Making a successful career change isn’t about quitting your job and hoping for the best. It’s about deliberate, evidence-informed steps. Here are two of the most effective strategies to begin a career shift (especially in the Australian context), and how a career practitioner can support you in each.

1. Skills and pathway mapping + gap audit

Begin by mapping your existing skills (technical, transferable, interpersonal) and comparing them with the requirements of target roles or sectors. Use labour-market data (e.g. from Jobs and Skills Australia, Seek) to identify growth areas and in-demand skills (e.g. digital, health, technical trades) in your region.  Then audit what your gaps are (qualifications, experience, networks) and produce a path to fill them (e.g. education / training, volunteer work, side projects).

A career practitioner can help you interpret capability frameworks, benchmark your gaps, and co-design a roadmap that is realistic in terms of time, cost and your life circumstances.

2. Pilot & experiment (prototype) before full transition

Rather than leaping, test a new direction through low-risk pilots: short-term contracts, freelancing, side projects, volunteering, job shadowing, or microcredentials in that field. These experiments give real feedback and help you refine your direction without burning bridges.

A practitioner can help you structure and reflect on pilots: define success criteria, debrief what you learn, and adjust plans. They can also help connect you with networks, mentoring, or industry contacts to make those pilots more meaningful.

When these strategies are combined — mapping a thoughtful path, and testing incrementally — the risk of failure falls, and your change becomes more resilient. And throughout, a skilled career practitioner acts as a sounding board, guide and accountability partner to keep you focused, adaptive, and confident.

If you want to talk further about a potential career change, get in contact with us to build your Career Game Plan.