The Ugly Truth About Your Career Change

Career change isn’t a rocket science. Many people have done it. Some people will tell you it was a great experience, kind of unexpected. And some people will tell you that it was a very unpleasant experience.

• You’re not alone. It happens to others.

• There is a way out, so reach out for help if you get stuck.

 

 WHY WAIT WITH CAREER CHANGE, WHEN NO ONE IS WAITING FOR YOU?

This is the first piece of truth I’d like to be honest about. This may sound harsh at first. People and companies have their own priorities and problems to fix. If you are unhappy in your job, realise you’re not the only one. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of employees facing the same challenge. Stop waiting for that right moment when things will magically change.

Stop waiting for your manager to notice and do something. Stop waiting for your employer to meet your expectations which they can’t. Stop waiting for your head-hunter to call you. People and organisations will have their own vision, needs and agenda. So, have you. If you keep on waiting, you’re wasting your time. Take action and go after your career dreams. Turn them into achievable goals and take action consistently. But most of all, stop waiting. Noone is going to help you unless you take the first step.

  YOU WILL FAIL. EMBRACE IT.

I hear you asking “Adriana, how can you say this as a career coach who is supposed to encourage people to do their best, to help them suceed?” That’s exactly why I am saying it. You will do your best but you will also fail. To expect only positive outcomes and effective action is an unrealistic expectation. Yes, there will be days when you’re doing really well. But then, there will be days when you’re doubting everything.

No matter how hard you try, you simply fail. That’s your blessing I’d say. It’s your learning. Failure is nothing else than realising that there can be a different way how to do things. I’m sure you failed at cooking at same point. Did it make you stop cooking? I’d imagine it didn’t. My tip is simple. Embrace your failure to find unshakable confidence to try again. Embrace your failures, learn from them and try again. You can do it!

  PEOPLE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR DON’Ts, STOP IT.

I hear this too often “Adriana, I’m not sure if I have the right skills, degree, if I am good enough for this and that. … “ I’ll be honest. I am not interested in having conversations about what you don’t have and what you can’t. Full stop. That’s just sheer waste of our time – mine and yours.

I’m interested to hear what you’re excited about to do, I’m curious to talk about your talents, qualities and possibilities. Isn’t it time to change the perception of yourself, your qualities and your abilities? Realise you have potential. You have a personality, talents, values, transferrable skills, visions and a purpose (even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you do). Use them powerfully and stop putting yourself down.

  EXPECT PAIN AND RESISTANCE. IT’S TIME TO STEP UP.

Yes, career change isn’t comfortable for everyone. If you were able to secure your job without the feeling of fear or doubt, congratulations! This isn’t how it works for many people who are changing their jobs. The pain and resistance that comes from career change can be seen as a sign of growth. Maybe this is a morbid way to look at it but it’s the one I find empowering.

If you’re experiencing pain, you can see it as an area to improve to build stronger resilience (skill extremely powerful in current employment market). If you were to climb Mont Everest, would you expect not to experience any pain or resistance in some shape or form? Probably not. Luckily career change isn’t as difficult as climbing Mont Everest. So be realistic. As the saying goes “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst.” Expect that pain and resistance will show up. More importantly know that you can prepare yourself and manage these difficult situations with the right support.

  MONEY WILL ALWAYS STOP YOU. DON’T BLAME IT.

Money fears rank among the top reasons holding people back from making a career jump. I get it. It feels comfortable to have a money cushion to fall back on, be it your monthly salary or your savings. What people don’t realise is it’s not so much about money but about your fear of not being able to generate better and regular income. If you think about salary, it’s not guaranteed but somehow the illusion of receiving regular salary gives you that perception of security that you’ll will be ok.

But career change isn’t just about generating money. It’s also about managing your expenditure and shopping habits. Have you actually realised how much money you may be spending on things you don’t need? How much money have you been throwing out to compensate for the lack of satisfaction coming from you job situation? Take ownership of your finances. Look at what’s going out and more importantly start questioning how can you be more resourceful and creative with your money. You can find recourses to support your career growth if you want to and find it important.

Author: AdriAna Kosovska

Professional and certified coach & founder of ZERO TO DREAM JOB ACADEMY

 

I work with employees, managers and organisations that care about

Stress reduction |  Talents and strengths development | Dream job