According to Forbes & Morgan McKinley, the average 35 year old will change jobs 8 to 10 times before they are 42 and change career 6 to 8 times before they retire. We no longer live in a world where graduates follow one career path for the rest of their lives, but are we equipped to face these transitions to the best of our ability?

We sat down with Lead Career Coach and COO of Hidden Cove, Albert Kalaja, to find out what it means when someone wants a career change. Albert is an HR professional who has worked for PwC and has over 30 years of industry experience.

"Ideally," he says, "HR within companies will genuinely care about and value their employees." In this case, during performance review meetings, employees may realise that they have outgrown their current position. There may be other opportunities within the existing company, or perhaps the employee decides to move on. Sounds straightforward, right? Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

If you've ever had one of these thoughts...

Work has taken over my life. How do I change this? 

The politics is getting to me – some people are more interested in themselves and not the company. 

I can’t continue to turn a blind-eye to what my company does – I can’t live with myself. 

I’m 40 something - I’ve had enough of this kind of job….same thing day after day….It is boring and I want a new challenge. I want a new career not just a change of company. 

I don’t feel my contribution is valued or respected any more. “They ignore my views”. 

...then you know how hard it is to navigate the process of embarking on a career transition. Albert mentions some common roadblocks that may get in the way, including resistance from friends and family, lack of experience, job insecurity and the looming "what if?".

The best advice? Ask for help. "Get a coach who can guide you even before you resign…to help you through all the preplanning", says Albert. Whether you’re a senior executive or even an experienced recent graduate, a coach can help you make an informed decision about what to do next and your long term career direction.