You’ve done the soul-searching. You’ve researched the market trends. You’ve even mapped out the skills you need to bridge the gap. At this point, you might feel ready to quit your job, sign up for a $10,000 bootcamp, or enroll in a two-year Master’s program.
Wait.
Before you make a massive investment of time and money, there is one crucial phase most people skip: Step 5 —Testing the waters.
In the world of product design, they call this "prototyping." In your career journey, it’s the reality check that ensures the "dream job" in your head matches the daily reality of the desk. Here is how to master Step 5 and avoid the "buyer's remorse" of career changes.
1. The Low-Stakes Learning Path
Before committing to a full degree, start with "micro-learning." Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or FutureLearn offer introductory courses for the price of a few pizzas.
If you think you want to be a Data Scientist, take a 10-hour Python for Beginners course. If you can’t get through the first five hours without wanting to pull your hair out, that is a highly valuable piece of information. It’s better to lose $20 and a weekend than $20,000 and a year of your life.
2. The Power of "Informational Interviews"
Social media and job descriptions often romanticize certain roles. To get the "unfiltered" version, you need to talk to people actually doing the work.
Reach out to professionals on LinkedIn or within your network. Ask them:
"What does a typical Tuesday look like for you?"
"What is the most frustrating part of your job that no one talks about?"
"If you were starting over today, would you still choose this path?"
Most people are happy to share their experiences if you come prepared and respect their time. One 20-minute conversation can reveal more than 20 hours of Google searching.
3. Try a "Side Quest" (Freelancing & Volunteering)
Theory is one thing; practice is another. If you’re eyeing a career in marketing, offer to run the social media for a local non-profit or a friend’s small business for a month. If you’re interested in UX design, try a small freelance project on a platform like Upwork.
By treating your potential career as a "side quest," you get to experience the actual workflows, deadlines, and pressures of the industry without the high-stakes risk of a full-time role.
4. Shadowing and Internships
If you have the flexibility, ask to "shadow" someone for a day. Seeing the environment, the office culture, and the pace of the work in person can be a "lightbulb moment." You might realize you love the work but hate the environment—or vice versa.
Why This Step is Non-Negotiable
The goal of Step 5 isn't just to "try things out"—it's to de-risk your future. When you eventually move to Step 6 (creating your roadmap), you want to do so with the confidence that comes from experience, not just theory. Testing before you commit allows you to pivot quickly, save your resources, and ensure that when you finally make the leap, you’re landing exactly where you belong.
Are you ready to see which path is worth testing? Before you start your "trial run," make sure you’re headed in the right direction. Take the LevelShift career test to identify the paths that best align with your natural strengths. Don't just guess—test with intent!