Navigating a career transition

People are increasingly working in new ways, and making a career change is now more feasible. The notion of sticking to the same job for life or rising through a single employer is long gone. As CEO of your career, it is expected of you to create a meaningful and fulfilling career for yourself. 

Why career transition 

Career transition could be one of the most fulfilling experiences. It can unleash opportunities you never knew existed, not to mention the number of benefits that come from taking on a new role. However, taking the leap to venture into the unknown can make you feel as if you have been teleported to a foreign place. It takes bravery, courage and focus!

Where do you start? 

Take a step back and understand the reason for the change. Work out how to make that bridge into a new career or job role. Avoid making hasty decisions based on emotions. Whatever the reason, know that you are not alone. No one has it all figured out, we are all learning as we go along. Most importantly, learn how to strategically apply foresight to all your decision-making. Identify a mentor or at least a support system to see you through the transition; our work life has a way of seeping into our personal life. 

Transferable skills 

Don’t pigeonhole yourself and be restricted to the position and qualifications you hold. Look into the skills required for the new career you wish to pursue. Identify your transferable skills and leverage them. Some skills are easily transferable between different sectors. Volunteer to work on projects outside your scope of work. These will all contribute towards your journey upwards. Note, however, that career change could mean a lateral movement, pay cut or any strategic movement all geared towards your ultimate goal upwards depending on your plan. 

Have an adaptive mindset 

Continuous mental transformation is key to developing an adaptive mindset. Prepare for the change adequately. Do not simply yearn for the green grass on the other side, be the green grass by investing in your self-development whilst putting your plan into motion. The grass is greener where it is watered and with an adaptive mindset, you will respond positively to the change when you get to the other side. 

Continue to burn the candle 

If your new industry requires some skills you do not have, do what you can to obtain them. Apart from your intellectual capacity, you may increase your worth by paying attention to the necessary professional quotient relevant to the profession or intelligence such as adversity intelligence, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills. The latter will form part of your packaging in showing up for yourself. Pay the price for discovering and developing your value, since the packaging is only valuable when there’s content. 

Conclusion

Remember, it is more about who you choose to be rather than who you used to be. The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity. — A. Earhart

*Ipupa Fadeyi is a personal and career growth mentor and founder of IpupaK Grow You Mentorship.