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Congratulations! You’ve decided to change your career path and enter a new industry! You may be thinking: Where do I start? Good question.

There are a lot of things to consider when changing industries, but we’ve listed three tasks you should focus on first:

Do Your Research: Before changing industries, you’re going to want to know as much as possible about your new chosen profession. One of the best ways to learn about a particular industry is to conduct an informational interview with someone who’s currently working in the industry. An informational interview gives you a chance to gain valuable information as well as a new professional contact! Another great source for industry information is O*Net, where you can find the latest Labor Market Information for almost any career! (Pro-tip: Check out our past blog post for a “Professional Starter Pack” to help you enter your new industry!)

Invest in Training: It’s important to always be learning, especially when you’re looking to enter a new industry. Thankfully, there are great training resources online for any budget! LinkedIn’s new Lynda.com is an excellent low-cost resource for individuals looking to build their skills (and it’s free for military veterans!) Another great resource for industry-changers is TED Talks. TED Talks is super motivational and perfect for anyone making a change in their life. (Check out some career-specific TED Talks here!)

Build Your Network: Presumably, your current network has a lot of individuals who are working in your previous profession, which is fine. However, as you’re looking to enter a new industry, it’s important to start making relevant connections with people working in your chosen field. Find local networking events on MeetUp or EventBrite and start handing out those business cards! (Remember: Many available jobs aren’t listed publicly. Making valuable connections is one of the best ways to find your next career!)

After crossing all of these tasks off of your list, click here or call 855-994-8300 to work one-on-one with a National Able Network career coach and start your new career path today!