Changing jobs
Test two industries you've wondered about
A quick exercise to check your curiosity about another industry against what the work is really like
Pick two industries you've idly wondered about, read Truest's pages on them, and note what surprised you and whether the wondering held up.
- About 20 minutes
- Just you
- Once
- Go find it
Why this can work
Curiosity about another industry is free to keep and rarely checked, so it can hang around unanswered. Twenty minutes with the facts, what the work is like, what it pays and where it's growing, is often enough to tell whether it deserves a closer look.
Read moreHow to research an industry before switching
You’ll come away with a verdict on each industry, and what surprised you.
- Name two industries you've wondered about.
The ones that come up when a friend describes their job, or that you read about and think, maybe. Two lets you compare; with only one, it's easy to fall for it.
- Before you read, write down what you expect.
One line each: what you think the work is like, what you think it pays, and what draws you to it. You'll need this to notice what surprises you.
- Read Truest's page on each.
Look up each industry on truest.me and read about what the work is like, what it pays, and where it's growing.
- Note what surprised you, and give each a verdict.
Compare what you read with what you expected. Then one line each: did the wondering survive? Worth a closer look, not for me, or not now.
Tip: If one survives, the next step is a conversation with someone who works there. Nothing tells you more.
Good times to repeat it: when an industry keeps coming up in your headonce a yearbefore a career change
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
Often the appeal isn't the industry but one thing about it: the mission, the pace, the pay, a friend who seems happy there. Naming it tells you what to look for, wherever you end up.
What might make this harder
Pick the two you've wondered about longest. Newer interests can wait a month to see whether they last.
Questions people ask
How do I know if I should change industries?
Start by checking your curiosity against the facts: what the work is like, what it pays, and where it's growing. If the interest survives, talk to someone who works there before deciding anything.
Can I switch industries without starting over?
Often, especially if you stay in a similar kind of role. Many functions exist in almost every industry, and experience in them tends to travel.
What should I research before changing careers?
What the work is actually like day to day, what it pays, where the industry is growing, and what's drawing you to it. Then talk to people who do it.
Why this works, and where it comes from
Most people have an industry or two they've idly wondered about. It started with something a friend said at dinner, an article, a company whose products they love. The wondering is pleasant and rarely tested, which is part of why it lasts. An untested daydream can quietly make the job you have feel worse without ever becoming a real option.
Testing it is cheap. Twenty minutes on what the work is like, what it pays and where it's growing tends to do one of two things. Sometimes the interest collapses: the pay is lower than you pictured, or the work is further from what you imagined. Sometimes it survives, and gets sharper. Both are useful. The first frees up attention; the second gives you a lead worth real effort.
Writing down what you expect before you read is what makes the surprises visible. Without it, people tend to read selectively and come away believing what they already believed. The surprises are where the real information is. They tell you something about the industry, and something about what was pulling you toward it.
If you already know the industry you want, reading about it isn't the step; talking to people who work there and looking at real openings is. And if the wondering is mostly about escaping your current job, look first at what's actually wrong with it. A new industry won't fix a difficult manager or a role that doesn't suit you.
Other simple things to consider
What to do next
More in Changing jobs
Know what you actually want
Do it with Truest and it goes on your permanent record, in a Career Vault your employer doesn’t own.
See how Truest worksAlready a member? Log in- The longer sessionCareer Compass is the guided session for working out what you want next.
- A reminder beforePut it on your calendar and Truest reminds you before it starts.
- On your recordWhen it's done, it goes on your record with your priorities and progress.
Read this alongside your role page
Tell Truest what you’re dealing with
We read every one, and we write guides for the things that come up most. Leave your email if you’d like to hear when we do.
An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated September 25, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.