Based on the answers you gave, you’re ready to leave your current career behind and look for something different. Maybe you’ve already achieved everything you could and you’re looking for a new challenge. Or maybe you’ve hit a dead end, and changing direction is the only way to keep moving forward. Whatever the reason, you’re ready to begin a new adventure in your career.

There are four main ways to begin a new career:

• Prepare for a new role
• Move to a new industry
• Go into business for yourself
• Go back to school for certifications or a new degree

Which path is best for you will depend on the specifics of your situation: your strengths, your life goals, the resources you have on hand, and what you’re interested in doing.

QUESTIONS TO EXPLORE
Before embarking on a significant career change, it’s crucial to take inventory of where you are now:

1. What exactly do you wish were different?
2. In what ways are you already prepared for the change you want?
3. What other careers are most interesting to you?
4. What skills, credentials, experience, or connections that you already have could give you a head start in a new career?
5. What else would you need to do and learn in order to launch your new career?
6. How determined are you to make this happen? What will you do when the road gets tough?
7. What resources (such as family support) can you rely on to help you make this journey?
8. How will you fund the transition? Are your savings enough or will you need outside help?

Give yourself some time to really consider these questions. Your answers will tell you a lot about what kinds of change could work for you and how you should get started.

From what you’ve told us, we think you’ll thrive having steady work with a predictable schedule and regular income.

Whether you’re an employee, a freelancer, or a business owner with employees of your own, some careers are riskier than others. For example, a freelance photographer’s work is event-based and changes weekly, while a freelance designer might work with the same client for months on a contract with steady hours and scheduled paychecks. The owner of an online shop has less overhead and a broader customer base than the owner of a brick-and-mortar store.

KNOW YOURSELF
One of the best ways we know of to find success is to start out by choosing a career that really suits who you are. But to play to your strengths, you have to know what those strengths are! Try taking 20 minutes or so to think over your work experience:

• What were your greatest successes? 
• What were your biggest failures? (We’ve all got them….)
• When were you the happiest? 
• What would you like to avoid doing again?

Really knowing yourself—what you want, what you’re best at, and what your goals are—is the best first step to prepare for improving your career.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE
Every single person on earth has a unique blend of strengths, skills, experience, and style. Figuring out exactly what you have to offer is a great second step in advancing your career. Why? Because it will allow you to present yourself in a way that showcases your best attributes—and also because it will give you a crystal-clear idea of what kinds of opportunities will suit you best. 

As you plan your career change, think about how you’ll convince others of your unique qualities. Once you have a plan mapped out, ask for feedback from knowledgeable connections and use their suggestions to fine-tune your message about what you have to offer. Be ready to express that message on your LinkedIn profile, your resume, and anywhere else that’s involved in making your change.

Some people thrive working online, and others don’t. It largely comes down to how comfortable a person is using technology and how well they work on their own. Based on what you told us, it sounds like working online could be a great choice for you.

There are lots of advantages to digital and remote work: more opportunities with clients near and far, no commute, a near-infinite array of tools that help you do high-quality work, higher earning potential, greater independence, a more peaceful work environment… The list goes on and on.

Of course, there are downsides too. Working from home can be isolating—and distracting. The lines between work and daily life can become blurred so that you feel like you’re always “at work”. The good news is that there are ways to adjust the remote lifestyle so it works for you.

DIGITAL & REMOTE WORK IN LATIN AMERICA
In recent years—thanks in part to the pandemic—opportunities for digital and remote work have blossomed. Here are some options that are popular in Latin America:

• Remote versions of traditional work, such as accounting, sales, paralegal, administration, design, marketing, personal fitness, therapy, coaching, and customer service
• New online careers, such as digital project manager, virtual assistant, social-media manager, community manager, SEO expert, funnel builder, and growth hacker
• Turning your expertise into a product by offering consulting, courses, and social-media content

Remote employees have it easiest: their company will provide support and a system to work within. Digital freelancers have the luxury—and the responsibility—of creating their own online ecosystem to support their business, deliver their services, and connect with customers. And online entrepreneurs have thousands of options for digital tools that will help their business operate efficiently.

The opportunities are pretty much infinite. With the help of the internet, if you can dream it, you can make it happen.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, who you are, or where you’re from. With the right mindset, the right tools, some patience, and plenty of determination, you can achieve any career goal you dream of.   

We hope these recommendations spark your imagination and give you a sense of direction. Over the next few days, we’re going to email you some more ideas and resources, so that you can explore your options from a solid foundation. 

No matter which path you decide to take in your career, we want you to know that you can do this! You absolutely have it within you to learn, to gain new skills, to kick ass in a new job, and to bring something unique and innovative to what you do. We’re so excited for your career journey! And we hope to be with you every step of the way.