A career change is just what it sounds like — a change in careers. People change careers for many different reasons. Sometimes, the economy changes and certain careers become out of demand, while other times, a person's situation changes. For example, you may be going from being single to having a family or you may need a less physically demanding career due to health problems or aging. Whatever the reason for changing careers, a little planning and a lot of thought can go a long way in helping you make the transition from one career to the next.
Before making a career change, you should start by carefully considering your career choices. What do you do really well that you really love to do? If you were already doing that but are forced to now change careers, try to find something similar that fits in with the reason you need the change. For example, if you had a full time job doing accounting or secretarial work that you really enjoyed and would now like to work from home to be with your kids, would you be able to be a virtual assistant?
Crunch the numbers to be sure your career change will work for you financially. First, there must be a demand for the service or product you'll be providing, so before changing careers, check the future job outlook for the career choices you're considering. Second, if you'll be working from home remember that a steady income right away is not at all likely unless you have one or two part time jobs set up from the start. Third, if you need expensive software in your home office or expensive education before changing careers, you'll have to be sure you can handle that before you actually commit to a certain career change.
Remember that a career is more than just a job. It's a big part of who you are and how you spend your time. Think about all the particulars of the job that go with your new career before making a commitment to a career change. For instance, if you want to work your way up the corporate ladder, but you really cannot stomach the idea of attending the company Christmas party, you may need to rethink your decision to change careers.