So... you’ve probably worked really freaking hard to build your career.

If you were chatting to the yourself from 10 years ago they would be so proud of how far you’ve come. 

But what if you’re starting to feel disconnected to the job/career/business you’ve worked so hard to create? 

You’re not alone.

The average Millennial changes jobs every 2.8 years. Changing jobs helps you learn new skills, travel the world, increase your salary and progress your career – plus it keeps life interesting! 

Giving yourself permission to change your job if it no longer feels right for you (no matter how hard you've worked for it) is a gift and an amazing act of self care.

However...

For a lot of people, knowing that they want to change jobs is the easy part.

Knowing what you want to do next and how you’ll get there is the challenge.  

While everyone’s journey is unique, if you’re not sure where to start then following these 7 steps will help to move you in the right direction. 

If you’re currently feeling really happy and fulfilled in your career - that’s amazing. Hold onto that feeling and celebrate it! Maybe you could share this article with a friend who needs it.  

Step 1: Take Time for Self-Reflection

You want change and you want it now.

I’ve been there.

However, before you run a million miles an hour in a new direction it’s important to pause and work out which direction you should be running in.

With this in mind, the first step I’d recommend is to make time for self-reflection.

It's important to understand what is causing the lack of fulfilment in your current career and what you want might want to do instead. This is your opportunity to dream big, forget about what society has told you that you should do and instead, design a career that truly excites you. If you’d like help with this step I’ve created a list of 12 questions to ask before you quit your job

Step 2: Identify Your Transferable Skills

Chances are, at least some of the skills that you've developed in your current career will be transferable to a new one. Take time to identify the skills you have, what your enjoy doing and think about how they could be applied in a different field.

For example, say you want to start a new career as a wedding planner but you’ve never actually planned a wedding… In your current role you’ve gained experience managing budgets, working with suppliers, meeting tight deadlines and managing expectations of multiple stakeholders. Outside of work you love hosting dinner parties and are known as the organised one in your friendship group. ALL of these skills are essential for wedding planners.

Understanding your transferrable skills will give you confidence, help you stand out from other candidates and may make the transition to a new career smoother.

Step 3: Research New Career Options

Once you've identified some transferable skills, it’s time to research new career options that excite you and complement your strengths. This research might involve reading job ads, mapping out your entrepreneurial business ideas on paper, listening to podcast interviews, working with a career coach, watching TedTalks, thinking about what you love to do outside of work, which projects in your current role make you feel alive, talking to people who work in different fields (I find LinkedIn such a friendly space and have had really inspiring work chats in the DMs!).

Building a network of contacts both online and offline can be helpful in learning about career opportunities plus understanding what it actually takes to get your foot in the door.

It can also be a really interesting experience to speak to recruiters. Recruiters not only help you to learn about job opportunities, they can also help you to understand the market, salary bands, current gaps in your skillset, opportunities for growth, how to tweak your CV to stand out and which roles could be great for you.

And if that hasn't given you enough inspiration - another fun exercise could be to message your friends and ask them what they think you’d be great at. Remember, all ideas are welcome and nothing is wrong in a brainstorm so have fun with it!

Step 4: Network

I get it.

The word networking can make the most extroverted of us cringe.

However, like it or not networking is an important part of any job search, and building a network of contacts in a new field can be especially helpful when changing careers. Attend industry events, volunteer, offer to buy coffees so you can spend 15 mins with people who’s careers you admire, and connect with people on LinkedIn. Remember, the more people you know in the new field, the more opportunities you'll get to learn about job openings and make valuable connections.

It's much less awkward (and way less expensive) to have a conversation with someone now and learn if a career is or isn't for you now rather than paying thousands of dollars and spending years of your life retraining - only find out during final year work experience that you hate it.

Step 5: Gain New Skills

If there are skills that you need to develop in order to make the transition to a new job, look for opportunities to gain those skills before applying (and no this doesn’t mean spending a lot of money on a 5 year university degree right away).

I challenge my clients and friends to think about this step creatively. Are there ways you can gain these experiences in your current role? Could you volunteer on the weekend or with a friend? Could you start a small side hustle, shadow a mate, join a free online webinar, take some short classes, attend workshops or conferences?

Gaining new skills will not only make you a stronger candidate for job openings but will also help you to quickly get clarity on if this new career path is what you actually want to be doing.

Remember, confidence doesn’t come from overthinking – confidence and clarity come from doing.

Step 6: Consider a Gradual Transition

Despite what social media and hustle culture has glamourised, a sudden transition from one career to another may not always be possible or financially responsible. Depending on your situation and risk appetite, a gradual transition might be less stressful and offer more financial stability rather than going all in tomorrow.

This could involve taking on a part-time job, starting a side hustle or freelancing while still working in your current job. This will give you the opportunity to test if the new career path is what you actually want while simultaneously building your skills and earning a steady income.

Step 7: Take Action

Finally, once you have a plan in place, it's time to take action. As I mentioned previously, you can think about your new career all you want – but until you have the courage to take one step forward your situation is not going to change.

Update your CV and LinkedIn profile, start the side hustle or apply for jobs, and prepare for interviews.

Remember, changing careers can be a challenging and it can be a lengthy process. But with perseverance, the courage to learn and a positive attitude – that fulfilling career and a life that not only looks great, but feels freaking amazing is just around the corner.

Looking for someone to help you navigate your career change? To learn more about how I partner with my clients you can visit my website www.ashcamcoaching.com

If video content is more your style, I'm also on Instagram and TikTok @ashcamcoaching

Ash x