Q. I’m unemployed with an accounting degree, but I don’t see why anyone would hire me because I really don’t enjoy doing that kind of work. If I cannot convince myself I want a job in the field, I don’t expect to convince any interviewers.

I know my attitude means I need to find something else to do, but I have absolutely no idea what that might be. My unemployment benefits will soon run out. Any advice?

Dear Readers,

Hating your chosen line of work is just one reason people consider taking the giant leap to change careers. My dad, for instance, was earning a fine living in New York City in the 1950s drawing newspaper advertisements for Macy’s when he began to wonder if he might be happier working as a Protestant minister. He eventually enrolled in a seminary and made the switch. Thirty years later, when his doctors advised him to retire because he needed to reserve his energy, depleted by multiple sclerosis, he returned to his earlier love, art. He earned modest sums and kept his spirits high by producing a series of prize-winning watercolors.

Whether it’s voluntary or forced, changing fields calls for some soul-searching. “What do you want to accomplish before you die?” That’s the rather blunt question Martha Mangelsdorf poses in her book, Strategies for Successful Career Change: Finding Your Very Best Next Work LIfe (Ten Speed Press, 2009).

Why attempt to adopt such a long-term perspective? “It’s helpful to look at the big picture, ask yourself what you want to be, and articulate that,” says Mangelsdorf. Deep contemplation is productive even if you are forced to make a change — due to a layoff, for instance. “You may not have all the options you want, but it can help you choose among the things that are available,” she says.

Asking big questions does not guarantee quick answers. Typically it is small steps that help people find a promising new direction. “Often [discovering what you want to do next] is a fairly gradual process,” says Mangelsdorf. During her four-year tenure writing The Boston Globe’s monthly “Transitions” column, Mangelsdorf interviewed dozens of career changers. She found that talking with people in the line (or lines) of work you’d like to consider, attending conferences and trade shows, reading trade publications and scanning industry association websites, and looking into the field’s growth prospects are key actions that can help you make a wise choice.

Getting some additional training may be worthwhile, but that doesn’t necessarily mean studying for a brand new degree at an expensive university. Many community colleges offer cheaper options with more flexible scheduling. Other possibilities include certificate programs, short courses, and compressed degrees. Mangelsdorf interviewed one woman who started a bed & breakfast with just one intensive seminar under her belt. “The options are out there, once you start doing the research,” she says. One source she recommends: www.careeronestop.org, which has a section devoted to education and training.

Think about which skills you have that may come in handy in other settings. These are more formally called “transferable skills.” Sometimes they are not immediately obvious, as in the case of a sales manager who decided to take up organic farming. He took courses from a farm industry association to get up to speed on agriculture, but when it came time to sell his goods to grocery chains, he had an advantage over his competitors. “You’ll often find new ways to apply skills you already have,” Mangelsdorf says.

While it is extremely important to do your homework before making a change, do not underestimate the “serendipity factor.” You may just happen to meet someone, or read something, or volunteer somewhere that gives you a spark of an appealing idea. Try to keep active and stay open to new experiences and people at the same time you reflect on those things that you have long valued. By playing around with the mix, you will likely stumble on some new possibilities.