Thinking About Changing Jobs? 5 Essential Steps to Take First
Changing jobs can be a smart move, but only if you know why you are moving, what the market is asking for, and what your next step actually needs. These five steps will help you make a more focused decision before you start applying.
A job change is rarely just about salary or frustration. In many cases, people are looking for better fit, clearer progression, stronger work-life balance, or a role that uses their strengths properly.
The problem is that many people move too fast. They start applying before they have researched the market, tested the role, or worked out whether they need new skills first. That is where bad decisions happen.
5 essential steps to take before changing jobs
1. Self-reflection: understand your why
Before you start browsing job listings, work out what is actually driving the change. If you skip this, you risk moving into another role that creates the same problems in a different setting.
- What parts of my current role still suit me?
- What do I want to stop doing?
- What kind of work gives me energy?
- What matters most in my next role, pay, flexibility, growth, meaning, or stability?
You may realise you do not need a completely new career. You may just need a different type of employer, a better industry fit, or a role with clearer progression.
On the other hand, you may spot a clear pull towards something else entirely, such as finance, administration, healthcare support, or digital work.
Example: If you enjoy organisation, systems, and accuracy, that may point you towards areas like accounting or bookkeeping. If you are more drawn to people, process, and service, health administration may feel more natural.
2. Market research: identify real opportunities
A good job move is grounded in reality, not just interest. That means checking what employers are asking for, what roles are available, and whether your target direction is realistic now or needs extra preparation.
Save 10 to 15 job ads for roles that interest you. Look for repeated tools, responsibilities, and qualifications. If every second ad asks for Xero, spreadsheet confidence, or sector knowledge, that tells you exactly what matters most.
Look for patterns that show whether demand is real. Are there consistently 20+ live roles in the field, or does the same small group of ads keep repeating? Are salary ranges widening, which can suggest stronger demand, or staying flat? Are roles clustering in sectors that are growing, such as healthcare, technology, or business support? These signals help you judge whether the move is realistic now or still too early.
Use LinkedIn or your wider network to speak to someone already doing the role. Ask simple questions such as: What does a normal week look like? What surprised you about the role? What do employers expect that job ads do not mention? One honest conversation often gives you more clarity than hours of browsing.
Practical tip: spend 20 minutes saving job ads, 10 minutes reviewing salary and growth signals, and 15 minutes drafting one message to someone already in the field.
3. Experience first-hand: test the waters properly
This is where many people stay too shallow. Saying "try volunteering" is easy. The real question is how to test a new direction without quitting your job and hoping it works out.
- Ask someone in the role for a 15 minute conversation
- Try a short project or task linked to that field
- Take on a small responsibility at work that overlaps with the role
- Volunteer in a setting that gives you relevant experience
- Take a short course to see if the subject holds your interest
Do you enjoy the actual work, not just the title? Can you picture yourself doing it repeatedly? Do the tools, pace, and type of problem-solving suit you?
This helps you avoid changing jobs based on an idea that sounds good but does not fit in real life.
Simple test: review 10 live job ads, speak to 1 person in the field, and complete 1 small practical task related to the role. That alone gives you a much stronger read than browsing role titles for a few nights.
4. Resume and online presence: update your professional story
Your CV and LinkedIn should reflect the direction you are moving towards, not just the history of where you have already been.
- Highlight transferable skills clearly
- Use achievements and outcomes, not just duties
- Tailor your profile to the role you want next
- Make your LinkedIn profile complete and current
If you are moving from admin into bookkeeping, emphasise record management, data accuracy, systems use, reconciliation, and financial processes.
If you are interested in digital work, support that direction with relevant evidence such as coursework, projects, or a focused learning step like the Certificate in Digital Marketing & AI.
Need help with interviews too? Read Get interview-ready in 5 easy steps.
5. Strategic job search: search with a plan
This is the other section that often gets treated too lightly. A good job search is not "apply to everything and hope". It is targeted, repeatable, and built around evidence from the market.
- Choose 2 to 3 role types to target
- Save 10 to 15 strong matching job ads
- Pull out repeated skill requirements
- Rewrite the top of your CV around those requirements
- Apply for a small number of well-matched roles each week
It keeps your applications focused, improves relevance, and helps you build momentum without burning out. You also get better at spotting where your gaps are and where your strengths are already strong enough.
Practical rule: three good applications are often worth more than fifteen rushed ones.
Explore career paths you can move into
If you are still deciding your direction, these subject areas can help you focus on a realistic next step. Each category connects to practical skills and real job outcomes.
Medical Reception, Health, Psychology & Counselling
Beauty, Lifestyle & Leisure, Short Courses, Course Bundles
What to do this week if you are serious about changing jobs
If you need to build skills first
Sometimes the right next step is not applying immediately. It is strengthening the skills that make your move more realistic. If your target roles are asking for tools, systems knowledge, or formal proof of ability, it can help to build that before you push deeper into the job market.
- Accounting and finance skills for structured, detail-focused roles
- Bookkeeping pathways for practical, job-ready financial skills
- Health courses for support roles in healthcare environments
- Business and management skills for leadership and office-based roles
If job ads are repeatedly asking for knowledge you do not yet have, or if you need more confidence before applying, a targeted course can make your next move much easier.
People also ask
How do I know if I should change jobs?
If your role no longer fits your strengths, values, or goals, and that feeling has lasted longer than a bad week, it is worth taking seriously. The key is to work out whether you need a new employer, a new role, or a different direction altogether. Sometimes the issue is short-term pressure. Other times, the role itself is simply not a good fit anymore.
Should I get more training before changing jobs?
Only if live job ads are consistently showing a gap you do not yet meet. Study can help, but it should solve a real problem, not become a way to delay applying.
What if I do not have direct experience in the new field?
Most career changers do not. Focus on transferable skills, practical examples, and any evidence that shows you understand the work and can learn quickly.
What is the biggest mistake people make when changing jobs?
Moving too quickly without being clear on what they want, what the role actually involves, or what employers are really looking for. A little research early on prevents a lot of wasted time later.
