Embrace the challenge: The reality of making a career change
Changing careers can be one of the most significant and daunting decisions in a person’s professional life. Whether driven by the desire for new challenges, better work-life balance, higher income, or greater job satisfaction, the process requires careful planning, self-reflection, and strategic action.
Yet, the pandemic opened the eyes of many regarding choices in work improvements, working from home, job switching and changing careers. Randstad’s recent brand research suggests: ‘Job switching behaviour has shown a consistent upward trend since 2021 (+3%). Men exhibited a higher rate of switching (23%) than women (16%), as did Gen Z (28%) compared to other generations, with rates decreasing with each successive generation. Men (30%) and Gen Z (35%) also expressed a higher intention of switching in the foreseeable future, as did the higher educated (32%).’
Career change complexities
There are endless possibilities for changing careers. You might indulge in an extreme move from paid employment to set up your own business, less risky lateral moves, or role changes within an existing company. For this reason, there’s no set way of successfully navigating career change and no magic formula for thriving in such a change.
However, mindset adaptions or approaches can help along the way and build the resilience often needed to make significant job changes.
Indeed confirm that the extremity of the career change will impact how much time, effort and rebranding needs to go into it. They recently said: ‘If you want to get a career that’s tangential to your current job, you might only need to change your CV or take a class to broaden your current skill set. However, if your desired career differs greatly from your current one, then your career change might involve more complex steps, such as earning a new degree or an entirely new set of skills.’
And it will be no surprise that making a radical career change will require patience, commitment, and hard work, as earning a salary comparable to that of an existing long-term role or career takes time.
Identify motivations
Understanding why you want to change careers is crucial. Common motivations include seeking new challenges or passions, the need or desire for a better work-life balance, higher income or job security or the pursuit of long-term career growth and satisfaction.
McKinsey Partner Andrew Roth says of his career change (from startup owner to consultant) in a McKinsey interview: ‘It’s important that your motivation to make the career switch comes from within – external, ego-driven motives, like money, titles, or status, can get in the way of growth.’
Gradual steps into the unknown
If money is no issue, then immediately quitting an existing role with the prospect of venturing into something new could be possible. However, most individuals must consider the financials of switching careers and the (hopefully) short-term prospect of earning very little or less than before.
Therefore, once a preferred career has been identified, it’s prudent to discover everything about it. One way is to speak to people in your chosen, speculative career to find out how they succeeded or reskilled so that a realistic assessment of the journey ahead can be made. There’s no point in dropping everything to jump into a dream career; individuals must explore whether it takes specific qualifications to succeed or if there are other unknown obstacles.
Plus, there’s the consideration of where there is potential growth in Poland. For example, if you aspire to create a startup, you should invest time and effort into researching the market and success rates. As we discussed recently, NCBR figures show that few startups in Poland remain competitive in the long term. It doesn’t mean there is no possibility for success; it’s just crucial to research where career changes may be most viable, depending on individual aspirations.
A fear of the unknown is natural, but on a positive note, Poland has ample opportunities for change with the growth of foreign companies and jobs.
Fear, Imposter Syndrome and the rest
Hidden beneath the surface of the excitement of a career change, fear and worry can build as you seek to move from comfortable and known territory into something unknown and yet to be experienced. It’s highly likely that anxiety and impostor syndrome are byproducts of transitioning into a new career, but hopefully, in time, and as confidence grows, these will become old news.
Roth said: ‘A mid-career switch can be anxiety-inducing, with all the uncertainty and potential culture shock of a new work environment. I was lucky in that I avoided the dreaded “imposter syndrome”: I viewed the process as an opportunity to grow, learn, and become a more complete entrepreneur.’
Maintain realistic expectations
Someone with years in a role or sector will have more expertise and knowledge compared to a new entrant. Remember this as the transition occurs, and don’t overinflate experience, as it can tarnish individual reputation and branding. Everyone has to start somewhere, and even those with years of experience in a different career have to go back to the start of a new one.
Roth added when he changed career: ‘One of the best pieces of advice I got around this time was, “Don’t conflate your expertise from the past with apprenticeship.” I’ve seen people make this mistake, particularly entrepreneurs entering a new field: as professionals with experience and credibility, they can feel that an apprenticeship period is beneath them. That kind of attitude can create resentment among colleagues who’ve been there for a while and undermine trust, which is so important.’
Tap into others where possible
Once you’ve researched the industries and roles of interest, conduct informational interviews with professionals in the desired field where possible. This provides firsthand insights into the realities of the job and helps build a network of contacts. Networking, however intimidating or time-consuming, is critical to uncover job opportunities and gain insider knowledge.
LinkedIn is a brilliant tool for finding specialists in all fields, and some may be open to sharing knowledge and tips for moving into their careers. Others may also be able to highlight the education and training required to enable the identification of any gaps that need to be filled, including formal education (degrees, certifications), online courses and workshops, volunteering or internships, on-the-job training or cross-training opportunities.
Making a career change is a multifaceted process that requires thoughtful planning, strategic action, and resilience. By understanding your motivations, researching thoroughly, developing necessary skills, and leveraging your network, you can navigate the transition successfully and achieve long-term career satisfaction.
Author: Sarah Haselwood
