What are the best ways to overcome fear and uncertainty when changing careers?

1 Identify your core values

Before you make a career change, it is important to identify your core values and how they align with your desired career path. Your core values are the principles that guide your decisions and actions, and they reflect what matters most to you. For example, you may value creativity, autonomy, impact, or collaboration. By knowing your core values, you can evaluate whether your current career is satisfying them or not, and whether your potential career will offer you more opportunities to express them. Your core values can also help you overcome fear and uncertainty by reminding you of your purpose and motivation for changing careers.

2 Research your options

Another way to overcome fear and uncertainty when changing careers is to research your options thoroughly. You may have a general idea of what you want to do, but you need to gather more information about the specific roles, industries, skills, and qualifications that are relevant to your desired career. You can use online resources, such as job boards, career websites, or industry blogs, to learn more about the trends, demands, and challenges of your target field. You can also network with people who are already working in that field, and ask them for advice, insights, or referrals. By researching your options, you can reduce the unknown factors that may cause you anxiety, and prepare yourself for the transition.

3 Assess your skills and gaps

Another way to overcome fear and uncertainty when changing careers is to assess your skills and gaps. You need to identify what skills and competencies you already have that are transferable to your new career, and what skills and competencies you need to develop or improve. You can use online tools, such as skill assessments, career quizzes, or self-evaluation guides, to help you with this process. You can also ask for feedback from your current or former colleagues, managers, or mentors, to get an objective perspective on your strengths and weaknesses. By assessing your skills and gaps, you can recognize your value and potential, and plan your learning and development goals.

5 Embrace the learning curve

Another way to overcome fear and uncertainty when changing careers is to embrace the learning curve. You need to accept that changing careers is a challenging and rewarding journey, and that you will face some difficulties and setbacks along the way. You also need to acknowledge that you will not know everything at once, and that you will have to learn new things and adapt to new situations. Instead of being afraid or intimidated by the learning curve, you should embrace it as an opportunity to grow and improve. You should adopt a growth mindset, which means that you believe that your abilities can be developed through effort and feedback. You should also celebrate your achievements, no matter how small or big, and reward yourself for your progress.

6 Take action and experiment

The final way to overcome fear and uncertainty when changing careers is to take action and experiment. You need to move from thinking and planning to doing and testing. You need to take concrete steps that will bring you closer to your career change, such as updating your resume, applying for jobs, or enrolling in courses. You also need to experiment with different options and opportunities, such as volunteering, freelancing, or shadowing, that will allow you to explore your interests, gain experience, and build connections. By taking action and experimenting, you can overcome the inertia and procrastination that may hold you back, and discover what works and what doesn't for you.