The short answer
Start by identifying what you want from work and the skills you already use. Compare a few real roles, then test one option through a conversation or a small learning task before committing to a major change.
Write what you want to change
Separate the role from the workplace. You may want different hours, a different manager, more responsibility or an entirely new occupation. Each points to a different search.
Choose your constraints: minimum income, travel, working hours, caring responsibilities and time available for training. An appealing job title is not enough if the everyday arrangement cannot work for you.
Look for evidence of transferable skills
The National Careers Service offers guidance on identifying and developing skills. Its resources can help you explore strengths and routes to learning.
Write examples from work, volunteering or everyday responsibilities. “Handled a difficult customer conversation” is more concrete than “good with people.” Compare your examples with requirements in real job descriptions.
Test one possibility before buying a course
Choose two or three roles to research, then speak to someone doing one of them if possible. Ask what a normal week involves, how they entered the role and what is difficult about it.
Identify a specific skill gap before comparing courses. Check what a course actually teaches, whether an employer requires a recognised qualification and what time and cost it involves. Completing a course does not guarantee a job.
ONE SMALL ACTION
Try this today.
Choose one role and list three requirements, one relevant example from your experience and one question you still need answered.
Add a task to my daily focusCommon questions
Do I have to start from scratch?
Not always. Compare the role requirements with your existing evidence before deciding what new training is needed.
Should I resign before choosing a direction?
Consider your circumstances and commitments carefully. Researching and testing options can begin alongside your current work.
Sources and further reading
These sources support the information identified in the guide. The exercises and examples are suggestions from It Is My Year.
Links checked 4 October 2026.
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