Tackling career change alone? 7 ways support can help you
Are you head down and tackling career change on your own? Perhaps you're finding it tough to get support from people around you. Maybe your family thinks you're mad to leave your job. Perhaps you don't want colleagues to find out you're thinking of leaving. Your friends might be fab, fun company, but they're just not able to help you figure this thing out.
If this is you, you're not the only career changer who's tried to go it alone. Fear of looking foolish, being 'found out' or 'talked out' of changing can stop you from getting support. Sometimes we just don't know who or how to ask for help.
Yet, choosing the right support can massively reduce the stress and uncertainty of changing careers.
Finding the right support to change careers
Some (often extroverted) humans have an entire career change cheer squad. If you're more of an introvert like me, look for a single trusted friend or colleague. You don't necessarily have to know this person super well. Sometimes it's better if they're not in your innermost circle.
Of course, all of us need a mix of quiet chats and cheering on. Most of us will also need some classic career change courage and curiosity, plus a side serve of trial and error to find what works for us.
Once you've found your person or people, be clear with them about the ways you'd like them to support you.
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Seven game-changing things you can ask your supporters to give you:
1. Objective thinking to break that spin cycle of negative thinking when you're awash with self-doubt and untested assumptions
2. Emotional support when you need to blow off steam about your current, sucky job or get reenergised when you're thinking of giving up
3. Left field ideas, questions, suggestions, and advice to broaden your perspective
4. Accountability to get 'real world' things done and deter you from Google holiday ideas or contemplating if you could make a living selling honey
5. Access to their networks and new ideas on who to contact in organisations you're keen on or perhaps haven't considered for informational interviews
6. Proofreading and practice interviewing - fresh eyes on your CV and rehearsing interviews can make a world of difference to your presentation and performance
7. Reminders that you're a clever, capable human and that you will figure this out.
Whatever stage you're at in your career change, getting someone to challenge, cheer or motivate you can be just what you need to get or keep going.
If you think it could be a coach, here are some thoughts on finding one that fits.
By Jo Green, Career Change Coach
I 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.
