5 Lessons From Angelina Jolie on How to Make a Career Change

We can all learn a career lesson or two from Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie. She's gone from Academy Award winner to activist to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ambassador to director to producer to wife and mother of six -- not necessarily in that order and often simultaneously. And now she's an academic, too.

According to reports, Jolie has been appointed as a visiting professor at the London School of Economics -- seriously. To you aspiring career-changers out there that aren't following your dreams because you assume employers won't take your new direction seriously, take note from Jolie! Follow her playbook and be confident in your potential to reinvent your career. Yes, it's possible! Here's how.

[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]

Don't start from scratch. Instead, take the next appropriate step that bridges the gap between your current and future careers. Did Jolie become a producer and director overnight? Not exactly, but she did flex her acting chops for years. Figure out how your current role connects to your dream job, and then think bigger about how you can build on your foundation to bridge that gap. Reflect on what you've seen and experienced on the other side of the desk, so to speak. Pursuing an executive role? Great! Outline a list of skills you admired in former bosses and want to emulate, as well as traits you loathed, and avoid becoming that guy or gal. Start pursuing opportunities to develop the characteristics that go along with your dream job.

Volunteer. By giving back, you'll likely get even more in return. Not only will you feel good, you're also likely to develop a new set of problem solving and time management skills that go beyond the scope of your current job. Take Jolie, for instance -- in addition to her many other volunteer, activism and fundraising endeavors, she co-chairs the Clinton Global Initiative's Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. This has undoubtedly contributed to her knowledge and leadership skills in education that support her new academic role.

Think of it this way -- there are only so many hours in the workday; it's challenging to take on office side projects that will enable you to acquire new skills while delivering outstanding work in your current role. Volunteering is a way to explore other sides of your skillset (and not to mention, a great talking point for your next job interview).

Job candidates often try to convince hiring managers that they're a fit for a new job when they don't have any directly related experience. Some of the most successful ones point to their indirect experiences leading volunteer efforts and, more importantly, the specific skills that match the job they are pursuing.

[See: 10 Reasons to Quit Your Job Already.]

Have an "anything is possible" mentality. Think big picture: It doesn't seem at all out of the ordinary that Jolie is a professor after seeing her manage all of those projects and commitments. But does it surprise you when someone tells you how he or she completely changed paths from being a teacher to going to nursing school? Or a lawyer to an HR manager or a hairdresser to a publicist? It's all totally possible -- it starts with believing that you can do it. How will you be able to convince a prospective employer that you're capable of a career change if you can't even convince yourself? The beauty about career changers is that they really want it -- you're hungry, you've figured out your purpose and you're pursuing it wholeheartedly. You need to have that "I'm unstoppable" belief! It's just a matter of finding the right fit with that employer who is willing to give you a chance.

In addition to having the mentality, of course, you have to actually go for it! Believe from within and make things happen. For instance, if a mentor or friend offers you an opportunity you haven't previously pursued, don't get in your own way. Doubts are normal, but the more you practice your elevator pitch and explore options that come your way, the faster they'll subside. After all, that's how you grow.

Separate who you are from what you do. It's not uncommon, as you're probably aware, to define yourself by your job. At networking events, more often than not we ask someone what they do instead of who they are because we see those two things as intertwined.

Start separating the two ever so slightly -- simply remind yourself that you're more than what you do. When you remove your job from the equation and think bigger about your overall personal brand, anything is possible! And if you need a nudge, look at Jolie. Or mogul Richard Branson. Or homeless comedian to millionaire Steve Harvey. Inspiration is all around, you just need to realize that you can do it, too.

[See: The 6 Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance.]

Focus on your personal life. Not only is it healthy to put down your work phone and really enjoy some downtime, it's also good for your career -- really.

Achieving genuine work-life balance includes more than just wellness and self-care -- it also gives you time to focus on other activities. For instance, some stay-at-home moms leverage their work at their kids' schools as valuable talking points during interviews. Don't underestimate the power and relevance of traits like time management and people skills and experiences like running a book fair or organizing a fund drive. These experiences on your personal time will help prepare you to land that next job!

Vicki Salemi is an author, public speaker, columnist and career expert for Monster, a global leader in successfully connecting people and job opportunities. Utilizing empowering insights from her more than 15 years of experience as a former corporate recruiter, Vicki advises job seekers through regularly contributed articles to publications like Forbes.com, and in interviews with many top media outlets, such as NBC News and USA Today. More information can be found on Twitter @vickisalemi and @monster.