Are you interested in the idea of changing career? If so, you may question whether changing careers is a viable option. “Is the career path right for me?” As there are a number of reasons you might contemplate a career change read on to find whether a second career is worth your while.

If you are interested in changing careers you are not alone. Every year the number of adults in the workforce who have changed careers rises dramatically. The average worker will change careers three times over the course of their life, and that number may grow even more.

If you are unable to advance further in your current career you may want to switch positions to one that allow you to grow further. Your interests and abilities may have developed beyond the point where a specific field is able to hold your attention.

Once you have decided that you need a complete change of career path, your next step must be deciding on your new career.

The easiest way to do so is to list jobs you have an interest in and begin eliminating them. Eliminate particular jobs by considering the experience and education necessary, the opportunities available in that field and your long-term goals. Also, remember to consider seeking out opportunities to try out a new field — on a temporary or volunteer basis — to see if you actually enjoy the work.

No matter what field you decide to explore, you will need to decide what skills you have that will help you in a new position and which you will need to acquire. You will need to create a new resume and you may need to prepare yourself to work in a position with less responsibility than your last, at least in the short term.

In short, changing careers can be a great deal of work but for those workers who are willing to put the necessary work into the process, it can be well worthwhile.

A common career change step involves doing self-assessments with the expectation that you’ll find your own characteristics and its matching occupations. Using this knowledge you’ll then select one occupation or two for several month internships. And finally you choose a career based on the information you get from the internship.

What if you change the approach? If you really hate your job, do you think it is a good idea to quit your day job and go back to school.

For example, you enroll in a full-time MBA degree. You’ll mingle with different people and you’ll gain new knowledge and skills. And the most interesting one is you’ll see opportunities you haven’t seen before.

During your study you may learn which type of field you’re interested in, its outlook and its possibility for career advancement. In short, you’ll never know what’s possible for you until you take the plunge and experience the process.

Want to try? Learn more about how to make a dramatic career change here.

Paul Sarwanawadya

Career Tests Guide