How to change careers

Changing careers is more common than many people realise. According to the CIPD, 4 million people changed careers in the UK in the years following the pandemic, with a desire for greater flexibility and more meaningful work among the leading reasons. If you are considering a career change, you are in good company.

The question is not whether it is possible to change careers. It almost always is. The question is how to do it well. This guide walks you through the key steps, from working out what you want next to getting the qualifications and skills to make it happen.

How to change careers

A career change can feel like one enormous leap. Breaking it into steps makes the process far more manageable. Here is a practical framework for approaching it.

Reflect on what is not working. Before you decide where you want to go, understand clearly why you want to leave your current role. Is it the industry, the type of work, the culture, the pay, the progression, or something else? Being specific about this shapes everything that follows.
Explore your options. Research roles and sectors that interest you. Talk to people who work in those areas. Look at job descriptions to understand what the day-to-day involves and what qualifications or experience employers typically ask for.
Identify the gap. What do you already have that your target role needs? What is missing? This might be a specific qualification, practical experience, or familiarity with an industry you have not worked in.
Make a plan to bridge that gap. Once you know what you need, you can work out how to get it. That might mean studying for a qualification, doing voluntary work, taking on a side project, or finding a role that starts to move you in the right direction.
Update your CV and start applying. Reframe your experience for your new field. Focus on the relevance of what you have done, not just the titles you have held.

Most career changes take time. Having a realistic timeline and a clear plan makes the process less daunting. For further support, explore our career advice hub.

Choosing your new career

The hardest part of a career change for many people is not making the move itself but deciding where to move. If you do not have a clear destination in mind, these two exercises can help.

Subjects you’re interested in

Start with what genuinely interests you. Not what sounds impressive or what you think you should be doing, but what you actually find yourself drawn to. What do you read about in your spare time? What problems do you find yourself wanting to solve? What kinds of work conversation energise you rather than drain you?

Interest is a reliable driver of effort and progression. People who move into work they find genuinely engaging tend to perform better and feel more satisfied over time. That said, interest alone is not a complete answer. You also need to assess whether the field has realistic job opportunities and whether the earning potential works for your circumstances.

A useful exercise is to list ten subjects or areas you are interested in and then research what jobs exist in each. You will often find unexpected connections between your interests and careers you had not previously considered.

Transferable skills

Transferable skills are the abilities you have built in your career so far that are valuable across different roles and industries. Most people underestimate how many they have when they are thinking about switching fields.

Common transferable skills include:

Communication: Writing clearly, presenting ideas, negotiating, listening effectively.
Analysis: Working with data, identifying patterns, problem solving, making decisions under pressure.
Project management: Planning, coordinating, meeting deadlines, managing budgets.
Leadership: Managing people, mentoring, motivating teams, handling conflict.
Stakeholder management: Building relationships, managing expectations, understanding and responding to others’ needs.

When applying for roles in a new field, your transferable skills are often what gets you through the door. Employers know that sector-specific knowledge can be taught. The harder skills, such as the ability to communicate clearly, lead a team, or manage a complex project, are what many employers find most difficult to find. Use them to your advantage.

Map your existing skills against the requirements listed in job descriptions for roles you are interested in. The overlap is usually greater than people expect.

Retraining for your new career choice

For some career changes, your existing experience is enough to make the move. For others, you will need new knowledge or a formal qualification. Retraining does not have to mean leaving your job or going back to full-time study.

The main options available to you:

Online part-time degrees. A part-time online degree lets you study around work, gaining a formal qualification without stepping away from your income. Timescales vary, but most part-time degrees take between two and six years depending on the level and pace.
Professional qualifications. Shorter programmes from professional bodies such as the CIPD, CIM, CIMA, or Prince2 can build credibility in a new field faster than a full degree, and are often recognised by employers as equivalent.
Conversion master’s programmes. Postgraduate conversion programmes are specifically designed for people changing fields. A conversion master’s in psychology, law, data science, or computing does not require a related undergraduate degree and can provide a strong foundation for a new career relatively quickly.
Volunteering and practical experience. In some careers, hands-on experience carries as much weight as a qualification. Volunteering, work shadowing, or taking on small freelance projects can demonstrate genuine commitment to a new field and begin to build a relevant track record.

The right approach depends on what your target role actually requires. Read entry-level job descriptions carefully. Some fields require specific qualifications as a baseline. Others value experience more than credentials. Understanding which applies to your situation helps you invest your time and money wisely.

Find the skills to change career at Arden University

Arden University offers a wide range of courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, all available online and part time. Whether you want to build on your existing background or move into an entirely new field, there is likely to be a programme that fits your goals and your schedule.

Many Arden students are making career changes. They come from every background and every stage of working life, studying alongside full-time jobs and family commitments. The flexibility of online study means you can start building towards your new career without putting your current life on hold.

If you are not sure which course fits your goals, our admissions team can help you think through the options. A career change is a significant decision. We want to make sure the path you choose gives you the best possible foundation for what comes next.

FAQs

How do I change careers?

Changing careers usually involves identifying what you want to move into, understanding what skills or qualifications are required, and then building a plan to bridge that gap. This might include retraining, gaining experience, or repositioning your current skills for a new industry.

Is it possible to change careers later in life?

Yes. Many people change careers in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. Career changes are increasingly common, and employers often value the experience, transferable skills, and maturity that career changers bring.

How long does it take to change careers?

It varies depending on the industry and how different your new career is from your current one. Some people make a transition within months, while others take a few years if they need to study or gain experience alongside work.

What are transferable skills in a career change?

Transferable skills are abilities you can take from one job to another. These include communication, teamwork, problem solving, leadership, organisation, and project management. They are often just as important as technical knowledge when changing careers.

Do I need to go back to university to change careers?

Not always. Some career changes require formal qualifications, but others can be achieved through professional courses, short training programmes, or relevant experience. It depends on the field you want to move into.

What careers are easiest to switch into?

Careers that value transferable skills tend to be more accessible for career changers. These include business roles, project management, HR, marketing, healthcare support roles, and some areas of tech and data.

How do I know what career to change into?

Start by reflecting on what is not working in your current role, then explore areas that genuinely interest you. Looking at job descriptions and speaking to people in different industries can help you understand what day-to-day work actually involves.

Can I change careers while working full time?

Yes. Many people retrain or build new skills while continuing to work. Flexible study options, online courses, and part-time degrees make it possible to prepare for a new career without leaving your current job.

What is the biggest challenge when changing careers?

The biggest challenge is often uncertainty, especially around where to start. Other common challenges include gaining confidence, filling skill gaps, and translating existing experience into a new industry.

Is it too late to change careers?

No. There is no fixed age or stage in life where career change becomes impossible. What matters more is having a clear plan, realistic expectations, and a willingness to learn new skills.