Your career does not have to follow a straight line. Whether you are considering a career change, looking for ways to advance in your current job, developing new skills, or trying to figure out what comes next, the right information can help you make better decisions about your working life.
Worker Wisdom’s Career Changes & Professional Development resources cover the practical side of building, changing, and advancing your career—from deciding whether it is time for a new direction to asking for more responsibility, developing valuable skills, and positioning yourself for better opportunities.
Whether you are just starting to think about a career change or are actively planning your next move, these articles can help you understand your options and take your next step with confidence.
Career Change
Changing careers can be exciting, but it can also come with financial, professional, and personal risks. Before making a major move, it helps to understand what you are getting into.
Articles:
- How to Change Careers
- How to Know When It Is Time to Change Careers
- Should You Change Careers?
- How to Change Careers Without Starting Over
- How to Change Careers in Your 40s
- How to Change Careers in Your 50s
- How to Start a New Career With No Experience
- How to Explain a Career Change in an Interview
- How to Make a Career Change Without Taking a Pay Cut
- How to Transition Into a New Career
- How to Find a Career That Is Right for You
- What to Do If You Hate Your Career
- How to Figure Out What You Want to Do for a Career
- How To Get Your Old Job Back
Career Advancement
Moving forward in your career may mean earning more money, taking on greater responsibility, becoming a manager, or finding opportunities with another employer.
Articles:
- How to Advance Your Career
- How to Get Promoted at Work
- How to Ask for a Promotion
- How to Know If You Are Ready for a Promotion
- How to Get Noticed at Work
- How to Stand Out at Work
- How to Get More Responsibility at Work
- How to Become a Manager
- How to Move Into Management
- How to Get a Leadership Position
- How to Build a Career at Your Current Company
- How to Create a Career Development Plan
- How to Take the Next Step in Your Career
Professional Development
Professional development can help you stay competitive, build confidence, and qualify for opportunities you might not otherwise have.
Articles:
- What Is Professional Development?
- Why Is Professional Development Important?
- How to Create a Professional Development Plan
- What Skills Should You Develop for Your Career?
- How to Develop New Skills at Work
- How to Improve Your Professional Skills
- How to Build Transferable Skills
- How to Find Professional Development Opportunities
- Should Your Employer Pay for Professional Development?
- How to Ask Your Employer to Pay for Training
- How to Ask Your Employer to Pay for a Certification
- Are Professional Certifications Worth It?
- How to Choose the Right Professional Certification
- How to Continue Learning While Working Full Time
Career Skills
The skills you develop can affect your ability to get hired, earn more, take on new responsibilities, and move into a different career.
Articles:
- The Most Important Skills to Develop for Your Career
- What Are Transferable Skills?
- How to Identify Your Transferable Skills
- How to Improve Your Communication Skills at Work
- How to Improve Your Leadership Skills
- How to Develop Better Time Management Skills
- How to Develop Problem-Solving Skills
- How to Improve Your Decision-Making Skills
- How to Build Confidence at Work
- How to Become a Better Leader
- How to Develop Workplace Skills Employers Want
Going Back to School or Getting Additional Training
Additional education or training can open new career opportunities, but it is important to consider the cost, time commitment, and potential return.
Articles:
- Should You Go Back to School for a Career Change?
- Is Going Back to School Worth It?
- Should You Get Another Degree?
- Should You Get a Master’s Degree?
- Should You Get a Professional Certification?
- How to Choose a Career Training Program
- How to Change Careers Without Going Back to School
- How to Learn New Skills Without Going Back to College
Career Planning
Career planning can help you make intentional decisions instead of simply moving from one job to the next.
Articles:
- How to Create a Career Plan
- How to Set Career Goals
- How to Set Professional Goals
- How to Make a Five-Year Career Plan
- How to Find Your Long-Term Career Goals
- How to Set Career Goals You Can Actually Achieve
- How to Track Your Career Progress
- How Often Should You Reevaluate Your Career?
- What to Do When You Feel Stuck in Your Career
- How to Get Your Career Back on Track
Career Changes Later in Life
Changing direction later in your career can raise different questions about experience, compensation, retirement, and starting over.
Articles:
- How to Change Careers Later in Life
- How to Change Careers in Your 40s
- How to Change Careers in Your 50s
- Is It Too Late to Change Careers?
- How to Start Over Professionally
- How to Start a New Career Later in Life
- How to Compete With Younger Workers
- How to Reinvent Yourself Professionally
- How to Find a Career After 50
- How to Make Yourself More Marketable Later in Your Career
Building Your Professional Reputation
Your professional reputation can affect opportunities both inside and outside your current workplace.
Articles:
- How to Build a Professional Reputation
- How to Build Your Professional Brand
- What Is a Personal Brand?
- How to Build a Personal Brand at Work
- How to Improve Your Professional Reputation
- How to Network for Career Opportunities
- How to Network When You Hate Networking
- How to Build Professional Connections
- How to Find a Mentor
- How to Find a Career Mentor
- What Does a Mentor Do?
- How to Become a Mentor
Making a Career Move
Sometimes professional development means recognizing that your current employer is no longer the right place for you.
Articles:
- How to Know When to Leave Your Job
- Should You Stay in Your Current Job or Look for Another?
- How to Find a Better Job While Still Employed
- How to Make a Career Move Without Burning Bridges
- How to Leave a Job and Start a New Career
- How to Move to a Higher-Paying Job
- How to Find a Job With Better Opportunities
- How to Get Your Old Job Back
Related Career Resources
Career development often overlaps with other areas of your working life. You may also find useful information in Worker Wisdom’s Hiring & Careers resources, including job searching, interviews, job offers, and employment agreements.
You can also explore Leaving a Job for information about resignations, final pay, unemployment, severance, references, and other issues that can arise when leaving an employer.
The Bottom Line
A successful career is not necessarily about following one predetermined path. Your goals, interests, skills, and circumstances can change over time.
Whether you want to advance where you are, develop new skills, change careers, or find a completely different direction, professional development gives you the opportunity to take a more intentional approach to your working life.
Explore the articles above to learn more about changing careers, developing your skills, advancing professionally, and planning your next move.