ve been condensed to a 20-page PDF and I probably would be at the same knowledge level,” another student wrote. Jackeline Arcara wrote that if she had it to do over again, “I wouldn’t go to a four-year, fancy-pants school. I would take classes at a local college part-time and see where that takes me.”

Some students said that classroom learning was only part of what made college worthwhile to them. “College gives you four years to grow up — I have the maturity now to handle a full-time job. Before college, not so much,” wrote Caroline Lidz, who got a job in public relations after graduating in December with a degree in media studies and communications and a minor in art history.

Several said internships matter, a lot. “I wish I interned for a company outside of the school instead of being a research/lab assistant,” wrote Roger Vitek, who is graduating in June with a degree in product design and is still job hunting.

Economists have found that what you study in college is at least as important as where you study. As I wrote in my April 29 piece, there’s relatively strong demand for computer science, engineering, mathematics and math-intensive business fields such as finance and accounting.

But as I found out from the people who wrote in, that’s not always the case. Robert Vermeulen, a computer science major, wrote, “Out of the ~155 applications I haven’t had a reference on, I have gotten zero interviews.” Morgan Steckler wrote that he is looking for a software engineering or I.T. administration role paying at least $70,000 a year, but has had no luck so far. He said he’s thinking of bartending while continuing to send out applications. On the positive side, there are people like Warnke, who got a job as a reporter — not exactly a fast-growing profession.

As I read students’ responses, I had to remind myself that this is actually a relatively good year for finding a job. To a lot of members of the class of ’24, it doesn’t feel that way. Julia Brukx, who is graduating with a degree in history and art history, wrote, “I think I hit a new low just this morning when asked to write a cover letter for a retail position.”

Donnelly, the woman who described her job search as demoralizing, wrote: “I was told that if I was involved, active, kind, ready to learn, driven and intelligent, I would end up with a job out of college. This is evidently not true, and few older people seem to understand this.” She added, “I don’t have a backup plan besides working in the service industry.”

Elsewhere: Caps, Not Bans, for Short-Term Rentals

New York City’s Local Law 18, which was passed with the support of the hotel industry, tightens the rules on renting out rooms for less than 30 days. Supporters say renting rooms to tourists raises rents for New Yorkers. But an article published in Harvard Business Review by three scholars — one of whom used to work for Airbnb — calculates that Airbnb caused only about 1 percent of the aggregate increase in rents over the past decade or so. Hosts, guests and the businesses that serve them benefit. To keep certain neighborhoods from being overwhelmed by tourists, the authors recommend caps on how many nights per year a place may be rented out.

Quote of the Day

“The hedonistic conception of man is that of a lightning calculator of pleasures and pains who oscillates like a homogeneous globule of desire of happiness under the impulse of stimuli that shift him about the area, but leave him intact. He has neither antecedent nor consequent.”

— Thorstein Veblen, “Why Is Economics Not an Evolutionary Science?” (1898)

Peter Coy is a writer for the Opinion section of The Times, covering economics and business. Email him at [email protected] . @ petercoy