If I could give all my clients one thing, it wouldn't be the 'solution' to their career change. It would be the confidence to believe in and back themselves.

Confidence is one of three essential things (along with curiosity and courage) we need to summon when committing to changing careers. Eagle-eyed readers will have noted that I've described confidence as a 'thing', not a 'quality' or 'attribute.'

Because even though we often say, 'I'm not confident about [insert daunting prospect of your choice]’, confidence is something we 'have', not something we 'are.'

Confidence is a skill. With a flexible mindset (more on that in a minute), plus practice, persistence, and a little help from our cheer squad, we can develop the confidence to navigate the scary, exciting adventure that's changing careers.

Feeling wobbly and wary about making a confident career change? Here are five good ways to grow your confidence, pluck, positivity, and self-belief.

1. Be kind to yourself

Changing careers drops you in uncharted territory. In writer and researcher Brené Brown's words in this wise and hilarious podcast, you'll subject yourself to the 'suck of the new.' You'll be immersed in what she aptly calls a 'F***ing First Time (FFT).

So cut yourself loads of slack when you feel scared and stumbly because even if this isn't your first career change, this is your FFT here. Follow Brené Brown's lead by acknowledging and owning the stages of the career change process as FFTs you couldn't possibly expect to do perfectly or (maybe) even half decently from the go-get.

For example, if your first informational interview goes less than brilliantly or your initial intriguing idea falls flat, remember you’re in full-on FFT mode, and it takes time to find your feet.

Then, get your growth mindset on, give perfectionism the flick, and tell yourself, 'I haven't got this career change figured out YET, but I'm up for all the exploring and learning it takes to get there.'

Need a nudge to check (and maybe change) your mindset for wrangling FFTs? 3 ways career changers can develop a growth mindset.

2. Trust the kindness (and objectivity) of others

Changing careers can upend your sense of self. If (like many of us) your identity is intimately linked to your career, it can be tough to stay clear-headed and relatively objective when you feel untethered from who you thought you were at work and beyond.

Reality-checking your strengths and capabilities with friends and family can restore your perspective and offer you new and different ones.

As Organisational Psychologist and Author Adam Grant says, 'If multiple people believe in you, it's probably time to believe them.'

It’s natural to feel nervous and vulnerable when we share scary stuff, even with people we know and love. So, it’s worth remembering that we humans are (mostly) hardwired to want to help. And few things are as confidence-boosting (or lead-generating) as the support of kind and generous others.

Tackling career change alone? 7 ways support can help you.

3. Accept that something’s got to give

And that ‘something’ will involve actions that stretch your comfort zone. It’s often where your confidence is hiding.

To paraphrase that famous thing Einstein never actually said about ‘insanity repetition and results’, nothing changes if you do the same thing over and over!

So, remind yourself that you’re knee-deep in FFTs and adjust your expectations accordingly. Then breathe and read this: 3 Ways to quit your career comfort zone.

4. Take small steps

When you spot a confidence gap around a skill you're keen to use, fill it gently.

If (like many otherwise confident humans) public speaking scares you stiff, organise a night with friends where everyone speaks for five minutes about something they love.

Know a bunch of couch potatoes with a secret yen to try a bush walk?

Organise a hike and hone your leading and motivating skills.

Keen to have real-world conversations with people to understand the reality of their careers? Start with friends. Even if you don’t think you want to move into their field, practising with people you know will boost your confidence and get career conversations flowing.

How to have confident career change conversations

5. Get good at zigging and zagging

Career change pathways rarely (OK, probably never) run straight from 'a' to 'b'. You'll almost certainly zig-zag your way to somewhere wonderful and well beyond 'z' that you may never have envisaged when you set off.

Along the way, you're bound to land in what Dr. Seuss would call ‘some not-so-good places.' If you can tackle these bumpy bits with your supple, resilient growth mindset, your confidence in career change will grow.

In cahoots with the good doctor, I've put together these tips for confidently zig-zagging around career change's 'bang-ups and hang-ups'.

'Oh the places you'll go' – career change clues from Dr Seuss.

Could your career change confidence with a boost? 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.

Drop me a note to organise a free 20 minute consultation to chat about your career change and how coaching could help.