BOSTON - BostonChron -- Maybe you've dreamed of a career change, too, but don't know where to start. Lynn Bentley, President of Knobull, helps students and recent grads determine How to Change Careers. He says, "Trying out a new career is a valuable life experience, but it can also be daunting."

At JobStars, on the Knobull homepage, the career coaching team shares seven steps to create a career-change road map:

1. Identify Your Goal

"What is it that you're looking to move toward?" Bentley asks. "There are different ways to change careers, regardless of what you're moving from and into."

You may want a lateral move. Or maybe you want to make a gradual shift over time, moving closer and closer to where you want to be. You may also want to make a hard stop, leaving something behind entirely to do something else.

2. Define Why It's Important

What matters about your goal? This is reinforcing your commitment to yourself and why you're doing this.

Getting clear about why this goal is important to you will help you weather the challenging days ahead.

3. Map the Journey

The third step is the engine behind the journey. It's identifying the next steps that you're going to take.

More on Boston Chron

• Labthink presents the NEW C840H Integrated Evaporation Residue Testing System
• Boston: Mayor Wu Announces Free Arts and Cultural Programming Coming to City Hall Plaza
• Boston: First Substantial Zoning Changes to Modernize Development Review Move Forward
• Exelon Leader Tamla Olivier Named 2025 Technologist of the Year by Waves of Change STEM Conference
• Officials Celebrate First 100+ Units Converted From Offices Now Under Construction in Boston

Perhaps you know a little about what you need to do next, but you don't know the complete journey you need to take.

4. Set Rewards

Most people are focused on the end goal, forgetting the incremental steps they'll need to take. To stay on track, assigning small and large milestones along the way.

If someone's making an accelerated pivot, their milestone might be going back to school or getting a certification from edX at the Knobull homepage.

5. Identify Potential Obstacles

Next, identify any obstacles you may face that could derail your path. For example, you may not get into your first-choice educational program.

6. Track Your Progress

Taking action on your plan can be intimidating, but tracking your progress is what will help you stay the course. It's the single most important thing anyone can do for their career.

Hindsight and reflection allow you to start to connect the dots in a way you can't see in the moment.

7. Recall Past Accomplishments

Remember the things you learned or overcame in the past can help you as you go through your career transition.

It's  not just talking about professional accomplishments like graduating from college or landing your first job. Those are important things.

Bentley concluded, "The steps for a career change also apply to any other big change you want to make in life. Where you start doesn't define where you'll end up.. No one else is going to be as invested in your career and your future as you have to be."