Essential Tips for Changing Your Career

February 6, 2026

Feeling stuck in a job that feels unfulfilling can weigh heavily on you day after day. But you’re not alone, as many individuals who have followed a certain career path often think about what it would be like if they pursued other passions.

One study found that the average adult will switch careers around 5–7 times in their life, illustrating that career changes are not unusual and can actually help you gain new skills, meet new people, and feel more connected with your daily work.

And though there are many benefits associated with changing careers, actively making the switch can be intimidating. We’re here to help provide you with a road map to transitioning careers, highlighting educational opportunities that will set you up for success.

1. Self-Assess Your Needs

Before jumping in and immediately applying for jobs, it’s important to understand what will truly fuel your energy and provide the meaningful work that you’re looking for. This will be different for every individual, which is why we recommend taking a look inward to form a clear picture of what will make you feel fulfilled.

Take a deep dive into your personality, interests, skills, likes, and dislikes. Map them out clearly so you can keep these key traits in mind as you switch careers. You can also use different tools, such as a personality test or a career quiz, to assist with forming a concrete idea of what responsibilities work with your interests and the reason you feel a disconnect with your current job.

Along with this practice, identifying your overall passion and values is critical and will act as the foundation of your career change.

2. Research What Career Speaks to You

Now that you’ve identified your values and interests, you can have a better understanding of what career will fulfill your sense of purpose. Research careers that align with your passions, making sure you have a good understanding of the day-to-day work involved. Acknowledging this from the beginning will help rule out any surprises or dislikes that may come with a certain job.

Research doesn’t mean just searching online; it’s important to see for yourself the reality of a potential career you’re interested in. Whether it’s taking a class, shadowing a professional in the field, or having a conversation with someone who has the experience you want, this will provide more concrete information for you.

Additionally, as you’re actively witnessing what a potential job is like, you can take another self-assessment and see if the work was fulfilling to you, if you had any dislikes, or if you’re interested in learning more. Going through this process will paint a clear picture for you on what career you’re best fit for.

3. Develop an Action Plan

This step transitions from thinking about switching your career to actively planning the next steps. It doesn’t mean you have to quit your job tomorrow, but beginning to map out what you need to achieve will ensure that you get to where you want to be.

This can look like planning out a period of your life to undergo any necessary experience, training, and education before being able to pursue your ideal career.

Set goals for yourself that are realistic and will position you well for your career. This can include looking into schools to apply to, studying for a number of hours each week to pass certifications, and updating your resume with skills that will resonate with your ideal job. Making the goals as clear and detailed as possible will further ensure that you know exactly what you need to do to be prepared for your future career.

Setting new goals can feel intimidating, but remember that you’re not starting from scratch – you’re building a bridge. As you cross off each completed goal, the intimidation will turn into excitement as you get one step closer to fulfilling your passion.

4. Find a School That Will Support Your Action Plan

Many times, switching careers may require you to go back to school, adding another layer of research and planning. Although this will necessitate additional work on your end, upgrading your education is an investment that can pay real dividends.

When choosing a school, you’ll want to find one that will accommodate your specific needs, whether it’s via online options, night classes, tutoring, or more. This will help you have a realistic approach to starting school again and ensure that you will meet the necessary goals for your next career.

Choose the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology to Assist with Your Career Change

Choosing the right school for you will make all the difference when navigating a complete career change. At P.I.T., we take pride in offering college-level programs that are tailored to your individual needs. Our classes are designed to support students who already have experience in the working world and are looking to forge a new path.

Our school offers both associate and bachelor’s programs, giving you numerous options to work with. Our associate programs include:

Our bachelor’s programs include:

Additionally, we offer certificate programs that you can complete in less than a year. This provides you with the opportunity to gain the new skills needed for your dream career while being able to enter the workforce more quickly:

Along with our specialized tracks, our classes also offer a 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, providing you with support for every program. Our classes are also designed to be hybrid or completely online, which helps address any issue of balancing your current work with school.

Attending P.I.T. will also provide you with the opportunity to network and build professional connections. We offer job placement services where you can build up your resume, interviewing skills, and job searching abilities.

The Pennsylvania Institute of Technology is committed to helping you make the career switch that you’re looking for. Our faculty, classes, alumni, and services all supply you with the guidance you need to be successful in your dream job.

Start the Career Switch Process Today

If you’re ready to switch careers, follow our tips to feel confident and achieve the success that you’re looking for. Reach out to our team at P.I.T., and we can provide you with direction and resources.