Nine things I did to change careers
The start of my career change journey on a trip to India
In 2015 my career as a Fundraising Campaign Manager came to its natural conclusion. While working for an inspirational charity met my professional and personal need to make a difference, I knew my next role had to do this in other ways.
Figuring out how to find that role was still a mystery. Here’s what I did to solve it.
Doing the following three big things, which are, in fact, nine smaller things, lead me to career change coaching. In total, they helped me create and test a successful career change process at the heart of how I work with my clients.
There’s a balance of heart and head in this process and a good measure of gut feel. To begin with, I looked for a way to recognise which of my career change options would or wouldn’t work.
I got clear about my career ‘must haves’
I listed what most mattered to me at work. My ‘must haves’ included making a difference by working in depth with a small number of people. Organising, problem-solving, and the chance to continually learn new things rounded out my list. These things matched my Myers Briggs personality type - ISFJs are (amongst other things) practical and orderly and keen on getting results.
I knew ‘how’ I needed to work. Now I needed to find the ‘what.’ This didn’t mean chasing down specific careers; it was way too early for that. So instead, I went on the hunt for areas of interest, not actual roles.
I captured what I care about
I really listened for the topics that captivated me for a month, and I mapped my ‘soapbox’ issues. These were the big ideas that drew me into conversations in cafes and on social media and swelled my pile of bedside books. In the end, I had a list of 5 broad areas to explore.
I went from ‘what’ to ‘why’
I asked myself, ‘why this and not that?’ Analysing my list revealed that 3 of my 5 hottest interest areas - psychology, coaching, and research all spring from the same source. I needed a career that matched my must-haves AND satisfied my insatiable curiosity about what makes us tick.
I got out there
I needed to explore my options for a career in my key interest areas. I knew this meant emerging from the virtual rabbit hole I’d dug by ‘asking Google.’ So I shelved my fear of looking foolish and went out into the real world. I drank tea with all kinds of open, generous, and supportive people. They lead me to brilliant personal insights. I gained broad, current knowledge on sectors, organisations, and roles. I made new contacts, grew my networks, and scored some great opportunities.
I ran quick career change tests
I explored attractive options as thoroughly and as soon as I could. I did courses, volunteered, and work shadowed. I took short-term contracts and offered coaching on a ’try-before-you-buy basis. I knew that making a confident career change decision depended on how well I‘d tested my assumptions about what was ‘right’ for me.
I trusted my gut
I kept listening to how I felt about things. Some conversations left me in a total funk, while others made me buzz with energy. Then, based on my gut reaction, I reflected on what did or didn’t resonate with me. For example, what made me want to run a mile from one potential role or organisation or run home to hunt my next contact with another?
I got support
When I got down, I went over all the reasons why I’d committed to this crazy career change process. While I was confident that I could give in and get another fundraising job, deep down, I knew that was the last thing I wanted. So I kept reminding myself that I just had to keep moving towards something new despite feeling like I was wrangling a bear.
I found a cheerleader
Getting emotional support early made a world of difference. I signed up my career change cheerleader by text. I chose a good friend who is also a really positive, upbeat person. We don’t live in the same city, but we chatted every few weeks. We celebrated wins of all sizes, and she encouraged me to keep going when I got confused and frustrated.
I found a career change coach
If my career change cheerleader kept me buoyant, my coach helped me plot and navigate the course. I spent a lot of my early career change journey feeling totally at sea with my head awash with ideas.
I needed help to figure things out. My coach helped me structure the process and work out what came next. She was a great sounding board and an expert guide during my many ups and downs
So that’s how I got to be here - by being clear and curious and connected. Like most people, my career change proceeded in fits and starts. There were heaps of highs and some pretty confronting lows. I’ve learned lots about what makes me and us tick. Working through a clear career change progress gave me lots of the insight, experience, and outlook I need to help other career changers make the right moves.
Need help to get clear, curious, and connected? Book a chat.
By Jo Green, Career Change Coach
I know what it feels like to be lost in your career. I also know that when you find what you love, heart and soul, your life changes. I work every day with people who are reshaping their current careers, starting new enterprises or searching for a new direction. Basically I help people who don’t like their job to figure out what to do instead!
As a Careershifters and Firework Advanced Certified Coach and experienced career changer myself, I can help you figure out what fulfilling work looks like for you.
Drop me a note to organise a free 20 minute consultation to chat about your career change and how coaching could help.
