What started out as a job has turned into a profession. Months turned into years. You worked your way up and now make a decent salary.
But things have changed. The company is different, management has been overhauled and your values have transformed. Where you work no longer feels like home.

What now?

Freda Marver of Begin Again Coaching said her clients are often frustrated with their current jobs but don’t have a clear idea where that should lead them.

“Most people, when they come to a career coach, they don’t know what they want. They know what they don’t want,” Marver said.

People are often searching for causes, values and a mission they align with. A quest for more meaningful work could lead to working with nonprofits, artistic groups and environmental organizations.

Finances, flexibility and personality can also play a role in finding more meaningful work. Here’s how to work through a career change.

Many people look to career coaches to help navigate the uncertainty of making a major change. Those services average $170 an hour, according to an industry trade group, but costs can vary widely.

To go it on your own, first determine what kind of job you’d like to pursue. Maybe that won’t be immediately clear. You will likely need to do some soul searching, or take some online aptitude or career tests.
You should also reach out to people who can help, experts say. Do you know others who have changed careers? Can you connect with people who are doing what you would like to do?

Doing informational interviews can be a tool for fact-finding and research. Analyze your interests and what you have done well in the past.

“I think it takes some creativity and it takes some strategy. You’re not going to figure it out in three hours,” Marver said. “For most people it’s something that kind of happens gradually.”

Seeking a second career or a job change is not limited to older workers, and it may not always result in a new career.

Some people might decide to stay in their current job, Marver said, if they shift their thinking and focus on what’s working well. Others might be more energized to make big changes.

Getting active and showing up in person can pay off.

“They can’t just sit at home and work on the computer and think that the jobs will come in,” said Stan Rosen, owner of Career Lifestyles. “One of the biggest things is networking. The way to network is to show up all over the place.”

Doing volunteer work can be one way of networking.

“Some volunteer positions might turn into new careers,” Rosen said. Getting extra training or education can also lead to new connections and open up opportunities.

Career coach Nancy Fraasch starts by doing both personality and value assessments of people looking to make a career change.

“The easiest and fastest way to get a job is using the skills that you have,” Fraasch said.

Some people can move into consulting. Others may want to change schedules and work part time. Some may be working their way toward retirement.

“I see people flounder for a long time trying to figure it out,” Fraasch said. “Take it a step at a time.”/Tribune News Service