Almost everyone will experience a career change at some point during their lives. Whether they are changes that happen based on your internal desires or the marketplace mayhem, you will be way ahead of the pack if you start to plan now. Don't take for granted since you've been in the company for a long time that you will not suffer the effects of market forces. Many employees who assumed do not have jobs now or work dead-end jobs they took to pay the bills. Even if you are very happy with your current job, you may still end up facing a career change in the future.

Most people have two or three career changes during their lifetime. If you know ahead of time that the career you started out it may not be long-term, it is a smart idea to be proactive about your career changes. If you make plans for the eventual possibility of a layoff, an unexpected illness, a corporate takeover, a company bankruptcy, or other potential disruptions of your present career, you can make the transition more comfortable for yourself.

Always have items like your five-year plan, updated resumes, cover letters, business cards, your network and an emergency fund ready in the event of a career change. By doing the research ahead of time on possible career choices that include your skills, you have the option during a career change to seek employment in your field or look into another area using the same skills or those that you acquired while you were in your job.

You should have several copies of your resume. One should be in Word format and have all the format most resumes contain. One should also be electronic and be used for online submissions. It's also a good idea to have a functional resume instead of a traditional one, if you have many years of experience that may make you seem out-dated instead of fresh. This way you can list your skills by job experience rather than dates, making you appear younger at least on paper.

Together, with your professional network and other things you do to be prepared for a career change, you will find that having an emergency fund is one of the smartest decisions you can make. You will need to pay your bills while you transition from one job to another. You will need to cover transportation costs to interviews and continue to present a professional image, while not having income in many cases.

You will also need to build a professional network. Start to put together a network of professional contacts outside the company as well as within. You never know where your next job lead will come from, but it will probably be through an individual who knows someone wanting to fill a position. Knowing the right people will open opportunities when they are necessary. Remember, preparing ahead of time helps you not only advance in your career but also helps reduce the stresses involved in career change.