It’s never too easy to get out of the comfort zone of an existing profession and dive into something totally new. The higher you climb up the professional ladder, the more difficult it gets to make that switch. Almost all professionals hit a speed bump in their career journeys. It’s evident that something needs to alter but less apparent whether it’s time to re-route or exit altogether. But where does it all begin? Perhaps your passion for your career begins to fade. Or you find something new that excites you more. Or maybe there are changes in your existing role or the corporate climate. The reasons can be way too many where people could be forced to shift careers.
But how do you know if you’ve reached your first transition? And how do you handle the stress, uncertainty and fear that comes with the territory? The first step is to establish whether you actually need a radical career change or a mere subtle one in the direction would suffice. Also, it’s absolutely critical to ascertain that any progress from your end is carefully thought through.
Here are some potentially enjoyable strategies for coping with this anxiety and navigating a career transition as successfully as possible:
It’s pretty Normal:
You’re not crazy! It’s absolutely normal to feel an array of emotions. Most people are apprehensive and feel like it’s really hard to make a switch. It’s also natural that people feel sad or dread leaving their existing roles, even if it doesn’t feel like the perfect fit! But the reality is that you might get upset leaving one stage of your life but the excitement of beginning something new will eventually overpower the feeling.
Get your facts clear:
When it comes to shifting careers, ignorance isn’t bliss—apprehension is. Do your research meticulously before you commit to a change and you’ll decrease your dread for the unknown to a dull roar. You will come across roadblocks and unanticipated sinkholes. But a rock-solid backbone of information and data will put you in a better and calmer place to tackle the unforeseen. Talk to people in the field or try job shadowing. Research is your friend! You would want to commence on a new career with your eyes open to the business realities.
Reflect and do a self analysis:
Contemplating a career shift gives you a brilliant opportunity to take a step back, scrutinize your past experiences and career choices and make a thorough plan with action steps to match for a successful career that you’ll love. A change affects almost all aspects of your life, so it is worth planning it wisely. Evaluating your driving force for wanting to make a shift will make your career switch a lot less frightening and definitely more enjoyable! So, carefully evaluate your skill sets. Think of the environment in which you are most likely to thrive. Discovering your qualities will certainly help you identify the kind of work you are best suited for.
Chalk out a plan:
Chart out a plan of how you’ll reach where you want to be and commit to a pragmatic timeframe. Networking plays a crucial part here particularly if you are presently employed and not able to openly declare your career changing plans. Reach out to your family, friends, colleagues or batch mates for support and share with them your desire to change or toil with a career coach to make a solid strategy for keeping you on track.
Plan your finances well
In some cases, a career change might involve a drop in income and a subsequent thump on finances. That’s why need to plan ahead on how to run your personal commitments, EMIs and other costs. It could also mean cutting down on your indulgences; plunging into your savings or some other avenues.
Nevertheless, a career transition, if handled right, could be the perfect ticket to a new lease of professional life. So, don’t be afraid to experiment! Most people are averse to risk. But nothing in life is zero risk! So go ahead, take that risk and let nothing restrict you.
