will need to spend on additional schooling training and other professional development activities levit advised and dont be afraid to ask industry insiders how much a newbie like you might earn their first few years in the field likewise dont let credit card debt or your latte habit be the thing that stands between you and a shiny new career track your personal expenses trim the fat pay down debts and do your best to dump a few extra bucks a week into your career change fund levit said if youre not sure whether you can afford a career leap or whether you should tap your rainy day or retirement funds levit suggested meeting with a financial advisor some career moves may be completely impractical for you and if so better to not waste too much time on them she said 3 meet and greet youve no doubt heard it said that networking is a far more effective means of drumming up employment leads than scouring the online job listings youve probably also heard it said that you need to start mingling with folks in your chosen field at professional workshops happy hours and the like long before you start job hunting consider yourself told once more when seeking specific advice about how to make inroads in your chosen industry look to those two to five years older than you levit said theyre the ones likely to be most knowledgeable about the latest hiring requirements and workplace trends for junior professionals in the field work on your charm too dont just blather on about yourself or demand someone give you a job or introduce you to their top contacts be likeable helpful take the time to build relationships with people since realistically your experience might not be a perfect fit for them your personality has to make up for it levit said 4 take a test drive once youve indentified the skills you must acquire to make your career leap take a college course or two to see if the field sustains your interest do this before enrolling in any fullblown academic program dont be afraid to try an online university for many professions the stigma of online education has dissipated levit said professional and alumni associations also can help you boost your skill set levit said many offer free or nominally priced classes internships no longer just the domain of recent college grads offer another way to test the waters in a new field highprofile companies like sara lee are welcoming interns with solid career records and transferable skills levit said for midcareer internship opportunities levit recommended the center for interim programs once youre there get your hands dirty levit said do all the things youd never be allowed to do in a more traditional entrylevel position like put on events and implement new organizational processes its all resume fodder besides giving you a firsthand glimpse into your dream industry an internship can impress