Navigating Career Transition

Given a choice would you continue to hang on to something that seems irrelevant to you, or would you take a step back, reflect, and make a shift toward something meaningful? Even though the answer to this question may seem obvious, the execution of it might not be that easy. Changing careers has always appeared to be this Herculean task, which is rather rejected. I understand that it may be difficult to leave everything you know, and move to another profession altogether, but this is a choice that needs to be made. People change careers at all stages of their career journey for a range of reasons, from wanting a more flexible schedule and the ability to work from anywhere to craving new challenges and more fulfillment. Preparing for change will require some effort, but the payoff can be life-changing.

No matter what career you’re considering transitioning into, it’s important to plan carefully.?

Even though there is no fixed plan to be followed while making a career transition, I have tried to collate a list of steps that take you from identifying the motives that drive you, to researching your options, to forming a concrete action plan. By following these steps, you can streamline your process, feel confident in your abilities, and consider multiple career paths with optimism.?

1. Start by Analysing

Evaluate your current job or role in an organization. See what is not working for you. Try and identify the ‘WHY’, behind this decision. There has to be a trigger that has encouraged you to consider making a career switch. Is it the culture of the organization, is it the people you work with, or is there something else bogging you down? It is possible that you realize that you love your job, but you want to build something new or experiment with a different sector. It is critical to be radically honest with yourself and think things through. Before leaving your job, try to find ways to experience what your next position might feel like. Does it feel better than what you are doing now? Is it worth committing to this change? If you are able, take some time off of work — even just a week — to focus on your passion project. If you don’t have a passion project and are just looking for something new, use your free time (weekends or after hours) to experiment with the industries or roles you are interested in. This might mean volunteering, job shadowing, or even conducting informational interviews with people who have careers you admire.

2. Ask yourself what you want to do

While some may know already they want to work in another industry or go back to school to learn something new, many don’t know what their next step should be. But it is impossible to know where you are going if you don’t know where you are.?What is your end goal? Without an end goal in sight, the process can be really overwhelming. Approach your self-assessment with awareness, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment. When it comes to career transitions, there isn’t a formula per se. Experimenting, tinkering, and figuring things out is the way forward.

3. Change won’t happen overnight

Timing is everything, quite literally. When you are looking at making a transition, there are going to be some hits and some misses. Be prepared for anything and everything. Unfortunately, most career transitions and hiring processes rely heavily on past experience. For example, suppose you are a technology sales manager who wants to break into trading or hedge funds. Most recruiters will nudge you towards a role very similar to your current job, even if you have the skills necessary to transition to a different sector. But that is not the end of the road, that is just a roadblock. Finding the right person/hiring manager/recruiter will take time. Expect multiple rejections before you do. If your resolve and preparation are strong enough, you?will?get someone to take that chance.?Some transitions are unlikely in the short term. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals in unrealistic timeframes. We overestimate what we can do in one year and underestimate what we can do in 10. You can change your industry, your function, and your geographical location but all three are unlikely to change immediately. Gradual change is often much more sustainable.

4. Having a backup is crucial

Create an alternative you can live with when things aren’t going as envisioned or planned. It might be somewhere in between your ultimate aspiration and your current state. This can bridge the skill and network gap you might be facing during career transitions. More importantly, it will set you up on the journey you wish to embark upon. Set a timeframe. Suppose you want to transition from law to social impact consulting and making that switch is proving to be difficult, perhaps because of a lack of relevant experience. Here your backup plan could be time-bound. You could give yourself one year to make the switch from law to social impact consulting by acquiring the right set of skills, building a tribe of mentors, and networking with industry professionals. If it still doesn’t work out, you can rethink your goal or look at accomplishing it in the longer term if it still interests you.

Please remember career transitions are not easy, they aren’t meant to be. They’re complex and there is usually a lot more to them than we see on the surface, so you’ll need to unpack the layers one at a time. Career Transitions will be rewarding if done right, with just the right amount of patience. There is no harm in seeking guidance from career coaches and counselors. There are a lot of trained experts who can make this process convenient for you. Just reach out and be diligent. Career transitions are messy, but they can also turn out to be catalysts in shaping a future self you will be proud of. There is no way of guaranteeing success, but not trying might just leave you with regrets.