Transitioning careers at any age can be very scary, particularly if you are already in an established career path or have many responsibilities. Some pragmatic people might interject here and say that fulfillment in your job is a luxury. However, the reality is that a lot of us spend a significant proportion of our lives working, and so it is important to be in a position where you enjoy what you do for a living. As someone who has changed careers multiple times, and as a coach to many who have taken the plunge, here are my top five tips.
Dig in to clarify next steps
I am an advocate for taking the time to quieten your mind and consider what kind of life you want and what your purpose you are called to. It is hard to do this because often times, we suppress our discontent, and only take action when we can no longer bear another day in our current jobs. This leads to making rash decisions, which can take you back to square one. So dig in, make time to think, research your options, write down what your ideal looks like before taking any action, and ideally before the bubbles of discontent start to come up.
Throw the rulebook out
The world of work is changing. You do not have to stay in a full-time corporate career or work out of an office. Technology and especially social media have significantly opened up the world of work. This is a key area that I work with my clients on. We are conditioned to continue looking for jobs that are safe and secure and look suspiciously at millennials, whose full-time job is to take photos and post on I
Create a SMART plan
Many of us have responsibilities and commitments, so the prospect of being able to transition overnight is not realistic. However, by creating a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) plan, you can proactively move towards your goals. The key thing here is to schedule protected times in your calendar when you are focused on a new course, research or working on your own business. Otherwise, you will find that another year or two has gone by and you are no way closer to leaving your current career but your level of frustration in your current role has increased. I often get clients saying that they have no time. I understand that it can be extremely exhausting to manage family life, corporate life, and other outside interests. But think of the opportunity cost of spending another lackluster year being unengaged in a job you detest, with the energy and impact that you can have in a career that you are truly motivated by. Everyone can find at least 30 minutes in a
Surround yourself with people who are doing what you want to do
This was game-changing for me because all of a sudden, the prospect of establishing my own business went from dream to reality. I obtained several business mentors and joined multiple entrepreneurial networks, some paid, others free. What I realized was that taking the plunge to do one thing, led to many others and completely transformed my entrepreneurial journey. One of the areas that I help people with on my “Secure your ideal job” program is to teach people how to network their way into a new job. There are many resources online and off for people who are in the industry that you are seeking to enter. If no group exists, then you have a fantastic opportunity to create one.
Take it easy on yourself
You are only one person spinning multiple plates. So cut yourself some slack if you find that things are not moving as quickly as you would have hoped or that you cannot seem to gain clarity on what your next step should be. Remember that clarity comes through action not thought, so if you find your self unsure about your next career move and have taken the time to be introspective, then pick the best thing you can and start there. You will find that as you move through, you will form a better understanding of whether this path is working for you or not. The great news is that you can always pivot at any time.
If you are interested in making a career transition and need help in figuring out what your next step should be, click here to schedule a 1:1 consultation.