5 energy-efficient tips to keep your career change on track
Changing careers calls for oodles of oomph. You need a steady stream of physical and emotional energy to sustain you through career change’s ups and downs.
On the plus side, the relief and exhilaration of deciding ‘enough is enough’ and committing to change gives you a massive boost. On the flip side, like any adventure outside your comfort zone, transitioning to a new career can be scary and exhausting.
If your reserves of energy and optimism are headed into the red zone, here are five ways to replenish them.
Be kind to yourself
Changing careers catapults you into unknown territory. So, if you’re feeling weird, scared, and buffeted by a feeling storm, that’s natural.
If you’re getting grief from your inner critic for daring to do things differently, that’s normal too. Start by gently but firmly putting them back in their box.
Done that? Excellent!
Now step out of your own way and act as if you’re someone else’s wise mentor. Give yourself the advice you’d give an anxious friend or a panic-stricken colleague.
Trust your gut to deliver the dose of the empathy and insight you’d usually reserve for others. Getting calm prepares you to act like the capable, curious human you are.
Most often, we know some or all of what we need to next. Being kind to yourself will help you see that.
Back yourself
Build your career change, cheer squad. But be your number one fan. Backing yourself is easier if you have a flexible or ‘get better’ mindset. Check yours and adjust accordingly.
Write, record, rehearse a career change story that convinces everyone you’re perfect for the exciting new field or role because of who you are, not despite it.
Keen to move into a completely new career? No experience doesn’t mean no chance, so sell your energy and adaptability.
Ditch unrealistic expectations
A successful career change takes time. Convince yourself that it’s fine to go slowly.
Try to rush it, and you risk leaping out of the frying pan into the fire.
Scan the horizon for a single bolt from the blue, and you’ll miss so many small sparky insights into intriguing possibilities. If you’re waiting for a career change epiphany, try this instead.
Underestimating what we can do and overestimating the difficulty of doing it are common career change roadblocks. Are any of these five flawed career change assumptions holding you back?
Convinced yourself, you can’t afford a career change? Check out these 4 ways to fund your transition.
Go steadily but surely
Swap grand ‘passion hunting’ excursions for small incremental steps.
Get quietly curious and keep track of who and what sparks your interest.
Look for low-risk ways to explore activities, groups, causes that intrigue and energise you:
Do short courses, or join conversations on social media.
Send one weekly warm or cold call email or LinkedIn message to someone doing work you admire. Ask if you can tee up an informational interview about their role.
Volunteer your time or donate your skills.
Instead of focusing on finding your ideal job, look for interesting humans. Here are ten tips to help you find some.
Find your flow. Note any absorbing activities where you lose track of time. Weave more of ‘that stuff you love to do’ into everyday life. Could your green fingers, heart of gold, or knack with numbers be the key to your next brilliant career?
Lead a double life
Keep your current job but begin moving into your new career. On the plus side, energy-wise, you’ll feel safe, excited, and inspired. On the flip side, you’ll be working longer hours, even if you negotiate a change in your day job.
Plan for a smooth transition. Start learning about and doing your new thing. Test your skills on friends and family, work shadow, network, connect to people and companies in your new field.
My client transitioned from market researcher to web designer by doing pro bono work for friends. She also offered web design help to members of a Facebook group for small business owners. A flurry of ‘yesses’ lead to loads of skill-building opportunities and her first bits of paid work.
She soon discovered the types of businesses she enjoyed working with the most. My client had found her niche. She built a portfolio to attract work from companies whose products, services, and business values matched her own. Over time, she transitioned successfully into a creative career that she loves.
Leading a double life can be awkward. But with careful planning, it’s an ‘easy does it’ route into a new career.
Need help to conserve your career change energy? Book a chat.
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.
