Paul Iantorno began his career working in the Italian shoe industry in San Francisco. The owner of Paolo Shoes, he eventually maintained two storefronts in the city before transitioning into real estate. Paul Iantorno continues to work in real estate with such companies as Golden Properties.
The process of transitioning to a new career, though daunting, doesn’t necessarily mean starting over. Below are four steps to help you move from one field to another:
1. Figure out the why and what. It’s likely that you are aware that you’ve outgrown your current jobs, yet you may not know much beyond that. When you don’t know what job you want or why you want that job, you are more likely to start a new career that is equally unfulfilling.
2. Identify transferable skills. You already have plenty of skills that can assist you in your new role. Beyond assessing your skills in areas such as leadership and communication, determine what classes or licenses you will need in your chosen field.
3. Make a plan. During the transition stage, you will still need to manage your monthly bills and other real-world issues. Create a plan for how to go about your transition, including weekly agendas and milestones. A plan makes it easy for you to follow a specific path during the transition process, ensuring that you build both momentum and confidence as you go.
4. Track your progress. Track the progress of your transition to make sure it is going at the pace you planned. You can easily do this by writing down the different tasks and goals you set for yourself in a spreadsheet. As you complete them, mark the tasks done. This not only lets you visualize your progress, but it also lets you spot and correct any issues early on.
