4 ways to test drive a new career before you commit

When I started thinking about changing careers, one of the toughest things was not knowing what I wanted to do instead. I knew I wanted work that felt like a better fit and more rewarding, but I wasn’t sure what that would look like.

I’d already tried various jobs and career paths without finding what I was looking for. I didn’t want to keep investing time and energy in different directions without getting any closer to finding work that felt right for me.

I also felt I had to have it all figured out before I could move forward. But how do you choose a new career when there are so many options, and you don’t know what a different role would actually be like?

What I tell my clients now, and wish I could have told myself back then, is that you don’t need to have everything worked out before you begin. You can start by exploring possibilities, talking to people and trying things out before making any big decisions.

1. Explore career ideas that interest you

Think back to when you were at school, when someone asked what you wanted to be when you grew up. What influenced your answer? Perhaps it was your interests, hobbies, favourite subjects or someone you looked up to.

You can use a similar approach when exploring a career change. Rather than going straight to job boards, start with what interests you. What do you love reading about or listening to podcasts on? What topics could you talk about for hours? Have you ever met someone whose job or industry intrigued you?

Write these things down and broaden your horizons. You don’t need to research them yet; the goal is to open your mind to possibilities beyond the roles you already know.

Look for patterns, too. Are you drawn to helping people, solving problems, creating things or learning about a particular subject? These interests could offer clues about the types of work you might enjoy.

2. Talk to people doing work that interests you

Yes, I said it! Step away from your laptop and have some real-world conversations. Job descriptions can tell you what a role involves, but speaking to someone who does it can give you a much better sense of the day-to-day reality. You might be surprised. A ‘dream job’ could be more mundane than you imagined, while another role you’d never considered might sound fascinating.

Think of former colleagues, friends of friends and LinkedIn connections. Don’t overlook people you know more informally through your running club, the school gates or the gym. Explain that you’re exploring possible career directions and would love to hear about their work.

Here are some questions you could ask:

• What does a typical working day look like?
• What do you enjoy most about your job?
• What do you find most challenging?
• What skills or experience helped you get into this field?

Listen carefully to their answers. You may notice your ears prick up at certain things and find yourself thinking, "Ah, that sounds like me!"

If approaching people feels daunting, start with someone you already know. You’re not asking for a job; you’re simply gathering information. Pay attention to what appeals to you, what doesn’t, and what surprises you.

3. Test drive a new career before committing

Research and conversations can tell you a lot, but trying something out can help you see whether you enjoy the reality.

Could you take a short course or workshop? Volunteer or help out somewhere? Sign up for a project at work or shadow someone doing a job you’re interested in?

Keep these experiments small and manageable. You don’t need to retrain or make a big financial commitment to begin exploring. The aim is to test an idea and learn from the experience.

This is something I did when I decided to explore coaching as a career. Having tried different jobs without finding the right fit, I worked with a career coach to help me think about what might suit me. The experience also gave me first-hand insight into coaching and helped me see it as a possible career.

I then signed up for a weekend training course, which included doing pro bono work with clients to build my experience. Rather than giving up my job straight away, I started building my coaching business alongside my existing work. Gradually, I reduced my hours to part-time before eventually working full-time for myself.

Each step helped me learn more and build the experience I needed for the next. I didn’t have to know exactly how it would all work out; I just had to be willing to explore the possibility.

After trying something, take time to reflect. What did you enjoy? What felt less appealing than you expected? Did anything surprise you? Are you more or less interested in pursuing that direction?

Remember, discovering that something isn’t right for you is useful progress, too. It helps you rule out an option before investing too much time or energy in it.

4. Recognise your transferable skills and strengths

Changing careers doesn’t necessarily mean starting again from the bottom. Think about your career as a whole and the experience and transferable skills you’ve gathered along the way.

What do people come to you for help with? This can offer clues to your strengths. We often overlook the things we’re good at because they come naturally to us.

Try identifying three achievements you’re proud of, whether in your current role or earlier in your career. What skills did you use? Which parts did you enjoy most? You might discover strengths that could be valuable in a different role or industry.

It’s also worth remembering that being good at something doesn’t necessarily mean you want to do more of it. Consider the skills you enjoy using as well as those you’re good at. Both matter when looking for work that feels rewarding.

You don’t need to have it all figured out

Looking back on my career change, I wish I’d put less pressure on myself to find that mythical unicorn job straight away. My new career revealed itself slowly, bit by bit, and evolved over time.

Allow yourself time to experiment. You don’t need to know exactly where you’re heading before taking the first step. Ask yourself: What’s one small thing I could do this week to explore my career options? It might be researching a role, setting up a conversation, or trying something new.

You’re not looking for the perfect career for someone else. It needs to fit you and your life, and that process will look different for everyone.

If you’re finding it difficult to know where to start, career coaching can give you dedicated time to explore your options, recognise your strengths, and consider possibilities you might not have thought of. You don’t need to arrive with a plan; sometimes, the first step is simply deciding what you’d like to explore.