Career changers and renaissance people alike always ask me, “How do I change my path without having to start over at the bottom?”

Annoyingly, as with most things related to racing; It depends.

Clearly, if you want to become a doctor, you’re going to have to go to medical school and start from scratch. A lawyer: back to law school, my friend.

But in most fields, there isn’t just one ticket to enter. Even if your preferred field calls for a specific educational background, you can probably bypass that. Meet Maria Last week I spoke with Maria, who is also a “renaissance woman”, which means that she loves variety and she is one of those people who tries to fit a million passions into one life.

He majored in computer science and began his career in technology; coding, programming, etc.

Several years after her first job, her employer facilitated a lunchtime volunteer program through which Maria was able to teach career-related workshops to young adults.

It wasn’t long before working with people became Maria’s main interest.

Maria also volunteered through Chicago Cares, which connects volunteers with more than 200 opportunities in various fields. They offer one-time volunteer opportunities. No weekly or monthly commitment. She joined outings with seniors, did art activities with children, helped create curricula for homeless adults, tutored in the lab, helped prepare food that was donated to an event, and helped serve meals at The Salvation Army. .

Tip: Chicago Cares is a great way to try nonprofit or social service work for anyone living in the Chicago area. Some other cities have similar programs (ie www.NewYorkCares.com). From science to social services When the company he worked for closed two years later, she saw it as an opportunity to pursue his new passion.

His goal: to move to social services, without the “proper” academic training. Do that: without a ‘remotely related’ educational background!

Maria was very organized about her transition. She even took advantage of her analytical skills that she used in her tech career (which, by the way, she flourished) to plan the next chapter.

He considered his options, talked to people, and saved his money.

A few months later, he landed a training position at a for-profit university that specializes in technology. Maria trained homeless and at-risk adults (ages 18-60+) in soft and hard skills needed in the workplace.

Here, she put her technology background to good use and her experience volunteering with young adults.

How did you get this job?

Networking without realizing you were doing it! She sheepishly mentioned her plans to a college friend over dinner. Her wife knew someone who was looking for a coach.

Within two years, she had become a training director; she led the entire professional development department and even created a new job center. Another Change in Direction After a few years, Maria was getting restless and switched to a non-profit role in higher education, working with college students and alumni on professional development.

Here are some tips you can take from Maria’s story if you want to achieve a similar transition:

Put it there

•Share your story, ask for help, and do some soul-searching to make sure your desire for change is coming from a positive motivation to want to do something new, not from wanting to escape something old. It’s important to talk to others about your dreams. Not only to get the mental and moral support, but also because when you do, you can receive valuable information. People may have ideas you hadn’t thought of or connections you weren’t aware of, as in Maria’s example. And, as Barbara Sher says, “Isolation is a dream killer.” So get it out into the world, even if it seems like an unachievable goal right now! Others can help you realize your dream.

Use a phased approach

•If your new field or position is quite large and you’re sure you can’t jump right in, take a phased approach, just like Maria did.

Think of your transition as a multi-step plan. First in the area that offers you the easiest entry. Once you are inside; Get some experience under your belt, pick up some new skills along the way, and then move on to the area you really want to be in.

Volunteering or doing an internship is often a successful entry into a new field. This may require a financial step back, so plan ahead or do this part-time, if possible.

Zigzag into new territory

•Not interested in starting all over again? You do not have to do it! As Maria said; renaissance people should take a “zig-zag” approach to their career. Every time you move on to the next field, you may have to take a small step back, but not all the way to entry level like someone fresh out of college might. Then you’ll work your way up again, zigzagging through different runs.

How do you do this? Leveraging your experience and skill set and quickly picking up new skills. Figuring out how to promote your transferable skills and experience—on your resume, in conversations, and in interviews—will take some work. If necessary, work with a running coach.

Then there’s this nice side effect of being a reborn person; You are probably passionate about your new professional approach and quickly learn new skills. Don’t underestimate your passion; people notice it and are drawn to it.

Most of the time, the combination of transferable skills, the ability to quickly learn new ones, and a remarkable passion for this new field will get you there.