This post will cover the most common fears of changing your career and what actionable steps to get over them.
Deciding to make a career change can be both empowering and frightening all at the same time. You are proud of yourself because you are finally recognizing why you should make a career change:
- Your job no longer feels rewarding or fulfilling.
- The demands of your job doesn’t fit your lifestyle.
- The priorities in your personal life doesn’t align with your career.
- You are feeling the strain of burnout.
- You have the Sunday scaries or dread.
You are tired of these thoughts and feelings and ready to make a career change. But now, you are up against a whole new set of fears when changing your career.
- Afraid to fail
- Being a beginner (again)
- The Fear of the Unknown of a New Career
- The Fear of a Financial Strain
- Asking Yourself “Can I really do this?”
These fears of making a career change are so normal and can be easily shot down by taking action against them.
Here is a list of the most common fears around changing your career and the actions to take to get over them and get you closer to making that career move.
1. Afraid of Failing
There are so many motivational quotes that I can share with you. So easy to find on Pinterest, but there is only one that I think will be so fitting to knock out this fear.
“Failure to plan is planning to fail.” - Benjamin Franklin
Good old Ben Franklin has a solid and valid point.
The reason why the fear of failure comes up has a direct connection with a feeling of the unknown (more on that a little further below) because you don’t have a plan yet.
Coming up with a plan may sound scary, especially for people who are “planner-challenged”. Here is a simple breakdown of the 5 phases of a career change:
- Research Phase
- Informational Interviews Phase
- Beginning Phase: Learner (e-course, certifications, traditional education)
- Middle Phase: Taking Action (applying for jobs, setting up a side hustle or business)
- Final Phase: In Action (working in your new job, launching your business)
The best way to manage all of these phases in one area is by viewing and treating a career change like a long-term project.
I suggest using ClickUp.
ClickUp is a project management platform that allows you to take each phase listed above and create what ClickUp calls a “space”.
Within each space, you can set up to-do lists, add videos and files. ClickUp also integrates with a ton of other apps, like Gmail, Outlook, YouTube, Toggl, and many more.
Take the fear out of failing by treating this career change like a long-term project.
2. Fear of Being a Beginner (again)
Yes, you will be a beginner again. But we aren’t talking about being a sophomore in high school beginner (thank goodness!).
You are an intermediate beginner.
You have work experience, a background in education, and most importantly transferable skills.
To shut down the fear of being a beginner, start writing down the transferable skills you possess and shine at.
- Start by making a list of hard skills (technical training, certifications, software experience)
- Then make a list of your soft skills (communication, teamwork, adaptability)
With this list of skills, you can bring these with you on your career move. And your fear of being a beginner will settle down after reading this list. You bring more skills to your new career than you give yourself credit for.
3. The Fear of the Unknown of a New Career
Not knowing what to expect can be scary, but is completely fixable. The fear of the unknown new career will be completely squashed when you have a few informational interviews.
An informational interview is the secret weapon of a career change.
You will learn directly from a source what to expect in your new role or business, and how long it will take to master your career change.
But how do I find a person in a field or industry that is so new to me?
Here are some ways on how to find a person for an informational interview:
- Ask friends and family- they are your best resource and you will have a better chance for the person to say yes to your invite because of the mutual connection.
- Search on Linkedin - Use the search bar on LinkedIn like how you use Google search. Enter keywords of the industry, job, or company you would like to work for. You can filter your search by people and it will show you the connection level between you and the person.
Here are more tips on how to research on Linkedin.
Plus, 21 insanely smart informational interview questions to ask on an informational interview
4. The Fear of a Financial Strain
Starting a new career also means starting at an entry level role or possibly working without pay for a while. Rarely does a career change come with a lateral move and earning the same amount you used to make.
So, the fear of facing a financial strain is real, but a way to combat this fear is by tracking your finances or budgeting for a drop in income. All at the palm of your hand.
There are so many easy-to-use budgeting and tracking finance apps.
Here are a few top-rated apps to consider:
- Mint- This app is a part of the Intuit family of products (Turbo Tax and Quick Books). It links to your bank accounts, credit cards, and investments to organize and track your spending. The app categorizes your spending, plus there is a way to set up financial goals.
- Wally- This free app will help track your income and expenses and will also alert you when you are close to overspending. Only offered on IOS phones.
- Goodbudget- This app was designed for budgeting partners. Making a mid-life career change might also effect your partner’s finances as well. The Goodbudget app allows couples to track and budget their finances together.
5. Asking Yourself "Can I really Do this?"
This is a normal question to ask yourself, but this stems from the fear of doubting your abilities and commitment.
The best way to eliminate this fear and answer this question with a “Heck Yes!”. Is by setting yourself up with an accountability entourage.
What is an accountability entourage?
A hand-selected group of people who knows your strengths and weaknesses and there to support you on this new endeavor.
Who is a part of this accountability entourage?
I use the term entourage because it is a group of people. Each person will serve a different purpose in your career change journey.
Here is the list of people you will need for your accountability entourage:
- The Inspiration- the person who is doing what you are doing 8-10 years from now. They have walked down this path before and they have experienced success and continues to thrive in what they do. They are your inspiration to achieve what they are doing and to also ask them questions along the way.
- The Mentor- This person knows you inside and out. They have seen you develop into the professional you are today. They know when to challenge you when you are playing small and there to remind you to slow down and enjoy the moment.
- The Cheerleader- This person is your biggest fan and they supported your career whichever way it has turned. You can count on them to buy your first published book or organize a celebratory party for passing your certification test. This person supports whatever you do.
- The Challenger- This person loves to play devil’s advocate and needs to understand the details of the situation before they are sold on an idea. Everyone needs a person like this in their life. They help pull back your “blinders” to help provide a different perspective. The always have your best interest at heart, but they are there to push your growth to the next level.
So, there you have it! The 5 most common fears when changing careers and the actionable steps to shut them down. I hope this post will help you pivot your career with more confidence and assurance that you are making the right move.
We want to hear from you! Are you thinking about making a career change? Did you have these same fears? Share your thoughts below.
