In the current job market, who hasn’t at least thought about switching jobs, companies, or careers? Or taking the leap into entrepreneurship? As it turns out, most of us have been thinking about it. According to a recent Fast Company-Harris Poll, 52 percent of U.S. workers are considering a job change in 2022.

Done right, a career change can bring many benefits—faster advancement, increased salary, improved work-life balance, or personal fulfillment. And no doubt about it, there are a lot of opportunities out there right now. 

Before you take the leap, however, make sure you know your five Ws: 

WHY do you want to change careers? If it’s just a vague sense of unhappiness, you may find yourself in a different career or field—but with the same dissatisfaction. Instead of blindly leaping into something new, take the time to identify what you truly want at a soul level. Here’s where a personal audit comes into play.

Are you looking for a career that more closely aligns with your purpose? Have your interests and values changed since college? (You don’t have to stay married to choices you made at twenty-two.) Are you burned out on 70-hour work weeks and need a better balance between work and life? Articulating what you want—and don’t want—will be key to evaluating new opportunities. 

If you’re not sure where the source of your current dissatisfaction is, journaling may help. What parts of your current job do you enjoy the most? The least? Which projects energized you—or drained you? What are your strengths and talents? Look at your past achievements and determine which skills and talents contributed to that success. Look for the patterns.

WHAT are you looking for? Define the change you want. Do you want a new role in the industry you’re already in? Or are you looking to switch to an entirely new industry? What does your life look like after you make this change? Just as important—what does it not look like? Do you have current skills and experience you can leverage? Do you need to develop new skills or hone existing skills before you can pursue a career change? 

WHERE do you want to be? What kind of environment are you looking for? Nonprofit? Corporate? Government? Remote or in-office? Are there possibilities where you currently live? Or will making the change you want necessitate a relocation? 

WHO can help you? Mobilize your power pack. Let people know you’re looking to make a change (discreetly, if necessary, to protect your current job). Don’t be afraid to inform former colleagues, friends, or other connections that you trust—you never know whom other people know. 

If your current network doesn’t match the change you’re looking to make, you’ll need to take some time and expand it. Be strategic about it. Whom do you need to meet? Do you know someone who could make introductions to people in your targeted industry or company? If you’re looking to switch industries, reach out to recruiters in that field. 
WHEN will you make the leap? What is your ideal timeframe? What is a realistic timeframe? Grab your calendar and make your action plan. If you need to acquire a new skill, when will you do that? If you need to have coffee with a friend who works in a particular industry, get that on the calendar. You know what they say: A goal without a plan is just a wish. Make a list of the things you need to do and when you need to do them—and find an accountability partner to hold you to your deadlines.