人到中年改行绝不是件容易的事，你不但要进行充分的调查研究，还要积累足够的职场人脉，依据目的职位升级文凭、调整简历，而且最好不要裸辞。
Changing careers is never easy—but it is absolutely possible. Just because youre on a dedicated career path doesnt mean you have to stay on it forever.
换工作从来不是件容易事——但肯定是可能做到的。只不过由于你一直以来都坚持某条职业道路,不意味着你永远要做这个工作。
Sure, your family and friends may think youve lost your marbles when you announce plans for a midlife career change, but take heart: 59% of working adults say theyre interested in taking the leap, according to a recent survey from the University of Phoenix School of Business.
诚然，在你宣布中年改变职业的计划时，你的家人和朋友或许会觉得你是失去理智了，但不要失去信心：菲尼克斯大学商学院近期的调查显示，59%的在职成年人表示感兴趣挑战一下自己，换一份工作。
Whether youre bored at work, burned out on a job, or simply want a fresh challenge, there are a number of considerations that go into a successful career change.
无论目前的工作是叫你感到无聊，还是筋疲力尽，或者只是想要一个全新的挑战，这里有几个需要考虑的原因，帮你成功改变职业。
1. Making a rash decision
错误1、草率做决定
Before changing occupations, you should do a deep dive to assess why you want to leave your current one. You need to invest time to figure out why youre dissatisfied and whats going to make you more satisfied going forward, says Deborah Oronzio, a career-transition coach.
在换工作前，你应该深度剖析一下为何你想离开现在的工作。职业转换教练黛博拉•欧伦齐欧说：“你需要花些时间，想了解为何你对目前的工作不满，下面换哪种工作才能叫你更认可。”
Ask yourself why youre unhappy—and answer honestly. You may simply be havin a bad week or a bad month—or you may just hate your boss, not your industry.
问你一个人为何不高兴——然后诚实地做出回答。你或许只不过这一星期或一个月过得非常糟糕——或者你只不过讨厌你的上司，而不是讨厌这一行。
We all go through phases of unhappiness with our jobs, says Randy Block, an executive coach and staffing consultant. You should be running toward something, not running away from something.
实行教练、招聘顾问兰迪•布洛克说：“大家在工作中都会历程不快乐的时期。你应该是朝着某个目的前进，而不是逃离某种东西。”
2. Choosing a new career based on salary
错误2、依据薪水来选新职业
You obviously need to be financially strategic when choosing your next career, but dont base your decision solely on earning potential.
在选择下一个职业时，显然你需要有经济方面的考量，但不要只依据收入来做决定。
If you take a high-paying job that doesnt match your interests, values, or strengths, youre not going to be happy, says Holly Genser. Would you be happy being paid more money to do a job you arent into? Maybe at first, but the novelty will likely wear off sooner than later.
霍利•根瑟说：“假如你选择了一份和你的兴趣、价值观或优势不相符的高收入工作，你不会开心的。”做一份你不喜欢但薪水更高的工作，你会高兴吗？或许刚开始会高兴，但这种新鲜感早晚会消退的。
Its not that you should disregard salary when evaluating your options, but you must consider other important factors—like work-life balance and room for growth—in addition to compensation.
这里不是说，你在衡量选择的时候不应该考虑薪水，而是你在收入以外还需要考虑其他要紧原因——譬如工作和生活的平衡，还有进步空间。
3. Not researching the job market in your next field
错误3、不对目的行业的就业市场进行调查
Not sure what field you want to go into? Research industries and positions to find a good match for your skills and career goals, Genser says. Otherwise, youre throwing darts in the dark.
不确定自己想入哪一行？根瑟说，你需要调查每个行业和职位来找到合适你技能和职业目的的工作。不然，你只能摸黑试试看了。
4. Quitting without havin another job lined up
错误4、裸辞
Research shows its easier to get a job offer when youre still employed, which makes sense since gaps on a resume might make a hiring manager think twice about calling you in for an interview.
调查发现，在你仍在职的时候找工作更容易被聘用，这是由于简历上的空档期或许会叫人力经理在决定是不是给你应聘机会时有所顾虑。
Consequently, its in your best interest to stay at your current job until you have your next one set up.
所以，在找到下一份工作之前，最好是留在你现在的工作岗位上。
5. Neglecting your networking
错误5、忽视你的人际关系
Even if everything you research about the field youre interested in sounds promising, until you actually talk with people who work within that field, you really dont know what youre in for. As such, you should be growing and refreshing your professional contacts constantly.
即便你在调查了你有兴趣的行业之后发现它非常有前途，但假如没和那一行的人交谈过，你真的不了解你选择的是什么。正由于如此，你应该不断拓展和更新你的职场人脉。
One of the best ways to expand your circle is to go on informational interviews with people who currently work in the field youre pursuing. During these meetings, be sure to ask meaningful questions . Pro tip: Target people who work at companies youd like to work for. Not only will you learn the nuts and bolts, youll also be more likely to hear about job openings and get internal referrals.
拓展职场人脉最好的一个办法就是请现在在你向往的行业里工作的人介绍状况。在这种会面中，必须要问有意义的问题（譬如，“你感觉这个行业将来会怎么样进步？”）建议：把目的瞄准你想就职的企业的职员。你不但能获悉这一行的具体细节，你还更可能得到职位空缺的消息和内部推荐机会。
6. Going back to school prematurely
错误6、过早回学校进修
Depending on your new career choice, you may need to get another degree. Some fields have clear education requirements , but others dont require you to go back to school.
假如你的新职业有需要，你可能还需要再攻读一个学位。一些行业有明确的学历需要（譬如，获得硕士学位或执业护士资格证），但其他的行业无需你重返校园。
A lot of people think, I should get my MBA, or, I should go to grad school, but they dont always need to, Block says.
布洛克说：“很多人觉得，‘我应该拿个工商管理学硕士学位’或者‘我应该去读研究生’，但他们并不总需要这么做。”
You have to research whether getting another degree will, in fact, improve your job prospects or increase how much money you can make. If it wont, youd just be wasting money—or taking on student loan debt—to get a degree you dont need.
你需要去调查，攻读另一个学位是不是真的会改变你的就业前景，或增加你的收入。（在探寻这类问题的答案时，人际关系的帮忙特别大）。假如这个学位对事业无益，你只能浪费钱——或者背上助学贷款——来得到一个你无需的学位。
7. Not adjusting your resume for a career change
错误7、在寻求职业改变时没相应调整简历
While its great that you have 15 years of experience in public relations, if you want to switch careers to human resources, your old resume wont cut it.
尽管在公共关系这一行有15年的经验很好，但假如你要改行做人力资源，你的旧简历将不会帮到你。
Your resume needs to be tailored to the new industry youre pursing. Check out some of the job descriptions in your desired field and note what skills and credentials are valued. Which of your skills are transferable?
你的简历需要依据你想入的新行业来进行相应调整。查询你的目的行业中的一些职位描述，注意这个职位所重视的技能和文凭。你的什么技能是可迁移的呢？
For career changers, a functional resume is more likely to promote your qualifications than a chronological resume. Put in the time and effort to update and polish your credentials, regardless of how many years you have in the workforce.
对于要改变职业的人来讲，一份功能型履历比一份时序型履历更能提高你的资质。不论你在职场干了多少年，都要花时间精力更新和润色你的简历。
