A fresh start: four steps to help you change careers

Posted on 17 March 2025 • Career planning

Whether it’s a conscious decision or caused by unexpected circumstances, such as redundancy, change can be exciting, daunting, overwhelming and energising. Changing career takes time but follow our four steps to plan your new start.

Step 1: Making a career shift

You may be seeking a new challenge or looking for promotion. You may want to make a difference, have a better work life balance or follow a passion of yours. Start to plan your career change and listen to the CareersFest 2024 recorded panel session. Employers with experience of employing people who change careers, share their tips with you career transitions at any age

A common reason for a career change is redundancy and we can help you take control of your future. Although it can be a challenging time, it can also present an opportunity to change to a more satisfying occupation. If you have been made redundant or are facing redundancy you might find reading our Redundancy – your next steps webpage useful.

Step 2: Know yourself

Discovering what you enjoy doing, knowing your values, and being able to articulate your skills and experience will help you to identify careers that are fulfilling and rewarding. Our guide Before making a career change, helps you work through some key questions to understand your reasons for wanting to change roles.

Step 3: Explore opportunities

As you start to think about the opportunities open to you, check out if your qualifications, skills and experience match the career route you want to take by looking at our ‘How do I become…?’ webpage. The real-life stories of OU alumni will show you what has helped others to progress, develop or move into their chosen career.

““Five years ago, I wrote down where I wanted to be, and this job represents a large part of that. I have moved into a post with a highly respected national organisation…. The OU has been a key part of helping me achieve this career progression.”

Eve, OU graduate

Step 4: Decide what to do

Do not be daunted by the number of options open to you, or feel that there is too much information to weigh up. Break down the decisions you need to make into a set of smaller steps using our career decision making guide.

Our quick guides to writing CVs, or application forms, and attending interviews or assessment centres will help you as you start to apply for roles in your new career.

““Careers and Employability Services boosted my confidence. I thought I would never overcome [my lack of experience in the legal sector]. I was advised that…I did have transferable skills that I had gained through other work. I was shown how to craft my CV in such a way as to express these skills to employers.”

Alexander, OU Law Student who successfully made a career change

Changing career can take time, but with the support of the Careers and Employability Services you can start to make that fresh start.

Sue Robertson is a Development Coordinator in the OU’s Careers and Employability Services. She supports careers-related activity both within the service and across the University, helping students to achieve their ambitions and fulfil their potential. Explore the rest of our blog for more articles from your careers team.