The best advice I received before making a career change

What was the best career advice you ever received before making a career change?

Mine was from a manager that occurred 2 years into my professional career. That was when I found an internal hybrid role as a recruiter/program manager that looked interesting. In speaking with my manager about this potential career change, he said something to me that stuck with me:

“You have strong work ethics. That’s something that is very hard to teach. Because of your work ethics, you will succeed at whatever you decide to pursue. The real challenge is in finding a career that you’re passionate about. And the only way to discover that passion is by exploring different options.”

At that point in my career, I achieved success in product development & merchandising. I also had a lot of growth opportunities to choose from (3 new roles in total).

I turned them all down because none of them felt right.

My manager’s advice and my curiosity about this internal role gave me the confidence to pursue a career change. That pivot was the catalyst for a successful 15-year career in recruitment, HR, and organization development. I tapped into my passion for coaching and solving complex business problems.

 
Looking back, there are 3 valuable lessons that I took away from this experience.

 
Test drive different careers to find your passion.

That means talking to people in different career tracks to learn more about what they do and finding a way to transition into those roles to experience what it’s really like day-to-day.

 
Your prior experience and skills are never wasted.

When you make a career change, you bring transferrable skills with you and use them in new ways. My skills, prior experience, and existing relationships is what I continuously leaned on to set myself apart in each new role I transitioned into.

 
Each career change will help you expand your inventory of skills.

This helps you become more well-rounded and dynamic. As a candidate or job seeker, it can also open up unexpected doors for you.
 

I’m grateful that I had someone to turn to who cared about me and offered excellent career advice. It led to a meaningful career. It also inspired me to do the same for other people who are exploring a career change and in need of coaching.

Are you preparing for a career change? Check out my coaching services to see how I can help you get started or DM me on LinkedIn to set up a free consultation call.