The Career Change – Connect Who You Are To What You Do

Posted on May 09, 2022 by Antonia Varbanova, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

I want a career change! How did I end up here? This is not how I wanted to spend my life! What can I do about this? I feel stuck! Who can help me find what I was meant to do?

Have you ever felt like part of life to which you no longer belong? It might have once been a great fit, but just like an old pair of shoes you outgrow, you feel that the current reality doesn’t match what you need anymore.

You are not alone. Countless individuals encounter the same experiences and emotions. While some choose to act on it, the majority don’t. However, if you are reading this article, you are likely considering a career change.

The good news is that we live in a time where changing careers is not unusual. It is becoming standard for people to take on a midlife career change.

According to a Washington Post-Schar School poll, 21% of US employees between 40 and 49 years old considered a career change since the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Outgrown Reality To A New Career

And why not? When we outgrow our clothing, we purchase new ones. When we outgrow our homes, we move to a bigger house or remodel our current one. Why not transition to a new career when the current one doesn’t give us the personal and professional satisfaction we long for or doesn’t allow us to grow? With a career change, we can develop new skills, add new experiences, and change our mindsets.

If you feel you have reached the ceiling, it might be time to consider a change. Staying in the same place we were 10, 15, and 20 years ago may not be beneficial anymore. Some jobs allow personal and professional growth, while others don’t.

This is the point where many people stop. Change is a scary word. Change is discomfort, disconnection, and disruption. However, change is an opportunity to experience a new, life-changing shift.

The Career Change Saboteur

Our brains are great at sabotaging our aspirations and dreams. They do it to protect us from danger. The brain sends strong signals to alert us to anything unusual, and when the brain senses a change in our behavior, it signals that something is not right – fear. When the hesitation and the scare of change kick in, many people start finding reasons not to change.

What people say to convince themselves not to take steps towards a change:
- I am not good at anything else
- I will disappoint many people if I change my career
- At least this is a safe job
- I already invested a lot of time and money to get here
- What if I fail?
- It is not too bad, it is only 8 hours a day (1/3 of your life)
- I am too old to change my career

All the reasons are valid, and it is normal for people to ask questions and consider all of the pros and cons. Change brings pain, but change also brings growth. With growth come new opportunities, broadening our horizons, gaining new perspectives, and encountering new experiences.

The Way Forward

Changing careers into a new field can feel intimidating, especially if you have little to no experience. However, you can take steps to build your confidence and increase your chances of success.

Spend time identifying what motivates you and why you want to make the transition into a new career. Working with a life transition coach may help you uncover your motives, strengths, and options.

Find a career that will give you purpose and add meaning to your life. Making more money is a decision-maker for many people, but it will not necessarily lead to growth and long-term feelings of personal satisfaction.

Consider the skills you already have that can be transferred to a new career. List the skills you have to develop to succeed in a new career.

Learn more about the new career. The more you know about it, the easier it is to transition. Try to contact people who already work in this field.

Look for opportunities to try out a new career. Find a way of testing the waters. Volunteering, short-term classes, or a returnship program can help you explore the career more in-depth.

Find people to support you and keep you accountable. It is not if but when you need to have a support network. It will get hard, and this is when you will need to have someone/s to lean on.

Start networking. Connect to people who work in the new industry. Make meaningful connections with people who can support you in finding a suitable position. Despite the wide range of online-based recruiting platforms, 85% of jobs are still filled by word of mouth, by personal connections.

Visualize your future life after the transition and hold this picture in your mind as an inspiration.

Start the transition in small steps. Make small changes and adjustments towards the desired outcome. Changing everything at once can lead to too much stress and a loss of motivation.

Don’t wait for someone to start the change for you. Unless you take the first step, no one else will do it for you.

Conclusions

Change is uncomfortable. Change brings a lot of feelings of uncertainty, hesitation, and self-questioning whether the decision to make the change was right. This is normal and a part of the process. We need to remember that change is not impossible but an achievable challenge.

A large number of successful people changed careers later in life. At the age of 31, Jeff Bezos started his Amazon business after leaving a career in computer science on Wall Street. Vera Wang was a figure skater and a journalist before entering the fashion industry at age 40. Martha Stewart worked as a stockbroker in New York City until, at age 32, she turned her love of gourmet cooking into a successful business.

These individuals started on one career path and transitioned into a different one later in their careers. They found something they loved, were passionate about it, and developed their ambitions into successful careers. It is never too late to make a change in your life.

If you would like to talk to someone who can support you in your career change journey, please contact me. I am offering a free 1-hour session for new clients with no strings attached. Let’s work together to get you on the road to becoming the best version of yourself.