The pandemic has prompted a major career reset for many professionals. About one in four workers say they plan to look for new opportunities once the pandemic threat has subsided. Some even plan to leave their employer by the end of the year.

Maybe you feel like your career has stalled or you want better benefits. Whatever your reasons for wanting to move to a new company or branch out on your own, you can expect to experience some obstacles along the way. However, you don’t have to let these challenges run you off course. Instead, you can be mindful of what you might experience and prepare for the road ahead.

In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share insight from Jessica Howington, a senior content manager for FlexJobs, on some common career change obstacles and how to move past them.

Challenge: Building a new network. If you’re switching industries, you may feel like you won’t have any overlap with your current professional connections. This may be true, but Howington says you can still use your network to your advantage.

Tip: Howington recommends seeing if your current connections know any professionals in your new industry. You can also reach out to professional or alumni organizations to meet people in your new field.

Challenge: Starting from scratch. It’s one thing to move from a sales position to management. It’s another to switch fields entirely. If you want to move from the promotional products industry to the real estate market, for example, you’ll need to complete the required training.

Tip: Howington recommends seeking out mentors to help you learn more about your new career path and skills you need to succeed in your new endeavor. You can also explore volunteering to help get your feet wet in a new field.

Challenge: Irrelevant skills. Many jobseekers worry about their skillset. Will their skills still be useful in their new role? Chances are, you can apply many of your current skills in a new position. But, it’s always a good idea to continually learn and develop new skills.

Tip: Howington suggests listing your current hard and soft skills. Then, look at job descriptions that interest you. When you see overlap, you know which skills to highlight on your resume.

Challenge: A pay cut. When you switch jobs, especially if you change industries completely, you may need to start at the bottom of the career ladder. This means your income may take a temporary hit.

Tip: To prepare for this challenge, Howington recommends creating a career change budget that will help you adjust to your new pay rate while transitioning to your new field. Depending on how much your salary will change, you may need to make some financial adjustments before making the move. However, changing to a job that’s more suitable overall will benefit you in the long run.

Changing careers can be nerve-wracking, but also exhilarating. If you find yourself ready to explore new opportunities, consider the points above and create an action plan.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Jessica Howington is a senior content manager for FlexJobs.