Choose your industry well - it's important!

There is no hard and fast rule about when you should pick an industry but common sense seems indicates that those who know what they want to do earlier in their career will probably achieve success sooner than someone who chooses later in life. Those that choose ealier may also acheive greater success because they simply gain more experience and experience opens the door to new opportunities.

If you’re in your twenties and haven’t found something that you like to do, you can afford to keep trying new jobs and industries until you find the right fit. A change for those that are over 30 could be costly. Even though a lot of skills are transferrable, changing industries or careers usually requires some retraining and a step down. Plus it could take longer to find a job especially now, because you’re competing against those with experience.

If you are planning to make the jump, make sure to choose an industry that has a lot of potential, good future growth and strong long-term earning potential. Talk to people in the industry and join forums like this one to find out where the growth is and what types of skills and knowledge are needed to do the jobs. Then do a gap assessment to figure out how long it would take you to acquire the knowledge, skills and experience and ask your self – is it worth it? If you need help doing a gap assessment, it would be a great exercise to engage your support network and/or your coach in. If it's a good thing for you to do your coach can also help you develop the transition plan so that you minimize your risks and stay on track during the transition process.

With record job looses, it’s definitely not the easiest time to make a transition to a new industry or a new career but it can be done. You just have to be prepared – have a plan, engage your support network and stay the course. Remember, most things in life that are worth doing aren’t necessarily the easiest things to do. You just have to keep plugging away at it.

If you decide that changing industries isn't worth it or it's simply not the right time, look more closely at why you wanted to make the change. There may be ways that you can incorporate some of things that you want to be doing into the job that you have now. If not, you might want to consider a second job or volunteering with a non-profit organization. It's a great way to test the waters, gain experience and build your network.