Transitioning into a new career can create both excitement for the possibility of a new life ahead and anxiety, often testing your confidence.
I have changed career paths several times, each time looking for something more aligned with my values and life purpose, and it is true that it can be a demanding process.
It can feel like a difficult challenge, especially when the job market is uncertain and you still lack confidence in your skills in the new field.
To get started in a new role, they ask you for work experience, but you need to work to gain experience. Talking about a catch-22 situation.
Saying “trust yourself” sounds great, but when you’re in the middle of change, confidence doesn’t always come naturally. That’s why I want to share some strategies and exercises that have helped me get through these stages with more clarity and confidence.
1. Rewrite your resume based on what you’ve learned
One necessary exercise during a career change is, obviously, to review your resume to adapt it to the new position you want.
However, before you do this, or when you’re still unclear about your change of direction, there’s an exercise that can help you keep in mind everything you’ve already learned.
It involves rewriting your resume not with achievements, but with lessons learned.
The idea is to immerse yourself in your past experiences, skills, and achievements to discover those “hidden gems” that define your career path.
Here’s how to do it:
- Start by listing your past job roles that had an impact on your life. You can also add any part-time or volunteer positions that you consider valuable.
- Ask yourself what skills you developed at each stage. Not just technical skills, but also how you managed conflicts, boundaries, and difficult decisions. These are the hidden strengths you need to recognize.
- Reflect on what you learned about yourself: what motivates you, what you don’t want to repeat, in what contexts you perform best (working alone, structured and repetitive tasks, working online or in person, etc.).
Through this process, you’ll gain an appreciation for the unique strengths you already possess and clarity on what type of job suits you best.
2. Seek feedback from colleagues and friends
Often, the image that we have of ourselves might be a bit different from the one perceived by others.
We tend to have limiting beliefs based on our interactions in childhood and youth that are probably no longer true.
That’s why it’s important to get a more realistic outside perspective. To do this, you can ask colleagues and friends for feedback using an anonymous form.
Think about asking open-ended questions that encourage thoughtful answers.
Some useful questions to include are:
- What would you say are my main 3 strengths?
- Where do you think I could improve?
- Can you recall any difficult situations that I handled well? How did I do it?
- In what areas have I consistently excelled in my current or past jobs?
- What skills of mine do you think could help me in a new career?
3. Connect with professionals in your desired field
This is probably one of the most strategic activities you can do when considering a career change.
When I was thinking of getting into UX, back in 2015, I thought the only solution was to study design and become a UX Designer.
Talking to professionals in the sector gave me options I didn’t know existed at the time, such as the different specialties (UX Research, Interaction Design, Content Design, etc.).
That allowed me to explore different options before fully committing to UX Design and getting formal training.
Throughout my career, I’ve had a few people approach me on LinkedIn regarding becoming a UX Writer/Content Designer and I have been happy to give a piece of my mind, as I know how helpful it was for me.
When interviewing professionals in your desired field, try to come up with specific questions that can help you better understand the industry and how to get started.
Here are some suggestions:
- How did you get started in this field and why?
- What skills are really important?
- What are the most common challenges and how did you overcome them?
- What resources (courses, books) would you recommend?
- What advice would you give to someone who is in the middle of a career transition like me?
If you don’t know anyone personally, don’t be shy to contact people on LinkedIn or similar platforms and ask for their insights. People are usually happy to help.
4. Join networking events, workshops and online communities
Just like connecting directly with professionals in the sector, attending events and workshops helps you build a valuable network, obtain information from experts, and access job opportunities.
Online communities, meanwhile, give you global and constant access to resources and support.
In my case, belonging to Slack communities, LinkedIn groups, Facebook, and Reddit has helped me greatly to expand my network and stay up to date.
This is why I created the Confidently Creative online community, to provide a platform where creative professionals can support each other.
5. Work with a mentor or coach
A career change involves doing some soul-searching, as well as taking steps to step outside your comfort zone. But you don’t have to do it alone.
Having someone who has already walked that path and has experience and professional connections can make all the difference.
Looking back, I know that many of my transitions would not have been the same without external support.
And now, as a mentor, I see firsthand how that support helps others gain perspective and confidence.
If you’re thinking about changing careers and don’t know where to start, you can schedule a free discovery call or leave me a message so we can get to know each other and see how we can collaborate.
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