You might be satisfied with a job for a long time, but it's rare for most people to stay with the same career their entire lives. This is especially true for kids out of high school and college, but in the current economy, it's not surprising to see older adults thinking about a career change, too.

As scary as it might seem to leave your current job, there are actually plenty of good reasons for doing so. Maybe you aren't earning enough of an income to provide for you and your loved ones, or you're missing out on benefits and health coverage. You might also not like the atmosphere of your workplace, whether it's from your coworkers or your supervisor. Or perhaps there's no challenge in what you're doing anymore.

To make the most of your decision for changing jobs, here are some simple but effective tips to get you started.

1. Build relationships with people in your new field. Networking sounds like just another buzzword in the job market, but it's also an invaluable tool to getting ahead. Being able to talk to other people in the career or industry you're interested in will give you an idea of what to expect. You can also find new people to list as references when filling out job applications and going in for interviews.

2. Educate yourself on new skills and industry experience. The biggest hurdle you'll face in changing your career is a lack of experience in the new field that you want to try. You might have used a computer when you worked as a receptionist, but how will that help you become a software designer? To develop your interest in a new career and raise your profile, you'll want to start doing your homework on new skills and experiences. Take an internship in your new industry or enroll in an extension course at your local university. If you don't have the time for either of those activities, you can also look for volunteer opportunities or set aside some time for a project to hone your skills on, like learning how to write code for a website.

3. Define your goals for better compensation. Whether you're taking on an internship for experience or a part-time job, you should ask yourself what you want most from this new line of work. Sure, your first answer will probably be "a great salary with benefits," but what else do you want? A good title for your résumé? An employer you can use as a reference in your job search? Or how about developing your skills in a new field with new responsibilities? It's crucial that you know beforehand and that your new boss is aware of your goal. If they're not compatible with your career needs, then perhaps you need to look elsewhere.

Image by kate hiscock on Flickr