The idea of a job transition can seem incredibly daunting at first. And look, I get it. I felt the exact same way when I was mulling over the idea of leaving the law in pursuit of something else that excited me more. 

But here’s the best part: you can start taking tiny steps right now (yes, as soon as you finish reading this article!) that will lead you one step closer to your end goal!

I find that breaking bigger goals into smaller, more attainable ones truly is the key to success and I am delighted to share my baby steps with you today!

Try Journaling

Put your ideas in a journal and work on making them a reality!

One of the first (and most fun!) steps in a job transition involves a bit of dreaming. After all, before anyone is comfortable enough to make a change, your heart and soul need to be in it! 

That’s why I always recommend that folks explore the magic of journaling when considering a job transition. 

Putting our innermost thoughts and dreams to paper has a magical way of leading to real, tangible results (what some call “manifesting”) and is a wonderful way to explore all of your interests, passions, and potential job opportunities without telling a single soul.

Read more: Career Shift and How to Follow Your Gut

Not sure where to start? Well, for starters, invest in a journal that you truly love. I’ve found that I am much more likely to stick to a regular journaling routine if I have something pretty and inspiring to write everything in! 

Once you’ve purchased the perfect journal, start with a little free form or stream of conscious writing. In this style, you quite literally jot down everything single thought, idea, and word that pops into your head. 

This is a terrific way to explore what your gut thinks about your current job (you might be surprised!) and can also lead to some innovative alternatives for the immediate future as well as down the line!

Try It Out Part-Time

One of the reasons to work part time is the fact that you can get experience from different fields of work.

Another great way to get your toes wet in a potential job transition is to try it out on a strictly part-time basis in your spare time. 

This may involve volunteering on the weekends, picking up a project or two as a freelancer online, or even an after-work internship. 

However you would like to structure it for your schedule, this introductory career move is both a great way to see what working in your new field looks like on a day-to-day basis while also beefing up your new resume a bit!

Put Some Feelers Out with Friends and Family

Family talks can be a great source of valuable advice on career change.

Our closest friends and family members are often the people in our lives that know us best and, for better or worse, are the most likely to be impacted by our career decisions in the future. 

Before making any life-altering decisions about your career prospects, put out a few feelers with the people whose opinions you value most. 

You just might find that you have a new platform to bounce off ideas and come up with a practical plan!

Research Your Options

Expect that you're spend lots of hours on online research to get prepared for a job transition!

Up late one night with a bad case of a busy brain? Consider doing little preliminary research into your dream job or field! 

Long before I took the plunge into a full-time career as a writer, I spent countless evenings researching freelance writing websites, online portfolios, and even open writing jobs in my hometown. 

Read more: How I Quit My Job

I wanted to fully immerse myself in this world and learn the in’s and out’s as much as I could so I could prepare myself for what was to come and, I have to say, it was a big difference!

PRO TIP: If the idea of searching for your dream job all at once seems a bit daunting, break it up into smaller research projects! For example, one of the first searches I ran was “how to create a writing resume” which naturally lead to search results about writing portfolios. I simply jotted down a few notes and then, a few days later, dove into the topic of writing portfolios. Over time, you will collect enough information to form a plan and, since you’re not in a rush to change fields right away, can enjoy the luxury of really exploring this topic at your own pace!

Make a Timeline

Follow the path you've made for your future and believe in great things to happen.

Once you collect all of the data and talk things over with your loved ones, it’s time to make a plan. This plan can be as detailed or generic as you’d like, but I always recommend a due date for when you will make a job transition. 

Life has a way of throwing up some pretty aggressive curveballs when big decisions like this are being made, and you do not want to end up using these events as an excuse to do a job that you hate.

For a lot of people, one year usually works as a feasible benchmark to research, save funds, and make a move towards a new career. And remember, if it scares you a bit…then you are most certainly on the right track!