Career women typically are afraid of making a career change because they feel that they would have wasted their time going to school, getting an education, getting a Bachelors and/or Masters degree plus licenses to practice in the respective field they’re currently working in.
Is this true for you or there are other reasons that may play into why you haven’t taken the first steps to start working toward that ideal job?
Many women like myself have felt this way and some still believe this story. It has been expressed when I worked in the medical field as a Social Worker, and I am sure it may be the same for you today. Looking back on my Social Work tenure, I learned a lot, improved upon my skills, helped and empowered individuals and their families, and found some satisfaction working within my role. However, I would wake up each day feeling anxious, and as if something was missing in my life. Most days I would dread going to work because I knew in my gut that I wasn’t tremendously satisfied with my job. I did well, received raving reviews from my then patients, co-workers, and managers, but I was not happy despite my accomplishments and successes. I hid my unhappiness behind a pleasant smile. Can you relate? Are you pretending to love your job and hiding behind your smile?
Are you continuously going to a job that is no longer serving you? You’ve probably mastered the duties of the job where it has become just ‘work’ but it’s not giving you a sense of fulfillment. Do you often think about not seeing yourself working in your career long-term into retirement? Then it’s time to actively reflect on what it is that you want and to decide that you are now willing to make that change.
5 ways you can start to activate your ideal job interest while you’re still working your 9 to 5:
- Get clear on your interest. Write down all interests you have of possible jobs that interest you. This could be a sales job, marketing job, travel job, etc. After doing so, pick your top interest and do research about that particular job industry. I love the healthcare industry but I also have an interest in and love for accessories, fashion, travel, and also using my skills to help women get clear on their goals and achieve them.
- Test your job interest by applying or signing up for a part-time, per diem, or freelancer position in your selected interest. It’s important to note that you are testing the new job market while you’re still working your 9 to 5. I always had an interest in entrepreneurship so I decided to try being a part-time accessories stylist with a direct marketing company.
- Anticipate success but also expect failure in your new interest. I enjoyed my time working in direct sales for an accessories company but the business model didn’t work out for me after 2 years. So I decided to quit that interest. It, however, allowed me to gain exposure and behind the scenes knowledge of how businesses worked whether you are providing a product or a service to customers. It was a win for me! I am using the knowledge I gained and I implemented what I learned in my own business. Working in a job that is of interest to you can be a big plus, whether you succeed or not.
- Go back to step one. Rinse and repeat through step 3. We don’t always find what we’re looking for on the first try and I want you to know that’s okay. I found my passion and calling as a Career and Relationship Coach by investing in an online business program that has inspired me to work on my coaching business behind the scenes while I was working in my 9 to 5 that was paying me. The secret here is to continue to seek out your interest job until you’ve found the one that you are in love with! Don’t give up until you’ve found it.
- Plan out your exit strategy and make sure you set a deadline. After testing out your ideal interest job, found that you’re loving what you’re doing, and notice a significant happy attitude toward it, that’s when you know it’s time for a change in career. The next step is to then plan your exit strategy from your current 9 to 5. The problem and challenge for most women when they get to this stage is that fear, doubt, and what family, friends, professional associates may say when they tell them they’re going to work in their ideal job. And you may have to face this too. My advice is to follow your heart. You’ve already done your research and tested your ideal job market and you love it. If your family, friends, co-workers, and peers don’t understand why you’re making this change and may seem unsupportive now, that’s okay. Sometimes they’re projecting their own fears on you. Other times it’s because they love you and fear you’ll fail and don’t want to see you get hurt. They probably will not encourage that leap. If this is true for you I encourage you to seek out mentorship from a coach who also can provide you with a community of like-minded women who are pivoting in their careers. The benefit of this is that you’ll get support and accountability and you’ll also be around women who will hold you to a higher standard and keep you committed to pursuing and working in your ideal job.
If you’re curious about how to get more clarity to work in your ideal career, please sign up for my 3 part cocktail video series for clarity and success in your career and relationships racquelwalters.com/3partcocktail
To your success!
Racquel Walters, Career & Relationship Consultant
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