Embarking on a career change can be a daunting prospect. It’s natural to feel a sense of uncertainty, especially regarding financial stability or venturing into a less familiar field.
On the other hand, what could be worse than staying in the same unfulfilling role, watching the years pass while you miss out on opportunities to grow, learn, and indeed find fulfilling work?
If the answer is nothing, read on.
As always, when things feel daunting, let’s break it down into small steps. Get a piece of scrap paper or something to write on and follow me.
1. Find the do’s, not the don’ts
Ask yourself: “What do I want?” If you find yourself answering everything you don’t want, stop and return to that question.
For example, I started with “I don’t want high stress levels.” To put it more clearly, I chose what I do want and reframed it to “I want to work in an environment with manageable stress levels and a healthy work-life balance.”
2. Search with purpose
It’s time to look at your values and find potential industries that align.
After working in customer service roles for quite some time, I realised that helping people was one of my core values. I did some googling, and just by typing in what jobs help people, I could write down a list of roles that did just that. I needed money, so I scratched out the volunteering roles, and then Learning and Development popped up. So, I continued my googling endeavour and found a role I never knew existed that helps employees within organisations, and they pay you!
It’s your turn. Spend some time thinking about what your core values are. Once you have a list of at least 5, jump on Google, search for roles that align with your core values and see what comes up. Do some digging, put on your investigative hat, look for possible opportunities, and be as curious as you are.
3. Map the gap
Right. So, we have a good idea of your values and a role/s that speaks to you. Now what. Ok, so let’s work out what the gap is. My old roles in Learning and Development used to call this a skills gap analysis. It’s time to jump on a job site and find potential roles. The best thing is that they will tell you what skills they seek!
Let’s imagine I wanted to work as a photographer. Looking at job ads, I can see a demand for technical skills, creativity, negotiation skills, and skills in all aspects of editorial photography.
If I were to apply for this role, I would know that I would need to take a course in editing photos and understanding how a camera and its settings work to create different shots.
The other thing I would need to do is look at transferrable skills! What do I know how to do already? Have I negotiated anything in the past? For those of you in customer service, this is your everyday life!
In my experience, you have more transferrable skills than you know. It can be helpful to ask people who know you well or those who ask excellent questions (like a coach!).
4. Build a bridge
Now that you’ve done a deep dive into what drives you and where your competencies lie, it’s time to think creatively about bridging the gap to your new career. This stage is about leveraging what’s already within your reach to gain relevant experience and skills.
If you’re currently employed, look at what your workplace offers. Could there be projects or roles, even temporary ones, that align more closely with where you want to be? Suppose you are a call centre agent who wishes to become a user experience designer and needs to develop further skills as a part of a project team. You could ask your manager if you can volunteer to be a part of the next campaign that your business is running.
Mindset is a powerful tool. If you are truly unhappy with your current situation, have a clear goal of where you want to be. This will help you focus on opportunities that will help you achieve your goal. The best thing is, by doing this, you will naturally focus on what is in your control rather than what is outside your control.
5. Make yourself known
It’s not just what you know but who you know. Update that LinkedIn profile to reflect your new career direction. Start liking, commenting, and posting about your journey. Go to those industry meetups, connect with people who do what you want to do and soak up all their insights like a sponge. Visibility isn’t just about being seen; it’s about being remembered. Share your progress and what you’re learning; let the world know you’re serious.
6. Plan, commit and act:
Let’s get down to brass tacks. Write down what you need to do each week, whether it’s applying for jobs, finishing modules in a course, or reaching out to new contacts. Stick to this like glue, but let’s not be too rigid. Life happens, and you might need to tweak things here and there. Keep the end goal in sight and pivot as needed.
7. Reflect and revise
Grab a notebook and start tracking everything. What’s working? What isn’t? Adjusting your course based on honest feedback from the field is crucial. And hey, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back for the small wins. They add up, and they matter.
8. Persist and adapt
Buckle up because this might get bumpy. Not every attempt will be a win, but every setback is a setup for a comeback. There is no failure if you learn from it. Keep pushing, stay flexible, and remember that adapting to feedback is just part of the game. Resilience is your new best friend.
Let’s take the first step
Changing careers is a significant step, but it can be incredibly rewarding with the right approach. If you’re ready to take this leap, I’m here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need advice on mapping out your transition or finding resources for skill development: Book your complimentary introductory coaching session.
Over the next few weeks, I will dive deeper into each of the steps above. Remember, you have the power to make an impact. Trust your instincts and follow your heart. If both are in harmony, it’s a positive sign!
Embrace the change that is not just coming—it’s already unfolding. Your journey toward a fulfilling career can be challenging but rewarding; every step is a building block for your future.