5 Ways People Sabotage Their Career Changes and How a Coach Can Help!

1.       Not having a clear plan

2.       Not working daily to find a new job/career.

3.       Not looking for opportunities (before you make the change) 

       to update or add new skills.

4.       Panicking and reverting to the old job, feeling you can’t really 

        have what you want.

5.       Limited belief, core values that say they cannot have the job they want.

1.       Not having a clear long-term plan - depending on how quickly you want or need to change careers.  Just saying you want a new career and putting in random job applications is not enough. Job/career changes take planning, research, correct expectations, and preparation. A Career Coach can walk through a process for you, mapping out time frames, and tasks to keep you moving forward to the goal.

2.       Not working daily to find a new job/career - If unemployed you should be working 4 to 6 hours a day finding a job and If employed an hour per day working to find a new career.

This time should be spent on networking, researching companies, beefing up your social media (LinkedIn), volunteering, and curating a wardrobe that will match the new job you want.  Did you work in an office and now you will be working on a farm, start looking for great deals on what you will need to wear in the next job (#hint – Goodwill is great for low budgets when changing jobs).

 A Coach will help you know what trends in networking are, they will help you understand the “Why” of a company, search for job openings and keep you accountable and motivated.

3.       Not looking for opportunities (before you make the change) to update or add new skills.

Not working on finding a job or reskilling for a new career daily! If you are a dental hygienist and want to be a vet tech, you have a lot of transferable skills, but you do not have experience with the customers in a Veterinary office…. the animals, you would be a better candidate if you had some experience in that area.  A good way to gain experience in a new career is to volunteer with an organization that mirrors the career you are going to. Volunteering once a week for 6mths at an animal shelter will help you.  It will help you know if you will like the new job field, learn industry lingo and norms, network with all the local vets, and will look great on a resume, all while benefiting your community!  

Time should be allotted for to add skill sets if needed. This should be done before you take the leap to a career change.  You may have to take an online state test, classes at the local college, or complete a degree. If you do these things after you quit your job, it could be an additional cost you cannot afford without your current income. A Career Coach, if contacted before you leave your current position will help you navigate the timeline before you lose your income, they will also guide you through the resignation process to ensure you are leaving a good reference behind.

1.   Panicking and reverting to the old job, feeling you can’t really have what you want. Reverting to safety (applying for only jobs that are in the same field you have been in).  Keeping the old job field in the present, just in case, can prevent you from really believing you can move on or are capable of the new career field.

 It is like losing 40 lbs. but keeping all the clothes that don’t fit.  You are telling yourself you will fail.  Many will fall back to the same job they just left, never taking steps to move forward.  They become defeated and feel trapped in the old way of doing things and take on the belief they can never have the job they really want.   Look before you leap and plan for your departure.

A Career coach can navigate this, meeting you wherever you are in this process.  They can navigate short- or long-term goals, create a clear path to your destination, provide realistic timelines and expectations for the job change and the job.  They get you past the beliefs system that has held you back from reaching your goal and keep you accountable for moving forward.

2.       Limited belief, new job/career unobtainable and give up too soon.  Having a realistic time frame is critical to success in a career change.  Thinking you will make a major shift in your employment in 2 to 3 weeks is not a realistic goal. 

Building a new network in the new area of interest, establishing new skills, preparing financially, allowing your support system to adjust to the new career change all take time.

 Career change realistic goals are 6 months to 1 year.