Are you seriously thinking of changing your career ? Think hard and make up your mind for certain that you need to take that plunge.

Remember, changing careers is part of a natural growth for everyone. Studies show that most people do change careers several times during the course of their entire working life.

Taking this 6-step procedure, will ensure that you are on the right track on successfully changing your career for the better.

Coming to know exactly what you dislike about your job often helps. Is it the job, the boss, the company, the working hours ? identify what you don't like about your present job.

Similarly, knowing your likes is important. This helps in making you decide the precise direction which you should take while changing careers. What is it that you really about your present job ? would you prefer working from home ? what motivates you ? what makes you tick ?

If you find it a problem doing this exercise, participate in a career assessment program. These help you re-assess your needs, your preferences so that you can take the right path forward.

Once you are aware about your precise likes and dislikes, you need to spend some time to do a bit of homework and research on the current job availability which focus round your likes. In case you are feeling a bit nervous and unsure, don't worry - its natural to feel this way when you are switching careers.

The amount of research you do will directly depend on the quyantum of change that uyou are looking for in a career.

There are many skills and talents you have which you can re-apply to your new job. You will be surprised to see what a treasure-house of varied experience that you have which can prove to be real assets in your new job.

If you need to upgrade your current skill levels and widen your knowledge base, go about it gradually and with ease.

At times, your enhanced knowledge or skill level can be well-utilized in your current job. Probe to find out whether your current employer can use this newly acquired skill. You can take a few courses to assess whether you really enjoy what you are learning.

If you are taking a new degree or certification, check the accreditation of the institution from you are learning. Check out on the job opportunities.

One of the most successful tools while changing careers is your networking skills. Friends who belong to your network, often give valuable assistance and advice on job opportunities, information about the company, the industry or even introduce you to other people while you expand your social network, gaining professionally.

In case you start thinking that you really have no network, think again, since colleagues, friends and even family members are all part of your network.

There is always the opportunity to widen your circle of members of your network. For instance, you can join a professional institute who are in the same line as your new chosen field. Then there are alumni from your college who could be working in the same field you wish to enter. The crux of networking is to acquire as much information as possible, from as many sources as possible.

You can not be rigid while making choices - and this applies to your new employment status, any relocation and also the salary. You have to give in to get in.

While you must start and continue the exercise with a positive state of mind, you must also be prepared to face tumbling blocks and winds of change. Changing is not necessarily vertical - you could even consider a lateral move in your career which could be a stepping stone to achieve something much bigger in the long run.