Making a career change at midlife is not a matter of identifying what you want and then following a series of steps to arrive at your final destination. It is a process of self discovery that requires experimenting with different selves, exploring interests, and reevaluating priorities. Sometimes, at the start, all you know is that you want to be somewhere else. It is through your actions and experiences that you will come to know yourself, and then, by making various course adjustments, discover who you want to be.
At some point in their lifetime, most people will make at least one major career change. As you move through different life stages, your values and preferences change and it is normal to question your career path and consider alternatives that better suit your current interests and needs. Sometimes the direction you want to move is clear and you know exactly what you want to do next. At other times, you may feel restless and want to do something different without having a clear idea of where you want to go or who you want to become.
When people are confused or uncertain about their next career move, many career counselors will advise them to examine their personality, skills, and desires through introspection and assessments and to use these tools to determine what they want before they make a move. However, people who wait until they have clearly defined goals before taking a step in a new direction often remain stuck in their current career unable to start the transition process.
Act First, Then Think
In her book, Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career, Herminia Ibarra offers a different approach to making career transitions. After studying people who successfully navigated such changes, she suggests that all people have many possible working identities and by exploring these possibilities and trying out different roles, they learn who they are and who they want to become. People who tried to think their way to their next career invariably became stuck. "Career transitions follow a first-act-and-then-think sequence because who we are and what we do are so tightly connected. The tight connection is the result of years of action; to change it, we must resort to the same methods," she says.
However, taking action does not mean making a major change all at once. Although everyone has heard stories about the successful lawyer who suddenly quit his job to become a Buddhist monk, most major career changes are more subtle and happen over several years as the person evolves from their current role through a series of smaller, experimental steps.
Strategies for Successful Career Change
Each person's journey through transition is different. There is no 10-step plan for making a major career change. However, Ms. Ibarra does offer some suggestions that can ease the process.
Take action: Take a small step in the direction you think you might want to try and evaluate your experience. Use the feedback from that experience to figure out what you think, want, or feel.
Don't try to find your one true self: You have many possible identities. Explore these different selves by trying them out. Then reflect on whether you really want what you think you want and to be the person you think you want to be.
Allow for a transition period: When you make a major change, you will need time to unravel your current working identity to make space for new roles and routines. This takes time. It is necessary to go through this period of confusion, turmoil, and uncertainty to make a real change.
Don't start by making a big decision that will change everything: Small steps lead to big changes. The path to a new career is not a straight line: it is a crooked path that cycles back and allows you to reflect and learn from the process.
Take on new projects: Take on side projects and temporary assignments that allow you to explore ideas without making a long term commitment. These new roles can help you identify your values and preferences. Choose a variety of these experiments so you can compare your experiences before making any decisions.
Connect with people: Look outside your current network to find people who are examples of different ways of working and living. These people can act as role models and provide support during your transition.
Don't wait for a turning point before taking action: Big change happens over time and through many smaller adjustments to your way of thinking and working. Use everyday occurrences to find meaning in your life choices and evaluate opportunities.
Step back and evaluate your situation: If you are feeling stuck, take a short break to reflect on how and why you are changing. But, don't take too long. People learn about themselves through interaction and active engagement in the real world, not through introspection and fantasy.
Allow for ups and downs: Change happens in bursts and starts. You may go through a period with many changes and then a period where nothing seems to move. Sometimes you will need to wait, ask questions, and allow time and space to linger between identities. But, don't let unanswered questions hold you back, keep moving and trying new things. Experiment with short term opportunities until you are ready to commit to a bigger change.
Making a career change at midlife is not a matter of identifying what you want and then following a series of steps to arrive at your final destination. It is a process of self discovery that requires experimenting with different selves, exploring interests, and reevaluating priorities. Sometimes at the start, all you know is that you want to be somewhere else. It is through your actions and experiences that you will come to know yourself, and then, by making various course adjustments, discover who you want to be.
Sources
Ibarra, Herminia. Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career. Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press, 2003.
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