5 ways to transition into a new career

5 ways to transition into a new career5 ways to transition into a new careerCareer transitions can be a bumpy ride you leave the familiar routines of your daily job responsibilities and suddenly everythings up in the air again, just like it was at the beginning.While career changes are not for the faint of heart, and can take a long time and a lot of hard work, the benefits of sticking with it to move into something that will be a better long-term fit for you are priceless.Heres what you should keep in mind as you navigate through both familiar (and unfamiliar) territory.Save, save, saveYoull need a lot of money to stay afloat for as long as it takes to land the right next job, so it makes sense to abflug saving while youre still employed - before you make the leap.LearnVest founder Alexa von Tobel writes about creating a financial cushion for herself in a TIME article.When I started my company, I had to go without a regular paycheck in order to get everything off the ground. I used my emergency savings- I called it my freedom fund- to support myself. Generally, I recommend at least six months of take-home pay as an emergency fund, but if youre planning a career change, Id suggest at least 12 months worth, to help you cover costs without having to take a job you dont actually want, she writes.Remember that youre more than your jobYoure a human being with strengths, weaknesses and a whole life outside of work. So think about whats important to you in this process. After all, this is a second shot at getting what you really want in your career, right?A 2014 Gallup poll found that more than half of U.S. employees get a sense of identity from their job- while just 42% think work is what they do to pay the bills.Its no surprise that something that fills so much of our daily life can become part of our persona. But try not to get caught up in the idea that your job ultimately defines you, particularly when youre dealing with the disorienting feeling of a work trans ition.In other words, work shouldnt be all you have.Rely on your networkBefore you can get a firm understanding of the industry youre trying to break into, do everything you can to research it.Read up on news articles, industry research and books, but also tap into your network - reconnecting with friends or extended networks to find people who work in the field youre now pursuing. Ask them for insight about the nature of the industry, invite them to an informational interview to get tips, and solicit insight about any events or professional networks you should sign up for.Then, get out there. Head to networking events, join clubs and affinity groups with people who are passionate about the same things as you, and get outside your comfort zone by looking to speak to those who can also challenge your perspectives.Monitor your progressIf youre only judging the passage of time by your proximity to the next job, youre going to start to lose track of your actual, incremental progress.In stead, consider setting smaller benchmarks to help keep yourself motivated - and organized - as you move forward.Respect yourself enough to track the effort. Monitor how youre doing and what you need to be doing next. Set up reminders so you follow up on things when you need to,Jenny Foss, a career strategist and recruiter who quit her job in corporate communications and now runs the blog JobJenny.com, writes inThe Muse.If youre going to invest time and energy to make this happen, invest the time and energy to track your progress, she adds, suggesting a simple Excel spreadsheet will do you wonders.If youre not an Excel person, use the tool that makes the most sense to you so you dont abandon ship on it, she says.Dont forget about your current strengthsChances are, you already have a wealth of knowledge in another area, so dont shortchange yourself.Before she launched the reusable water bottle company Swell, Founder and CEO Sarah Kauss spent time in financial and real estate fields , she saidin Fortune.She said the skils she learned in each industry served her well on the next.No matter where you go, you have the opportunity to build on existing skills and find opportunities to create new ones. By understanding what capabilities youre fostering and being open to how they can be used moving forward, youll always set yourself up for success, Kauss said.This takes the pressure off of making a career-move mistake and allows you to look at each position as a positive opportunity for growth.