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’re ready to explore going independent. 

A freelancer is anyone who gets paid by the project or hour, rather than receiving a set salary—but someone who doesn’t have employees of their own. A freelancer typically in charge of managing every aspect of their operation, from advertising to taxes, on top of the actual work they do for their clients. They are their business, and their value proposition is often closely related to who they are as an individual.

Like anything, freelance work has its upsides and downsides. It’s less “safe” than regular employment—but the rewards are often higher. The schedule is often more flexible—but also more unpredictable. You get to choose your clients—but you also have to manage them yourself. The work can have more variety and be more interesting—but you’ll have to handle surprises and overload on your own.

When it comes down to it, freelancing is a lifestyle. It might take some trial and error, but if you can make that lifestyle work for you, freelancing could be an incredibly satisfying and rewarding direction to take your career.

COMMON PATHS FOR FREELANCERS
The kind of freelancer you might be will depend on who you are, which market you’re in, and what your experience is. For example, you could:

• Become a freelance version of the role you’ve already done full-time
• Develop your own unique processes for your work and go independent to market yourself as an innovator
• Become a “one-stop shop” that offers suites of related services using multiple connected skill sets
• Partner with other freelancers to build an agency or one-stop shop
• Use freelancing as a learning experience before building a full business

It’s always a good idea to scout out the possibilities online and by talking to people in your network, so you can make a plan before taking the leap.

ALREADY FREELANCING?
If you’re a freelancer and want to make some changes, the great news is that there are lots of ways to do that. You might:

• Add services to the range of what you offer
• Change your rates to reflect the current market
• Up your branding game to better represent yourself
• Focus on new marketing strategies until you’ve added your ideal clients to your roster
• Use software or services to automate or outsource an aspect of the business that’s getting you down

Take some time to think about the changes you want to make. What kind of results are you looking for? What’s working and what isn’t? Brainstorm what changes might get you where you want to be.

One key to making a successful change is doing good research into your target market. It’s crucial to be as sure as possible what your customers’ reactions might be before you start making changes.

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.