12 Things to Avoid Doing While Changing Careers

By Ian Harrison Career Advisor

Remember the days when people remained in the same job for life? No? To be fair, it was a long time ago. Dad put in a few decades of diligent service at the plant and was rewarded with a gold watch and a modest pension. Throughout his tenure, the thought of a job shift, let alone a career change, was never part of the equation. Stability was the order of the day and your family was taken care of.

But again, that was a long time ago. In our current economy and job market, a career hop is often a necessary step in order to generate an increase in income. "Necessary step" is the key term to consider because for many who execute a career change, there is a dark side to contend with.

Our advice is not to throw caution to the wind and to maintain a checklist of 12 universal blunders people make when changing careers. Memorize them in order to avoid making mistakes when you make your big move.

1- There's no viable reason to change

This one is common among people with career ADHD and a chronic obsession with change. The best advice is to look before you leap -- a mantra to serve you until death, in fact. A career change is not akin to a switch in breakfast cereal. Think of it as a monumental life step to gain the proper perspective. People who feel the need to change at the drop of a hat suffer from an identity and confidence crisis. They fear commitment and in the end, will probably never secure a position of importance.

2- Lack of knowledge and experience

Without the proper dose of knowledge and experience in a given field, a potential career change in that domain may spell your doom. If you are fortunate enough to have an HR Manager take a leap of faith on you, despite the lack of either, prepare to dazzle the company brass. If not, your experiment may flop. The obvious measure necessary is to educate yourself on the industry before you embark on a journey in the dark.

3- For the love of money

Is money the root of all evil? Maybe not, but it can be your downfall if it's the sole motivation behind a career shift. Forget the green and look at the big picture. Quality of life is what will determine your ultimate job satisfaction.

4- Attraction to a "flavor of the month" industry

Dot-com crash. Need we say more? A parallel pitfall to an emphasis on material wealth, an attraction to a hot field may come back to haunt you. What recourse is available to you once the honeymoon has ended? The fact of the matter is that there is a natural cycle to the economy and as well, to every job industry. Just as you saunter in at a peak period, beware the valley below.

5- Narrow focus

The problems here are ambition and fear. Fear of the unknown to be specific. Many who consider a career change fail to look at a host of jobs they may qualify for in a peripheral industry. Do your homework and expand your search. Just remember the rule about knowledge and experience (revert to No. 2). But for your own sake, do not dismiss a potential career in a lucrative market due to a complete lack of exposure. There may be a way for you to get your toe in the door. Find it and exploit it.

6- Over-educated

This mistake has become a veritable epidemic in the present job market. I counsel on it on a regular basis. The question I pose is simple: Do you have a clear purpose to justify another academic degree? For many, the option is worth a look because of perception -- perception that an MBA will assure a bump in pay or an executive position at a Fortune 500 firm. More often than not, that is not the case. Remember; experience is far more coveted than a slew of diplomas.

7- Over-reliance on outside help

Career counselors, placement agencies, headhunters; they all claim to have the answer to your desire to change careers. The tendency of many is to sit back and wait for the phone to ring. Big mistake. Your search can take forever with that attitude. Implicate yourself full throttle to gain control of your career destiny.

8- No mission statement

Like a corporate machine, you need to set a benchmark and a goal in order to prosper. So, if a career change is your wish, devise a mission statement. Detail what you want to accomplish by your big move. Again, the best method is to look before you leap. Need more relevant blanket wisdom? If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Mother was right about that one.

9- Lack of polish on your resume

The resume is the gateway to a new career. Dust it off and spruce it up before you send it out to the world. So many people forget how powerful a statement a bad resume can make. A poor or incomplete resume will doom your chance of employment. Point blank. In addition to a good polish, our advice before a career change is to devise a functional resume, based on skill set and experience.

10- A shortage of contacts

The occasional cold call may net a good result but for the most part, you need a solid network to expedite a drastic career change. Plan ahead and ask around before you make a move. Be shameless and bold about it. This is the nature of business and people understand your need to push for a phone number or name in order to make your career dream happen.

11- "Mouse happy"

The internet is a phenomenal tool to find a job but at the same time, it is a false comfort. Use it and exploit it, but do not rely on it. Again, like a placement agency, there is a limit to what the web can do for you. Pound the pavement and work the telephone. Old-school can be the most effective system to make that career move.

12- Lack of poise

The problem here is a question of confidence and interpersonal polish. When you thrust your neck out into the job market again and embark on a new career no less, you need to develop brass -- brass balls. Drive forward with full force and confidence that you can make it happen. Project a powerful persona and image in order to have an impact. This is the attitude of a winner. This is the attitude of someone about to start a new career.

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