The Difference Between a Career Shift and a Career Change

We’ve often been told by authority figures to settle for a single career path. To get a degree in a specific field of study, apply for relevant jobs, and seek promotions to higher positions. Reasoning behind such advice is simple – the experience and knowledge you earn on the way will always help you in some fashion.

Sticking to that one path isn’t for everyone. Some have made it far into their careers and, for the longest time, believed that they were leading a fulfilling life. Until they suddenly lose their drive. They realized that from their position, there’s nothing else to accomplish with the skills developed thus far, and no clear new knowledge to gain.

However, there are options rarely considered by such individuals – career shift and career change. While those two terms are used interchangeably, there actually is a fundamental difference between the two. In this article we’ll explain what sets them apart, how both types of career transition can align with your long-term goals, and how they help you regain satisfaction.

What is a career shift?

When talking about a career shift, we’re referring to the process of moving into a new role within the same general field, building on your existing experience. For example, imagine a graphic designer shifting into UX design, which also heavily relies on visual communication. Or a college teacher using their ability to explain complex topics to educate employees as a corporate trainer instead.

Such cases present a clear picture of what career shifts are about – directly taking advantage of personal knowledge and skills in new ways, and in a different context. The main upside of this approach is the higher likelihood of a smooth transition and less time needed to adapt to the new environment.

What is a career change?

A career change involves switching to a vastly different profession. It could be a woodworker becoming a kitchen chef, or an HR specialist opting for a marketing department. In each case, both careers appear completely unrelated, but a few skills developed in the previous role can still matter. Even soft skills (such as effective communication or planning) developed in the previous workplace can prove valuable in the new place.

In most cases, career change is a generally more involved process, requiring additional preparation. This may include learning new technical skills, completing new courses, and getting relevant certificates. At the same time, it can present you with opportunities for work that’s more closely aligned with your personal goals and needs.

How to decide the right path for you

Before you make a decision about your career path, ask yourself these questions:

• What do I enjoy about my current work?
• What was I hoping to find in my workplace that’s actually missing?
• Did I want to pursue something different from the start?
• How much time and money can I spend on my development?
• What have I learned throughout my career thus far?

If you feel limited by your current position, a career shift may be the right choice to make. It’s a substantial enough change to introduce you to new challenges you’d like to pursue. It’s also a more practical option for those who prefer their transitions to be less demanding in terms of additional training and investments.

Career change will be the better option for those that don’t feel truly attached to their current field, are experiencing burnout, or aren’t satisfied with the possible paths to take within their area. As many people have found out, building a career around their interests (whether they are long-lived or newly developed) is well worth the effort.

Don't underestimate your transferable skills

Regardless of whether you’re going for a career shift or a career change, you’ll most likely be equipped with several skills that are valuable across nearly every industry.

Among those, soft skills are particularly versatile assets regardless of your position. Effective communication, negotiation skills, problem-solving, leadership qualities, and self-organization are just some examples of attributes that any employer will highly appreciate.

Technical skills from your previous work may also prove useful for a job switch in many unexpected cases. A professional photographer with experience in image editing may find their place in an e-commerce business, where they can help create product pages. Similarly, an architect transitioning into furniture design can take advantage of their CAD skills to create prototypes.

A willingness to keep learning remains crucial in adapting to the new environment. However, keep in mind that this isn’t limited to learning entirely new subjects, tools, or systems. Adjusting to a new career also means incorporating the knowledge and experience you gained thus far into the new work setting.

Plan your transition before making the leap

Before you commit to a new job, it’s worth carefully planning your steps in order to improve your chances of a successful transition. Here’s a list of actions you can take to ensure a smooth career change or shift:

• Research your chosen field. Take note of the usual responsibilities and required qualifications for the job. Search for appropriate courses and necessary certificates to determine if entering the target field is within your reach.
• Connect with people in the field. While online sources may provide you with general knowledge, directly contacting people with practical experience will let you learn about the real nature of the work you’re applying for.
• Build your professional online profile. Make yourself known through a LinkedIn profile or a personal online portfolio. Include a résumé that highlights your experience and skills that are the most attractive to your potential employers.
• Gain practical experience. This can involve freelancing, job shadowing, or taking on side projects. Any activities relevant to the target field serve to not only build your confidence, but also strengthen your résumé.
• Create a financial plan. Consider that during the transition you’re likely to have your income reduced. Make sure to estimate the costs of any necessary training and maintain an emergency fund in case you decide to pursue yet another field instead.

Most importantly, remember that transition rarely happens in an instant. In most cases, successful career changes or shifts are the results of a well-thought-out preparation process, which requires consistent progress over time.

Transferring into your own business with IKOL

While making a decision between a career shift and a career change, there’s yet one more facet to consider. Rather than searching for a new employer, you also have a choice to start and operate a business of your own.

In fact, launching and managing a business is now easier than ever before, in part thanks to all-in-one business tools such as IKOL. Our AI platform assists new entrepreneurs at the start of their journey in many ways – it generates full business websites, gathers lead information, allows for team and task management, online payments, and automatic appointment booking.

If your desire for independence is what drives your decision to enter a new career path, then starting a business with IKOL may be just the right idea for you.👉Try IKOL today👈and take your first steps towards your perfect fresh start.