“Do I have what it takes to change careers?”
“What if I fail when I actually change careers?”
If you’ve ever considered a career change, or have been through one (or many), you may have asked yourself these questions numerous times. You also know that making such a drastic professional and personal decision directly affects your sense of self-esteem and confidence. I know it certainly did for me…
Research statistics show people change careers an average of three to seven times in the course of their lifetimes. While opinions differ as to what constitutes a career change, it remains that any career transition or change is one that can pose challenges and certainly requires a great amount of confidence, especially for working women. Considering the many barriers facing women in the workplace, and the lack of support women often face when displaying confidence at work, mustering the confidence to change careers can seem like an insurmountable feat.
This is especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has prompted so many individuals to question and re-consider the purpose of their work. Working moms more specifically, who have had to bear the brunt of the childcare and work crisis, are at the forefront of the career change wave. Recent statistics show 61% of women are planning to change careers after the pandemic. Among these, 60% are planning to completely pivot in their careers, while 25% are turning to entrepreneurship. More than ever, it’s becoming increasingly important to learn to muster the confidence to tackle career changes.
Here are 4 tips that can help:
- Be realistic
Any career change is a turning point in anyone’s career, and by extension, in anyone’s life. As a working woman in particular, it can be a significant transition that can bleed into other life areas, including family, finances, marriage and parenting. Being realistic about the seriousness of such a transition, along with the associated costs, sacrifices and obstacles, can go a long way towards minimizing the frustration and difficulties that may come up.
In my experience, every time I’ve had to face a career transition, taking into account the financial aspect of the related change, as well as any logistical requirements, from scheduling to childcare, was key.
- Use what you have
Changing careers supposes you already have a career to begin with. In this sense, you’re not starting from scratch, but from valid, worthwhile and solid experience. This experience can in turn be leveraged to facilitate your transition into a new field, company or even industry.
One of the most precious and impactful realizations I made when transitioning careers is that nothing from my prior professional life was wasted. Every single thing I learned in my entire career path served a purpose and prepared me for the next step, whether in terms of what to do or what not to do.
- Think in terms of value not credentials
One of the biggest obstacles when it comes to changing careers is often the perceived lack of qualifications or experience. Rather than thinking in terms of credentials, focus instead on the value you bring to your new career, field or industry. Coming from a different path also means you’re bringing in a more diverse perception, view and skillset into your work, thus increasing your value beyond just credentials.
Transitioning careers has allowed me to witness first-hand the power of repurposing one’s skills, knowledge and experience from one area to the other, thus spurring innovation, creativity and renewal in the process.
- Bring your passion
Career changes can be extremely rewarding. They can also be hard and demanding. What makes the process more bearable when the going gets tough, is the amount and depth of passion you can bring to the table. That’s also what makes the difference between a successful and a laborious career transition.
For me, passion is the fuel and the salt of work. Without it, it’s nearly impossible to follow the often winding , transitional in nature, road of purpose. It’s also how I recognize whether I’m on the right path or not.
Overall, mustering the confidence to change careers is a process. It is one that requires being aware of the value you bring to the table, leveraging what you’ve already accomplished, arming yourself with passion, but also being sober and realistic about the challenges ahead. Yet, it is a process that in and of itself, offers the invaluable rewards of positive re-direction, enhanced innovation and continued resilience.
Are you mustering enough confidence to change careers?
The Corporate Sister
