One thousand sessions taught me these things about career changes (part 1/3)

Last year I did nearly a thousand coaching and therapy sessions (maybe even a little more). I covered a whole range of topics with a whole range of people. Executive coaching, Career coaching, Interview coaching, Confidence coaching and Communication coaching.

Across the hundreds of people I’ve worked with I’ve noticed a surprising amount of commonalities when it comes to thinking about careers.

To save you time, here are five things that can be helpful to know.

One: A career change is not blocked by lack of options, it is blocked by lack of sustained effort

Most people are not stuck because there are no opportunities but because they underestimate how much repeated, often unrewarded, effort is required over time. A short break? A wedding? Kids need taking somewhere? All often get prioritised (understandably!) but the very practical reality of this is that your career situation won’t change.

A short burst of applications or networking will not see results. People get frustrated that it doesn’t and then give-up.

Two: “Maybe it’s just me” keeps people in the wrong job for years

A lot of people who are unhappy in their role assume the problem is their mindset, resilience, or attitude so they try to fix themselves instead of questioning the role or environment. “If I was more grateful…” or “if I could just get confidence…” or “I wish I could be different!”.

Changing our mindset can help a bit BUT staying in a job that fundamentally isn’t working for you often reduces your confidence.

Three: People are not choosing between good and bad options, they are choosing between different types of discomfort

Staying is uncomfortable. Leaving is uncomfortable. Most people stay because it is familiar and easier to explain to themselves and others. Humans don’t like change and so we often revert to “better the sh*t” we know. Once you see it as a choice between discomforts, it becomes much clearer why you are delaying action.

Four: Weak social ties are not just helpful, they are where most real opportunities come from

Opportunities rarely come from your closest network. They come from people who know of you, not people who know you well. The problem is most people focus their energy on the wrong group because it feels safer. Your opportunities lay in the periphery of your network or just outside it!

Five: Job searching erodes people’s sense of self so you have to have a game plan

Repeated rejection starts to change how people see themselves. People who were previously confident begin to question their value in ways that go beyond the job market. Self-doubt, anxiety, and rash decision-making all can kick in. This is actually where mindset matters because there is an end in sight! It will get better and it will change with enough support and consistent effort but it’s hard to remember that in the mindset of rejections.

Want some support?

If you’re facing a big career decision, strategic choice or don’t know how to go about understanding you options, I’ve opened up a limited number of career coaching sessions staring this month.

If you want to know more then book in for your complimentary intro call below.

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