How to Justify a Career Change?

Let's start today by breaking the myth: it is NOT uncommon to find yourself at a crossroads, contemplating a career change.

Whether spurred by a desire for greater fulfilment, financial aspirations, or simply a longing for new challenges, transitioning to a different career path can be both exciting and daunting.

I mean, it is definitely the unknown and, with that lack of knowledge and experience about 'how's it like', fear and doubt play a huge role.

BUT...

Let's assume you've plucked up the courage to follow your aspirations and explore a new career path.

Another big milestone you need to overcome is to understand how you'll justify the change to potential employers.

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Justifying such a significant shift requires careful consideration and strategic planning - so, here are some key steps to help you justify a career change:

1. Honesty is Your Best Policy: before you embark on a career change journey, you need to be clear on what the new career you are pursuing is and why.

In other words, what is it that you are looking for that your current career doesn't give you?

There are no right or wrong answers here, so you need to be 100% honest with yourself and, subsequently, with potential new employers.

Are you currently craving more flexibility, to use more of your creativity, to do work that impacts the world differently?

Dig deep into your why and, every time you are asked the question: why are you changing careers, lead with that!

Remember that employers are, more and more, looking for people who truly care about the work they do, so if you can demonstrate a genuine interest in the new field, you are already scoring some extra points.

2. Focus on Your Full Value: once you've shown that you are passionate about the new area, is all about demonstrating that you can add value to the new role.

You've shown you have the will to be a great addition to their team, so now is about demonstrating that you also have the skills required to do a good job.

So, are you thinking what I am thinking?

Yes!

Focus on transferable skills!

Once again, they come up - transferable skills are at the core of everything that you do, so make sure you not only know them but that you are also able to clearly articulate them in a way that shows your potential employer just how much value you can add in the new role.

Pro Tip: make sure your CV and LinkedIn profile reflect your transferable skills rather than your achievements.

3. Trust Your Decision: if you decide to go for a career change, be confident that you are making the right move.

There is nothing worse than someone who goes back and forth on their decision, like applying to similar roles one week and to different ones on the next.

It's like when a driver doesn't know where to go: is he stopping, driving ahead, or turning?!

You don't want to give the impression to recruiters and employers that you are not clear about what you want - quite the opposite!

You want to come across as 100% clear on your decision to change careers and that this is a non-negotiable for you.

This confidence will naturally be passed on to the employer, who is looking for someone who will be happy in the role they are recruiting for.

So, if unsure about what you should be doing, go back to the basics: reflect on what you are looking for, what it would mean for you to have it, and just how much this new career gives you.

Weight the decision between doing nothing and pursuing your dream career and go with whatever comes out as being the best decision for you.

Justifying a career change requires thoughtful introspection and strategic planning.

By assessing your motivations, understanding your skills, and developing a solid rationale, you can confidently navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with embarking on a new career path.

Remember, the journey may be challenging, but the rewards of pursuing a career aligned with your passions and aspirations are well worth the effort.

?? If you are looking for support on your journey, I would love to share with you my 3-step tried and tested process to help you define and land your dream career. Just DM me the word 'change' and let's chat!

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