“If I could only afford to quit my job and start fresh… then I could follow my dream and do what I really want.” Many employees imagine that the only way to start a new career is to quit their current field cold-turkey. However, there are several strategies you can use to begin the new career you dream of today, while still bringing home that necessary paycheck at your current job.

Redesign Your Current Position

Even in the most narrow job description, there is some room for creativity. Think about your company’s needs. Is there a growth opportunity they have missed? A large-scale study that needs to be completed? A way you can improve their everyday operations with a brilliant idea? For example, if you have always wanted to work with college students but feel trapped in a finance job, could your company use someone to speak at recruiting events on campuses? While you get valuable experience to add to your resume, your company is seeing you in a new light. You may find yourself reassigned to the job of your dreams.

Train Your Way to a New Job

How long has it been since you reviewed your company’s benefits package? Many employees are surprised to find out that training and education funding is more available than they thought. If you’re trying to escape your current field or position, the challenge will be to choose training that will benefit both your current employer and your future dream. If you dream of opening a small bakery, but spend your days in a corporate office, trainings in accounting, leadership, management, or human resources can give you the edge you’ll need when you become the boss. In the meantime, your current boss picks up the tab.

On-the-Side to Full-Time

Another chance to give your dream career a test run is a part-time position in a related field. Interested in the arts? Seek out a part-time job in the box office or special events department of a nearby professional theatre. Want to open a boutique? Try retail sales in a local store and meet potential customers while sharpening your customer service skills. While you avoid the stress of eliminating your income, you are digging in to a new career that you’ve always wanted to try. The benefit of this strategy is that you can also rule out those fantasies which seem better suited for you than they actually are in practice. Maybe the future boutique owner will discover she is a sales leader. She may also discover that she has a hard time talking to strangers or pushing merchandise. Better to know before you’ve jumped the stable ship you currently sail on.

Who’s the New Intern?

Internships aren’t just for teenagers anymore. As the job market evolves, career shifts later in life have become more common. As a result, employers are more likely to fill those internship slots with an older and more experienced staffer. A simple online search for your field, city, and “internships” will yield a diverse array of options, from part-time to full-time, volunteer to highly-paid. With less time to work your way up from the bottom, programs which offer transition to full-time positions upon completion are ideally suited to older interns who are ready to hit the ground running. What if you can’t find anything that meets your scheduling needs? Inquire anyway. Some organizations are willing to create programs for the right candidate- one with work experience and a real desire to learn and succeed, just like you.

Help Yourself by Helping Others

One of the easiest ways to add useful experience outside of your field to your resume’ is through volunteering. Non-profit groups need assistance on various projects- designing marketing brochures, writing for newsletters, legal contract reviews, managing of events and volunteers, catering, etc. Your willingness to work for free will more than make up for your lack of experience. Keep a log of your successful projects, a list of references, and an ever-growing book of contacts you make along the way. While your current boss may not know about your great phone fundraising drive, the groups you help will not soon forget your hard work. You reap the reward- both from the warm feeling from helping others and the blanks you will fill on your resume.

Before you know it, by using these tips to follow that yellow brick road to the job of your dreams, you will be well on the way to the satisfying career you’ve always longed for. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and take that first step.

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