Are you sure you want to enroll on that course?

Many people reach a stage in their career where they begin thinking about gaining a new qualification. Whether you're considering a complete career change or simply looking to develop your skills, it's worth taking some time to think through your decision.

If you're considering enrolling on a course, here are five questions to answer honestly.

1. Is the qualification absolutely necessary?

Before you spend your time and money on a course, find out whether the qualification is genuinely needed to help you get your foot in the door of your chosen career.

Don't make assumptions.

Speak to people who are already doing the job you'd like to do. If you don't know anyone personally, use LinkedIn, professional networks or your existing contacts to find someone willing to share their experience.

Ask them how they got started and whether there are other possible routes into the profession.

2. Do I have the support I need?

Making a significant career change often affects more than just you.

Whether your support comes from a partner, family, friends or colleagues, it's worth thinking about who can encourage you when the workload becomes demanding or your motivation dips.

Changing direction can require sacrifices, so having people around you who understand why you're doing it can make a real difference.

3. What are my potential distractions?

If gaining a qualification is an important part of your career change, what might get in the way of completing it?

Family life, work commitments and unexpected events can all compete for your attention. It's no surprise that many part-time courses have high dropout rates.

It's easy to feel motivated at the beginning of a course, but when the evenings become darker, work becomes busier, and life gets in the way, maintaining that motivation can become much harder.

Be honest about the distractions you're likely to face. Recognising them early gives you a much better chance of managing them.

4. What can I do to overcome those distractions?

Once you've identified the challenges, create a plan.

Perhaps it's committing to a regular time each week to study or revise. Maybe it's finding somewhere quieter to work or asking someone else to help with responsibilities at home while you focus on your course.

Don't assume everything will simply fall into place.

There will always be unexpected situations, but focusing on what you can control gives you the best chance of staying on track.

Don't forget that your college, university or training provider is there to support you too. Extensions or additional support may be available if genuinely needed, but they are usually best treated as a last resort.

5. What else can I do to improve my chances of a successful career change?

Many people work incredibly hard to gain a qualification but never take the next step.

If your goal is to change career, it's important to begin building relationships within your chosen profession before you finish your course.

Networking with people already working in the sector, asking about work shadowing, gaining voluntary experience and making the most of professional networking opportunities can all help you better understand the industry and improve your chances of making the transition.

In many ways, this can be more challenging than gaining the qualification itself because it often involves stepping outside your comfort zone and starting conversations with people you don't yet know.

Remember, gaining a qualification is only one part of a successful career change.

It's the combination of developing your skills, building your confidence, growing your network and understanding your chosen profession that often creates the greatest opportunities.

If you can answer these five questions honestly and still feel excited about taking the next step, then I wish you every success on your new journey.