Changing careers is difficult. It requires perseverance, conviction and frequently a temporary downshift in lifestyle. If you've ever considered changing careers, here's how to go about it.

IT might be your passion, but many experts say increased longevity will require today's workers to have multiple careers over their lifetimes. While the need for IT professionals isn't going away, outsourcing and changing technology have impacted the demand for their services, causing more to consider getting into a new line of work.

Changing careers is difficult. It requires perseverance, conviction and frequently a temporary downshift in lifestyle. But for those who can endure a short-term diet of peanut butter sandwiches, the rewards can be fruitful. If you've ever considered changing careers, here's how to go about it.

Identify Your Transferable Skills and Passions

"No matter what field you're in, the jobs all require the same behaviors, tools and disciplines," says Ford Myers, president of Career Potential LLC in Haverford, Pa. "The key is identifying the ones that you're good at and finding where you might be able to use those same skills."

Myers, who became a career consultant after 20 years as a graphic designer, has helped many IT professionals change careers. To identify new opportunities that will be right for you, he advocates introspection, assessment and an objective viewpoint.

"Assessments such as interest inventories and vocational profiles can help you identify your strengths and job interests," says Myers. "When you change careers, it's also a time for introspection about what you really want and need in your life, but many people can't do that objectively. Having an outside person who will be direct and honest with you and who has an unbiased view is helpful."

Becoming something like a physician would require a career revolution, accompanied by a huge investment in education and training. So instead of making such a dramatic switch, many IT workers instead choose to evolve into a related field, which requires a shorter learning curve and a faster return to comparable wages.

"Nobody ever got hired because they were really good at something. They got hired because the company needed them," observes Waffles Natusch, president of the Rhode Island-based career consultant the Barrett Group, who has himself successfully changed careers. "If you've managed people, consider general business management or managing outsourced IT services, because management is a transferable skill that's in demand. Think about your industry experience. If you're an IT professional with manufacturing experience, consider becoming a supply chain or purchasing manager."

Teacher, technology sales person, software trainer, construction or engineering project manager and technical writer are all positions that can be attained by technology professionals going through an evolutionary career change process.

Test the Waters  

Once you've developed a short list of possible new positions, immerse yourself in professionals who work in the field to assess your fit and the job market. Attend adult education classes, industry association meetings, networking groups and career networking sites to get a sense of what daily life is like. If you develop a relationship with those in the field, some may allow you to shadow them for a day, and they may help you identify job opportunities. Educating yourself is vital: You don't want to change careers only to discover your new path isn't right for you.

To Find a Position: Network  

One of the biggest obstacles you'll face is the mindset that candidates must have pervious experience in order to be considered for open positions. To avoid frustration, go around human resources to directly present hiring managers your resume. Not a natural networker? Start with other networking-adverse people.
 
"I've frequently spoken to IT groups about networking, and the key is not to compare yourself with the guy who's out on the golf course everyday," says Myer. "Start with the guy in the next cube who is also shy about networking, so you can build confidence. Also e-mail people and use sites like LinkedIn to help break the ice and get started."

Perform an Attitude Check  

Evolving successfully to a new career requires you to have the right attitude and perspective about the changes that have occurred in IT. Remember that many industries and professions have gone through radical changes, and many people have had to change careers, even when they didn't want to.

"I often have to do a great deal of counseling with IT people because they can be their own worst enemies," says Myer. "Wearing your emotions on your sleeve and being arrogant is not going to get you a job anywhere, so it's important to look at the image you are projecting. Many people did very, very well in the early days of IT. Now you have to have more realistic expectations, and you should count your blessings because most people have never even had the chance to experience a job market like the one that you did."