Whatever age you might be, making a career transition is a big step and you should get as much support as possible, whether from friends and family or from professionals.

Making the move from one field to another will be one of the most challenging things you do in your life and so you should allow yourself plenty of time so that you get it right.

Friends and family may not be supportive as it is frightening to them,as well as to you, to see the old reliable structure disappearing, when they can’t see the new one yet. Sometimes you can reassure them by explaining why you need to make a change and also by telling them that you won’t be doing anything rash. This can be important if family are dependent on you for financial support. However, if your family don’t support you, it’s important to find people who will.

Friends can either be incredibly supportive or just the opposite. The latter is usually based on jealousy, as they are too scared to make changes themselves. So be careful who you confide in. If you can find at least one good friend who will support you, this will help enormously. You’ll have someone to talk thing through with at every stage of the game, which can help you make wise decisions or reassess priorities.

Sometimes you need the support of someone who does not have any emotional investment in your decision and this is when you could invest in the help of a professional. A careers advisor or counsellor will also be able to give you practical advice and information on a wide range of career options. An advisor will also be able to help you talk through any obstacles and look at how you can overcome them.

If you’d like to kick start your future by learning the 6 steps to effective career change, click here to download my free e-book.

Waller Jamison is a careers advisor and university lecturer, who understands the difficulties involved in changing career and returning to study.