Did you manage to land a job in an industry that you thought you would love, only to find that you hate it? If so, you are not alone. According to a 2014 study, the average person shifts job roles approximately every four-and-a-half years. Realizing that you are in the wrong career is not the end of the world. In fact, it can be the start of something wonderful. Changing careers is entirely possible as long as you approach the process strategically. Here are three tactics that can make your career transition go more smoothly.

1. Research Different Fields

When contemplating a change of industry, it is important to thoroughly research the fields that interest you. For example, if you are interested in a sports marketing career, then you need to know basic information about the industry such as job availability and average salaries. You should also browse different sports marketing articles to understand the discipline’s more subtle points, such as how it differs from other types of marketing jobs.

After gathering information from a variety of sources, you may find that your ideas about the world of sports marketing are quite different from the reality. If you are still interested in the field after conducting some research, then it is time to move forward.

2. Explore Education Options

Many people manage to end up in careers they enjoy without having been specifically educated for them. However, if you have found an industry that you are passionate about joining, then you should prepare yourself to enter it by obtaining the proper education and training.

For example, say you have some experience in software development, and now you want to enter the field of health informatics. While you could attempt to find a job with your current experience level, you could also set yourself up for success by investing some time and money into your education. Adelphi has an MSHI degree that is 100% online, so you can obtain a firm foundation in your desired field without having to quit your day job just yet.

3. Observe a Day on the Job

You can learn a lot from research, but the best way to understand the intricacies of any job is observation. After you have found a field that interests you and determined if you will need additional education to enter it, you should arrange to watch someone in that field spend a day on the job. If this is not possible, then you should at least try to find someone who is willing to tell you about their daily activities.

This final step may seem uncomfortable or unnecessary, but the last thing you want is to go through all the work of changing industries only to find that you are again dissatisfied because you did not fully understand the requirements of the job.

Change Is in Your Hands

Changing careers is rarely simple. However, you can make the process easier by exploring all of your options and carefully planning your next moves. There are no guarantees in life, but your hard work is likely to pay off in time. Everything you need to transition into a more satisfying career is already in your hands.