You can be fresh out of college with a degree you don’t want to use or decades into your career, jaded and in need of a refresh. When you pivot from your original path, the sudden shift can be jarring. Uncertainty may flood your thoughts, causing you to question your decisions.
How will the future look? Do you have the resources and network to make such a drastic transition? What if your plans fall through, only to take you back to step one?
The beginning of every new journey may be rife with self-doubt and anxiety, but adequate preparation helps quiet the noise and create a reliable roadmap. Additionally, there are countless others who’ve endured similar experiences and are more than willing to share their wisdom.
To learn more, we asked several women professionals how they explored their career reinvention and continue to thrive in self-empowerment. Here are a few of their tips.
Former FBI Analyst, present Career Coach, Danielle Graves (also known as Danielle the Coach) went through quite the change when she took the plunge. However, carefully reflecting on her desires and goals enabled her to look ahead with clarity.
She stated:
My biggest challenges have been building my marketing muscle as a full-time entrepreneur, overcoming corporate conditioning, and building a business in the middle of a global pandemic. I've managed to overcome them by investing in coaching and business development mentorship, giving myself permission to redefine what success looks like for me, and staying tethered to communities made up of other entrepreneurs on a similar journey as me.
...Have a solid exit strategy that aligns with your lifestyle. What may work for you may not work for someone else, so don’t expect everyone to understand and buy into the vision. As long as you can live with it and own the consequences of your decision—good and not so good—that’s all that matters. I also recommend being clear on your purpose and what led you to the point of transition in the first place. It will help ground you when the going gets tough and motivate you to trust the process…
As you plan for your career change, you may come across several difficult, but necessary questions. Engage in optimistic, but realistic self-dialogue to identify the best course of action, and rest assured your choices will get you where you need to be to find fulfillment.
Career Discovery Coach, Lucy Todd, provided a useful guideline to get started:
What does success mean to you? It might be harder than you think to separate this from what you believe the ‘right’ or ‘traditional’ definition is. Instead, what makes you feel happiest, most fulfilled, and most like yourself?
Is it more free time? The ability to decide what you work on? Is it a higher salary? A leadership role? The ability to work from anywhere? Pursuing multiple interests at the same time? If it feels too familiar, traditional, or ‘safe,’ you might not have found your true definition yet.
What's the minimum income you need to make to cover your expenses and live comfortably? Again, your definition of ‘comfortable’ won't be the same as it is for others. Will a side hustle or part-time gig get you by, or do you need to stay at your job (or another full-time job) during the transition? How much are you comfortable taking from savings (if any)? Is any temporary debt worthwhile and manageable for you in exchange for escaping a bad career situation ASAP? (Debt would rarely be the right FINANCIAL decision. It's about choices, risk, and reward.)
What support and accountability do you need to navigate change? Do you procrastinate without a timeline in place? Do you tend to set goals and abandon them? What could get in the way of pursuing your career goals? Go ahead — call yourself out on your weaknesses! It's the best way to prepare to fight them.
Co-founder and Head of Business Development & Innovation at SnapADU, Whitney Hill pursued the construction industry knowing her career reinvention would take time. Still, she ventured into the unknown, trusting that her background and existing skill set would still give her an edge.
Hill shared further:
Commitment is key. When I decided to make the leap into construction, I knew it had to be an all-in proposition. The ADU industry, with its unique challenges and complexities, required rapid learning and adaptation. You can't make significant strides or become proficient enough to stand out if you're only partially committed.
For those contemplating a similar shift, understand that to bridge the gap between your past experience and your new venture, total dedication is essential. The journey demands not just a physical transition of roles but a mental and emotional investment in your new path.
Remember that significant change takes time. Stay committed, be ready to learn from failures, and keep pushing forward. Embarking on a career transition is both daunting and exhilarating. For me, leveraging my background in a field where it was unexpected has not only been professionally rewarding but has also allowed me to contribute to meaningful change in housing affordability.
To those looking to reinvent their career paths, remember that your unique skills and experiences are your strongest assets. Find where they are needed, commit fully, and you can redefine success on your own terms.
While transition often entails shifting to an entirely new field, it also applies to growing upward in your current role. It’s exactly how Allyson Gagliardi, Family Lawyer at Rockwell Family Law, navigated her career. After adapting to a rapidly digital legal landscape, she revealed:
With almost 20 years of experience as a family law specialist, I've managed the complexities of legal practice while simultaneously staying up to date with how family law is developing. My career was well-founded by my academic background in media and law from Griffith University, as well as my intensive legal training. But the real test and transformation occurred when the legal profession had to adjust to the growing digitization of the legal system and the complexity of family law matters.
I welcomed technology improvements and ongoing learning to guarantee success and progress, including new tools and platforms to improve case management and client communication. This flexibility has proven essential for teaching more junior experts joining the area as well as for efficiently handling cases.
I advise a dedication to ongoing learning and a willingness to change for anyone thinking about changing careers or pursuing development. Your skill set and worth in your area can be greatly increased by adopting new technology and methods. Additionally, establishing a solid professional network within your field and looking for mentoring may offer priceless assistance and direction along the way.
Diana Zheng, Head of Marketing for Stallion Express, worked as a personal trainer before switching to marketing. Although met with the challenges of entering an entirely new industry, she continued forth with her head held high, leaning on her strengths to remain resilient.
One of Zheng’s most important assets was undoubtedly her relationships with other marketing experts. When you have a reliable circle to learn from, self-confidence comes naturally. She emphasized:
It’s also important to network. Reach out to experts in your industry, ask for their advice, and build relationships that can open up opportunities for you.
My most significant advice is to believe in yourself and what you can do. Yes, it’s scary to step into the unknown, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling. Take on the challenge, be resilient, and never give up on your dream.
Don’t forget that your career path is your own, and every bump in the road is a chance for improvement. So, don’t be afraid to jump in and try something new. You never know what you might find out.
Any level of career transformation requires confidence, patience, and endurance. Who says you have to go through it alone?
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