Thinking About a Career Change? Here's Where to Start.
If you're considering a career change, you're not alone. Many of us reach a point where our current work no longer fits who we are or where we want to go. But knowing you want to change and knowing how to begin are two very different things.
Career coach Rachel Schofield, author of The Career Change Guide, offers a great five-step framework to help you think through practical steps of what next, Preparing, Reflecting, Imagining & Designing, Taking Action, and Keeping Going.
Here's how to start your thinking -
Step 1: Preparing
The first step in any successful career change isn’t sending out CVs or scrolling through job sites. It’s preparing. That means giving yourself permission to pause and approach your next move with intention rather than panic.
This stage is about creating the space, mentally, emotionally, and practically, to explore what you really want.
Ask yourself:
Am I ready to invest time in figuring this out?
Do I have support, financial, emotional, logistical, for the journey ahead?
What fears or assumptions might hold me back?
It’s also the time to let go of the idea that you need to have all the answers right now. This is a process and giving yourself the right conditions to think clearly is the smartest place to start.
Step 2: Reflecting
Once you’ve made space, it’s time to go inward. The Reflecting stage is about understanding what matters to you, what energizes you, and what’s missing from your current career.
Rachel encourages people to get really curious about their past experiences:
What roles, tasks, or environments have brought you the most satisfaction?
When have you felt “in flow” at work?
What values are you no longer willing to compromise?
This stage can involve journaling, career coaching, or simply talking things through with trusted friends or mentors. The aim is to build a clearer picture of who you are now, not who you were when you chose your current path.
Step 3: Imagining & Designing
With clarity comes creativity. Now it’s time to think about what’s next and there’s no pressure for the answer to be perfect or immediate.
In this stage, allow yourself to explore a wide range of possibilities. Sketch out ideas, research roles and industries, and get inspired by others’ stories. Think of it as career “prototyping”, you’re brainstorming, not committing.
Rachel encourages people to design small experiments: try a short course, shadow someone, volunteer, or take on a side project. These low-risk steps help you test the waters without jumping into the deep end.
Step 4: Taking Action
Once you've imagined and tested new directions, it’s time to move forward. This stage is about turning ideas into action.
That might mean:
Updating your LinkedIn and CV
Reaching out for networking conversations
Applying for roles, courses, or training
Setting achievable short-term goals
Rachel’s approach reminds us that action doesn’t need to be dramatic—it just needs to be intentional. Each step forward builds momentum and confidence.
Step 5: Keeping Going
Career change isn’t always quick or easy. The final step, Keeping Going, is about staying resilient when the journey gets tough or uncertain.
You might face rejections, doubt your decisions, or hit logistical barriers. But that’s normal. What matters is continuing to show up, staying open to learning, and adjusting course when needed.
Surround yourself with support: mentors, peers, coaches, or even online communities. Keep tracking your progress, celebrating wins, and reminding yourself why you started.
Ready to begin?
If you’re feeling stuck in your career, don’t rush the leap, start with a pause. Rachel Schofield’s five steps offer not just a roadmap, but reassurance that change is possible when it’s guided by reflection, design, and steady action.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to begin.
You can listen to Rachel on the podcast.