-BBC
Perhaps you’ve been thinking about a change for a while. You were never really cut out to be a paralegal, accountant or stock trader. But that’s where you built a career. If only you could go back and start again, doing something new, something you love, something that gets you out of bed with a spring in your step.
Switching professions isn’t something you can do overnight, or even in a matter of a few weeks. But, it is certainly possible once you pinpoint what you want to do, what new skills you need and create a plan for your transition.
But how do you know when to make that change?
“If your heart and head are aligned, that’s how you know when it’s time to move forward,” said Scott Dobroski, community expert at job and career website, Glassdoor, based in Sausalito, California.
The inspiration of what to do next is usually right in front of you. It could be a passion for entertaining friends, an interest in exercise and problem solving, or perhaps the phone that’s in your hand.
Changing careers might not be commonplace in some countries as it is in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, but it can be done. BBC Capital spoke with five Americans who went through the process. Their stories and lessons might help you build a successful second act.
