You might be in a career comfort zone, but are you really happy with your job? The time to act is now if you have been thinking about changing your employment. This guide should give you some motivation to get into a more enjoyable job.

1. Think about finding a career that really interests you. You might as well make the change for the better if you move to a new job. Think about what types of jobs excite you and that you would be good at. And don’t make the break if your primary reason is that you hate your employer… that may just mean it is necessary to change bosses! A career change should be motivated by the need to find a job you can really excel in.

2. Put a plan into place. Make a list of the things you are going to do and stick to it. It is key to give yourself a reasonable amount of time – when planning your time frames, think about factors such as where you might look for jobs, and have plenty of time to create the paperwork like cover letters and CVs. Set a goal for changing careers with a deadline, whether it be a month in the future or 12 months. When a plan is in place, your career move will be much more likely to happen.

3. Make some enquiries. It is a great idea to communicate with people in the actual field that you have an interest in, to get a feel for whether you are making a good choice. Get in touch with local business in that field, talk to anyone in your social arena that has a similar job and you’ll get personal, free advice! Get onto online chat rooms and read up on formal job descriptions. Discover what kind of qualifications or training you may need to make this happen. Don’t be hasty but gather as much information as possible before you make the move.

4. Be well prepared for interviews. Update your resume and make it as clean and professional as possible. Bone up on interview techniques by taking a short course or seminar. Printed materials on interview techniques are another readily available resource in preparing for a job move.

5. Prepare for the transition period. Once you have a new job, prepare for the process of changing jobs. If required hand in your last performance review to your employer, complete or thoroughly hand over unfinished projects and don’t forget to give your employer plenty of warning that you will be leaving the position. Your changing jobs may come as a surprise to your employer, so be sure to leave on good terms and with a polite attitude.

Tiffany Provost writes about Change Career and other Careers tips for www.HowToDoThings.com.