When Starting Over Is the Best Way to Move On
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Making a career change is a bold act. But it doesn’t have to be terrifying.
Job changes happen frequently. Even Baby Boomers, members of a generation associated with more stability than their successors, averaged over 12 jobs in 34 years. Nostalgia for “cradle-to-grave” employment has been replaced by inter-company ladder climbing and the gig economy.
Career changes are far less common, however. They involve a clean break from the status quo into the unknown. Pursuing a new career requires a giant leap of faith. The consequences are greater, as can be the rewards.
The reasons behind a pivot
For some people, switching careers is the byproduct of years of accumulated dreams and plans. Others report being driven to act by an epiphany.
Unhappiness and lack of fulfillment are potent drivers of career changes. A significant personal event or career-defining moment can also lead to a decision to start over in one’s professional life. The aftermath of trauma can cause people to question their current path and change their lives for the better. Psychologists use the term post-traumatic growth to describe this behavior.
A life-threatening illness has been known to spur a career change into the medical profession. And successful entrepreneurs sometimes suddenly quit the business that gave them the material security to pursue charitable works full-time. Even a worldwide crisis like the pandemic can provide a powerful incentive to reinvent yourself.
If you are entertaining a desire to uproot your professional life to try something new, here are some words of advice:
Understand the risks
Whatever the reason, a change of career, particularly for older individuals, is a big deal.
The significance of the act is directly correlated with the level of achievement in a current career, and the amount of education and training it required. A doctor or lawyer considering leaving her profession to start a personal coaching business may have a more difficult time making the jump than a marketing professional giving up the corporate world to teach.
Nevertheless, if you are determined to live a life of courage and define that by going after a dream opportunity, do so with high-yet-realistic expectations.
Be sure to temper your enthusiasm with an honest assessment of your personal and financial circumstances. It’s essential to calculate the risks involved and accurately assess what you will be able to absorb if things do not go as planned. Be sure the sacrifices are worth what you may gain. And be sure to have a good support network in place.
Ask yourself the right questions
If you determine that you have the nerve and are aware of the potential difficulties, there are a few more points to consider:
Are you running toward a new career or away from your old one? A new venture entered into with positivity and hope has a greater chance of success than something that is a last resort.
Do you know what you are getting yourself into? Have you done your research, put in all the necessary legwork, and given yourself an accurate picture of the new industry and position?
Do you have an idea of the learning curve you will face?
Most importantly: Does this move make sense? Not just for now, but for the future? Are you building something sustainable?
Find some role models
If possible, don't rely only on yourself. It’s valuable to hear from the career-changers who went before you. Fortunately, while what you’re contemplating may seem scary, it is not necessarily original. There are likely people who have managed a career pivot successfully all around you.
Use your network and work your connections. Make finding a mentor or just a source of inspiration part of your research. If you are moving into a field that is entirely new to you, get creative with social networks or hire someone to network for you. There is a tremendous amount of technology that can help with your quest.
Think beyond Plan B
If you are committed to put your plan into action, go forth bravely. Understand that you are not starting from scratch: it’s a career change, not a complete reinvention of everything about you. You will undoubtedly bring plenty of usable, meaningful skills to your new vocation.
And if it is not all you wanted it to be, remember: there is always a Plan C.
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