Top 10 career changing mistakes to avoid

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Change is the only constant in life, and often, change is good. Ask any expert out there and he would always advise you to follow your heart and take the big, life changing decision, even if it means changing your career path altogether.

However, planning is important, even if you just listening to what your heart is saying. If you fail to plan, you could end up in a soup, and more frustrated than before. If you are thinking of changing your career, make sure you avoid these deadly career changing mistakes:

1. Looking for change just because you don’t like your job- There is a difference between not liking your job and not liking your career. Take a close look and see what it is that you hate about your current situation. It could be a nagging boss, odd working hours etc. or lesser things such as these, you don’t need a new career. All you need is a new job.
    
2. Trying to emulate others success- This is a cardinal sin when planning on switching careers, or even when choosing a career. Just because person A has all the greens doing a certain job does not mean you would the same success too in that particular field. A career should always be in tune with your skillset and interests.
    
3. Not updating your skillset- Right, you have made the decision to switch to a career which you find more exciting. You have quit your current job and have put in your resume to different organizations in the field. But you failed to address one critical aspect of it- updating your skillset. A new career invariably requires new skillsets. Make sure that before you make the big decision, you have sufficiently trained yourself to be successful in the new field you have chosen.
    
4. Over-expecting things- You have a diverse network of people and you are so sure about your skills that you have already packed your bags for the move. However, in real life situations, it does not work that way. Do not make the mistake of over-expecting things. When planning a career change, proceed cautiously to avoid disappointment.
    
5. Lack of research- When you are switching to a new field, it is important to do proper research before arriving at a decision. You may have false notions about a field, which could leave you frustrated if you make the move.
    
6. Because others say so- Often, other people have more influence over our lives than we assume, especially close friends and family. It is good to listen to people, but you should take a decision only after analyzing the pros and cons of a situation. Don’t opt for a career change just because others are saying so.
    
7. Citing money as the reason- Choosing a career just because there is a lot of money in it is a recipe for disaster. With this strategy, you may make a lot of money, but you will remain stressed and unhappy. Never change a career just because things appear rosy on the other side of the fence.
    
8. Not having a back-up plan- Things may not always go as planned. That’s why, it is always nice to have a plan B and a plan C. Opting for career change without a back-up plan could see you in doldrums, angry and frustrated.
    
9. Not taking advice of a mentor- Taking big life decisions all alone often leads us down the wrong path. It is always important to have a mentor by your side, who can guide you with big decisions, such as career change.
    
10. Not being patient enough- Change is often gradual, and the same holds for career change as well. When you decide to switch careers, make sure you are patient enough as you might have to wait for quite a while before you find the desired opening.