We spend more of our time at work than we spend with our family and friends. Whether we like it or not we do need to acknowledge that for most us it plays a huge part in our life. If we dig a little deep, we will see that our sense of self is often entwined in the work that we do. Think about the last time someone asked you to tell them a bit about you. How did you start? Did you begin by describing your job title and role?

Whilst there are commonalities between all of us as to why we choose to work such as earning money, the need to provide for our family and personal aspirations. Our circumstances pertaining to work are unique to all of us. We do benefit in several different ways when we engage in employment, regardless of our reasons for working. We are all hard-wired to want to connect, create a sense of purpose and belonging in our lives. Work can provide us with a sense of achievement, personal growth, approval and belonging.

Past generations valued the importance of one career path that saw us right through to our retirement. You either chose a career path or one was chosen for you at an early age and any deviation from this path was generally not encouraged. Over the years we have discovered that we are fluid in our growth and personal development. Who we were 10 years ago is not who we are today and our evolution is a life long journey. Daniel Gilbert, a social psychologist and the author of Stumbling on happiness states that “human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished. The person you are right now is as transient, as fleeting and as temporary as all the people you’re ever been. The one constant in our lives is change.” This insight is beginning to create headways in our perception and acceptance of mutable career paths.

We desire a career change for numerous reasons. We may discover that what we have been doing no longer fulfils us or we are experiencing a career burnout. We may discover a real passion and talent for something different. It could even be that a personal situation propels us in another direction. Whatever the reason a career change can be a daunting and often overwhelming process. Irrespective of our best intentions it can leave us feeling lost and frustrated. However, we can minimise our fear and maximise our chance for success by having a strategy in place.

The Why

Understanding the why behind anything will help you uncover the how to any situation. When the why is clear, the how becomes easier to create. Always start with the why. Get clear about why you want to make a career change and I urge you to go deeper. These are my top 5 “Why” questions:

– Why do I want to make a career change?
– Why do I want to make a career change into this industry/organisation/job?
– Why do I want to leave my current organisation/industry/job?
– Why do I think this will be a good fit for me?
– Why is this move important to me?

Take your time to work through this process, break each question down and get clear. Try to remove any emotional reactivity when answering each question. For example, you may be experiencing burnout and are highly emotional and reactive and this could hinder this process. I suggest you do this exercise, not at the back of a testing day at work but when you have cleared your mind.

The What

The clarity from understanding the why creates the foundation for the what. Exploring the what will help expand and explore options and possibilities. It will also help you identify challenges and roadblocks that you need to be aware of. Here are my top 5 “What” questions:

– What do I want?
– What excites & scares me about this new career path?
– What experience, skills and qualifications are required for successful transition?
– What will it take for me to make this move?
– What are my values and does this move align to my values?

Again, I encourage that you take the time to go through this process and speak to as many people as you can in this process. (Networking and getting to know people in the industry is important)

The How

I call this the action plan phase. How will you get from point A (current career) to point B (Desired Career)? This requires planning and execution. I am a huge advocate of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of highly effective people. Especially, habit number 2- beginning with the end in mind.

Focus on building a resilient mindset

• This can be an unnerving process but it can be made easier through mental strength. Invest time and energy in personal development that fosters resilience. When venturing into a new area you will be met with rejections and resistance but do not let this deter you. Surround yourself with people who can support you and help you grow
• Engage with a Coach or a Mentor who can guide you through this process

Get clear about your end results

• Identify your point B in detail

Set S.M.A.R.T goals

• For skills upgrade/ accreditation and training
• For attending networking events, meeting and engaging with people in the industry
• Job hunting and interviews

Establish a realistic timeframe in which you will achieve each goal

• By what timeframe will you achieve each goal by?
• Is your timeframe realistic?
• What will you have in place if you do not meet your deadline?

Measure your efforts

• Tick off each item that you complete on your timeline and celebrate the small wins that build momentum and encouragement.

A desire to change your career does not have to feel overwhelming if you can be clear about the why, the what and the how of your career change. I encourage you to create a “Career Change Project” with clear objectives, goals, expectations and strategies. I also cannot stress the importance of building self-awareness and mental resilience that will help you in managing your stress and anxiety as you move from the known of your current career into the unknown of your new career.

And remember, as Ralph Waldo Emerson stated in his infinite wisdom….

“What we fear of doing the most is usually what we most need to do.”