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Explore a career change using skills you already have
A list of realistic new career paths based on your skills and interests, with what each involves and small first steps to test it.
When to use it
When you're thinking about a change
Step by step
Take stock
Write down your jobs so far, what you enjoyed and disliked in each, skills people ask you for help with, and any practical limits such as income or location.
Ask for options
Paste your notes into your AI assistant with this prompt.
Prompt to copyI'm considering a career change. Here's my background: [paste notes]. My practical limits: [for example must earn at least X, can't relocate, can study part-time]. 1) List my transferable skills with evidence from my background. 2) Suggest 6 realistic career paths that use those skills, from a small step to a bigger leap. For each: what the work involves day to day, typical entry routes, any qualifications usually needed, and how my skills fit. 3) For my top 3, suggest a small, low-risk way to test it in the next month, such as a short course, volunteering or talking to someone in the role. Be honest about challenges.Check the facts
Look up entry requirements and pay on official career service websites or real job ads, since these vary by country and change.
Try one small step
Pick one test from the list and put a date in your calendar to do it.
What you get
Transferable skills: scheduling (managed rotas for 15 staff), calm with upset people, training new starters. Paths: 1) Practice manager in healthcare, 2) HR assistant, 3) Learning and development coordinator... Test HR: shadow your current HR team for a day.
Tips
- Talking to one person already doing the job tells you more than hours of reading.
- A careers adviser, often free through public services, can help check the plan.