Career Change Archives - Alexandra Humbel

7 Tell-Tale Signs You Need a Career Transition

You may be surprised to hear that most of my clients do not feel an urge to change careers because they hate what they are doing. Like them, you may feel it deep down, even though things are going smoothly. Work is good, pay is good, and the position is generally satisfying. Everyone else thinks you are in an enviable place and have no reason to change the status quo.

Here are some signals that should get you curious:

1. When asked about who you are and what you do, you deliver a conversational version of your CV, which starts to sound like a well-rehearsed loop. You actively mask your boredom behind a cheering tone, but something is just … off.

2. You avidly read articles and stories about people succeeding in another area, living a different life, or both. Your rational self tells you it is too late anyway and that this would require a massive set of skills you don’t have. But you persist in documenting the topic. Avidly.

3. You go through the moves at work because you have mastered what you do. But you are not completely at it. You are on auto-pilot more than you want to admit.

4. You wonder, so often this thought has become a part of the furniture in your mental space, whether you will do the same thing until retirement. The question remains open and makes you slightly anxious.

5. You are getting intrigued when you hear people talking passionately about the job you are doing right now. You used to be that passionate person. In the past.

6. You are experiencing more and more internal conversations starting with “What if… I was doing this different thing, living this different life, woke up every morning with this different agenda”. These internal conversations both scare you and make you feel incredibly alive.

7. You focus on small increments in your life, your health, your home, and your work. Without a sense of purpose, your energy focuses on fixing stuff while avoiding the fundamental question:

Why are you doing what you are doing?

If you experience some of these feelings, it may be time to ask yourself this question. There is no wrong answer. Money, status, convenience, and safety are valuable reasons to continue doing what you do. What else needs to be heard? Who is the person you would like to be? How far are you from becoming this person? Where would you be in a year if everything went as you wished? What are you ready to say “yes” to and say “no” to? How would it feel to remain in the same place for one year? Five years?

Every life-changing decision starts by being the best listener of your true feelings. Accepting the confusion and antagonist demands that will inevitably come out. It requires some guts to question the status quo of your life and work. If you do, you may be in transition already.

Is it Too Late For a Career Change? 10 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself First

Alexandra Humbel

When one of my beloved clients shared this graph with me, I had to laugh. Then I kept thinking about it. Is there an age limit for changing careers? According to the standard, this limit is around the corner. From the moment any high performing professional subtly slips, without knowing it, from high potential to senior, options are shrinking at a dizzying pace.

You can’t do anything about the corporate culture. But you are in the driver’s seat to challenge the limits you impose on yourself.

For instance, here are some of the most common and fearsome beliefs:

Is it worth it?
How much effort does it take to start a new professional adventure, when everything pushes you to hold on to your position, in the hope that you won’t be pushed out prematurely?
If you start a new career now, how long will you be active?
If it doesn’t work out, will you regret your decision?
What will your entourage think?
Are you a fool to even consider it?
What does it mean financially?

All these questions are valid. All of them need to be explored with courage and integrity.

I will add another set of questions:

1. What are you craving? What makes you tick?
2. What life do you want?
3. Are you prepared to say “no” to some benefits, so you can say “yes” to new stuff?
4. What is the best-case scenario?
5. Who will you be, if everything unfolds beautifully?
6. What will your everyday life look like?
7. How will you feel?
8. On the contrary, what is the worst-case scenario?
9. What are the consequences?
10. And eventually, what is the price of letting life decide for you by default?

Have you been thinking about changing careers?

I would love to have a chat to see if we are a good fit.

Click here to book a call with me at a time that suits you: https://alexandrahumbel.com/discovery/

Katie And The Self-Confidence Paradox

Coaching Stories

The Self-Confidence Paradox - Alexandra Humbel

In the space of personal growth, and especially when it relates to women, the expression “self-confidence” is omnipresent. Or rather the lack of, the need for more, and the pursuit of.

I have observed the paradox of self-confidence many times in my female clients, especially high-profile achievers who feel drained by inner doubts. Or struggling to nurture their self-confidence.

One of them, whom I call Katie, told me “I wish I were more self-confident. I am good at what I do. I kick ass. Why do I struggle? Why don’t I take credit, once and for all, for all my achievements?”

We explored what self-confidence meant for her. What, exactly, made her want more of it. How it made her feel, physically and emotionally. What she valued and who she was in this space. We explored how self-confidence served her, what expanded, what was unleashed, and what felt good. We examined real-life situations and the impact on decisions taken in this state of self-confidence. We observed, with blunt honesty, what self-confidence did for her, and what it did not. We were also curious, what was the fear behind the lack of self-confidence? What would become possible if self-confidence was granted?

Her perspective shifted. Awareness is power. Self-confidence became no more a constantly escaping feel-good state. It lost its power, as a prerequisite for meeting challenges and asserting herself. It had depth and implications. It connected to what she really, really wanted. Something more important than self-confidence emerged. A higher sense of purpose, served by abundant inner resources.

On this basis, she was able to build strategies to get to where she wanted. Made her inner resources available to serve who she wanted to be. Self-confidence, eventually, became irrelevant, the middle-man. She decided to take the faster route.

And you, are you craving more self-confidence? How does it serve you?

Why You Should Spend More Time Thinking About Career Transitioning

“In the first half of life, ambitious strivers embrace a simple formula for success in work and life: focus single-mindedly, work tirelessly, sacrifice personally, and climb the ladder relentlessly.
It works. Until it doesn’t.” says bestselling author and columnist behind The Atlantic’s popular “How to Build a Life” series, Arthur C. Brooks.

The momentum that drive you in the first part of adult life fuels your motivation to earn expertise, power, financial success, mastery, leadership, learning, excitement and social acknowledgement. Hard work pays. Challenge makes you grow. Experience makes you hone your skills to excellence. Your peers think highly of you. You belong to a league of successful professionals.

Then something happens. A subtle decline of interest for what you have been doing with drive and perseverance for a couple of decades. A crave for something. The next thing you know, here you are, a corporate leader, a respected expert or a successful entrepreneur, admired and envied by your peers, now questioning the meaning of this story you tell about yourself.

Some will suggest mid-life crisis. The terms, which was coined in the 70’s, evokes a number of clichés, among which a man in his 50’t divorcing his wife to marry a younger woman and buying a red Ferrari. Or a Porsche.

Is that it? Or is there more to it?

Arthur C. Brooks offers a radical, and somewhat controversial explanation in his best seller “From Strength to Strength”. He explains that the first part of adult life is driven by “fluid intelligence”, a resource that make you prone to create, innovate, find new paths and out-of-the-box solutions. This form of intelligence tends to fade away with time, creating a feeling of inadequacy that persists even though you try to ignore it, or work harder to compensate. The second half of adult life favors another resource called the “crystallized intelligence”, a pool of wisdom made of knowledge and experiences, available for you to tap into. This form of intelligence excels at training, sharing, creating human and social bonds and produces work based on cross-fertilizing different corpus of acquired knowledge.

Brook’s message is that this new resource can serve you beautifully to fuel a redesigned purpose.

Accepting a decline in interest and accuracy is difficult. Nothing prepared you to hit this wall at the prime (or so you think) of your professional journey. Avoidance and denial are normal reactions.

Now consider this: How many transitions did you already have in your life? Many. From student to professional. From job to job. From corporate to entrepreneur. From single to partner, to parent, to care-giver for your ageing parents. Some transitions were deliberate, and some just happened. Your transition muscle is trained. You are just not prepared to this one, which is insidious, because it comes from within, sending a message you may not understand, and even less like.

Change is inevitable. If you continue ignoring what your gut feeling is trying to tell you, it will unfold in ways that may not suit you. Some of you will double their efforts to stay in the game at all cost. Some will experience an enduring lack of motivation, or both. The wake-up call may come sideways: Loss of job, decline in performance, feedback from your loved ones who worry for you.

So, what now?

It is time for a reset, a profound, authentic reset, including every stable and moving part in your life. The idea is not necessarily to make big changes. However, some take a giant leap into their new chapter.
The idea is to question and assess with radical honesty your current situation and beliefs, your image of yourself and what you think defines you. It is also an invitation to explore what makes you alive, what you want more of in your life and what you crave. This first step is vastly destabilizing, but extremely rewarding to help you shape your future self.

Resonant choices come next, made possible because you are now deeply connected to your heart and attentive to your inner wisdom. These choices involve that you say NO to beliefs and habits that do not serve you any more, and possibly to a job, or a lifestyle, that served you well but now plays against you. It is also time to say a massive YES to the things that you really care for, relationship, work, personal care, and YES to new avenues of personal and professional development.

Action naturally derives from these choices. Action is inevitable and exciting because it comes from a place of alignment with everything you value most. Fuelled by a renewed energy, you are ready to surprise yourself and others – and live out of your so-called “comfort zone”, which had become obsolete anyway.

You will hear that it is too late anyway to reboot your professional life. Is it?

Let’s say you started working at 28 years old, and you are now 48. Considering that the retirement age is inexorably pushed back in all countries, you may be exactly midway in your career. Don’t wait for the unwanted wake-up call. Take the lead.

A Bold Change of Career: On a Mission to Celebrate All of Life’s Events

Success Stories

Valery Guyot-Sionnest

Valery Guyot-Sionnest had a successful and envied career in the world of luxury, from cosmetics to fashion to hospitality, as a Communications Director for leading groups such as Estée Lauder and Barrière. Today, she reinvents an industry that is as muted as it is essential, the last farewell to loved ones. Meet a remarkable person who embraced a bold change of career and made it her mission to be a precious ally to families when they need it most.

Why such a bold change of career?

I was born an organizer, this is what I do. I’ve taken care of all of life’s events, now I’m taking care of the last one. The decision was both linear and mission-driven. I have been a Communications Director most of my adult life. It’s a job that already existed. As a Funeral Planner, I am breaking new ground. I feel like a warrior and a missionary. This profession is known in the USA and in the Northern Europe countries, whereas it is quite new in France.

What motivated you?

First, I believe that a 50+ years old Director of Communication is irrelevant. Secondly, the human factor has guided me all my life. The last tribute to a person is fundamental. It is a one-time event. There is no possible rehearsal.

I embraced this new change of career with a sense of mission combined with business ambition. I had this idea for a long time. What makes one farewell ceremony different from another? People. Every human being is unique. Every last tribute has to be unique as well.

Most of us are afraid of death. In the Western world, when we lose someone, it is a disaster. I am aware that I am touching on a real taboo. During the pandemic, families could not attend funerals. I, therefore, organized video recordings of funeral ceremonies. It is a very delicate work, which requires two professional cameramen for a high-quality rendering. We have to respond to all situations and sometimes to very specific requests.

Faced with an inanimate being, empathy comes first, a deep concern for the person. It’s also a race against time. My job is to think quickly and take flawless action on very short notice. A wedding planner has six months to prepare. I have three days.
I take care of families of various faiths, sometimes multi-religions. I quickly understand the situation. I work without a safety net. At my age, it suits me well!

How did your change of career go?

I took 240 hours of training on topics including legal, religion, civil ceremonies, police, and cemetery regulations.

While I was taking the course, I kept running my communication agency. There were intense moments. One day I was in charge of a Muslim funeral. The same evening, I was organizing a lingerie catwalk show. It was challenging. In the funeral business, you have to be very flexible. I went looking for the right energy.

My goal was to be acknowledged by the profession. I started by setting up a company with partners, but it did not work, so I had to change the structure of my business. Today, I am backed by Funecap, the 2nd largest funeral group in France. I will continue to develop my partnership with the group, and expand my reach in Europe.

I have an exciting project, to develop a Funeral Planner module within the training academy, to share the concepts and the best practices with a new generation.

I am making a film about the construction of a chapel ordered by a family, in tribute to a loved one. Eighty professionals, representing seven different trades are at work. Again, the human factor is at the heart of this project and I am very proud to contribute.

I also work on more accessible concepts. Many people ask me for a “simple” ceremony. But this notion means something different for everyone. All lives are unique and deserve to be celebrated.

What did you learn about yourself?

I continue to learn from each family. These encounters give me 250% more life energy.

It’s a wonder. Living in service to others gives me a purpose. Should I have done it before? I don’t think so.

I’m not interested in retirement. My partner and I have raised eight children (four each). My professional life is humanly rich, infinite, and magnificent, even though the emotional load is sometimes heavy.

This career change did not change me. It improved me. I experienced my mother’s death with serenity and peace of mind. I am closer to my truth.

In my work, I am very attentive to the well-being of families. I am particularly attuned to children. I find solutions that are both creative and technical. I care for them. This goes through simple things: Did you sleep? Did you eat? I try to restore a daily routine for people who feel lost.

Your advice to those who want to embrace a second act?

When you get close to retirement age, you realize that you still have a lot to do. You have to go for it, and at the same time, adopt the strategy of taking small steps. During a change of career, you need perspective, empathy, and a business mind. In the beginning, I launched myself into a partnership which proved to be a bad experience. It didn’t stop me. I moved on quickly. I have a great energy that pushes me forward.

Career Transitioning, Emotional Intelligence

Are you unhappy at work? Beware of the Sunk Cost Fallacy

Are you unhappy at work? Be aware of the Sunk Cost Fallacy

If you are considering making a big decision, like changing jobs or embracing an entirely new industry or career, you better be aware of your decision-making process. What stands in the way of making educated choices and how can you debunk your own biases?

I had an aha moment when I discovered that what I had experienced myself, and observed in others for many years, had a name. Award-winning journalist David Mc Raney masterfully described the Sunk Cost Fallacy:

Misconception: You make rational decisions based on the future value of objects, investments, and experiences.

Truth: Your decisions are tainted by the emotional investments you accumulate, and the more you invest in something the harder it becomes to abandon it.

Psychologist Daniel Kahneman gave a fascinating insight on the topic. According to him and his colleague Amos Tversky, organisms that placed more urgency on avoiding threats than they did on maximizing opportunities were more likely to pass on their genes. Over time, the prospect of losses has become a more powerful motivator on your behaviour than the promise of gains.

According to Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the “pain of paying” arises whenever you must give up anything you own.

How does the Sunk Cost Fallacy impact your career decisions?

You, and possibly your parents, have invested in your education, giving you opportunities to start a career in an area of your choice. Since then, you have made your way in the corporate world to better jobs, better pay, more empowering positions. Or you may have created your own company, maybe several, and led them to growth. You had your share of successes and failures. The sum of time and effort you have put into your career has created the professional you are now, at this moment of time.

Even though you are not happy with what you experience at work now, the idea of giving up what you have built, year after year, is just unbearable. David Mc Raney gives this example:

“Have you ever gone to see a movie only to realize within 15 minutes or so you are watching one of the worst films ever made, but you sat through it anyway? You didn’t want to waste the money, so you slid back in your chair and suffered.”

Your career is not fiction and your investment is worth more than a movie ticket. But still, why are you staying? Are you paying a tribute to all the pain, time, and effort which resulted in this not-so-fulfilling position where you are now? How do you bypass the Sunk Cost Fallacy?

Awareness starts with small things

In your everyday life, you make dozens of micro-decisions, from what to buy for dinner to how to respond (or stay silent) when you disagree in a meeting. Become an avid observer of your decision-making process. I recently bought a suitcase, however, I was not 100% sure that it was the cabin size I wanted. I came home and realized that it was the wrong size, which hardly surprised me. I had completed the purchase at the end of an afternoon of shopping which was all but enjoyable, for various reasons, including that I did not find the things I wanted to buy. So I wanted to go back home with at least one useful item to justify my unsuccessful shopping afternoon. Our decisions patterns are pretty much the same for every instance of life. Get curious about your own bias.

There is no loss, only transformation

This is not an easy one, rather a big chunk of wisdom that takes a lifetime to digest. How does it relate to your career? Wherever you go, everything you have learned and achieved stays with you. Think of the value you will bring to a new environment, a new team, and a new project. This travels with you and continues to expand as you challenge yourself.

Zoom in: Transferable skills

This is something I invite my clients to explore thoroughly at some point. You think all your skills are described in your CV, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. At this point in your life, you deserve more than doing the things you know you can do. You want to focus on what you shine at, on the things that come to you so naturally and willingly, that you are in a flow and deliver your best work with the greatest impact. For more on this, read my post here.

Zoom out: The big picture

Questions about your next career move can become painfully obsessive, for a good reason. There is much at stake and you want to make educated choices, especially if you have to step beyond your comfort zone and take risks. At that point, I invite my clients to put aside, for a moment the career topic. This can sound counterintuitive, as this is the very reason why they hired me. It takes one session to understand that your real agenda is the life you want, including your health, how much time do you need for your family, for your personal wellbeing, how much money you need to sustain this life, what needs to change to put your project in motion, among others. Read more about the big picture in this article.

Sources
Mc Raney, D. “You Are Not So Smart” Book Depositary Link
Kahneman, D. “Thinking, Fast And Slow Book Depositary Link
Ariely, D. “Predictably Irrational” Book Depositary Link

Bravo Romeo, The Mediterranean and Me

Success Stories

When I talked to Benoit, I was counting on a video conference to make our conversation more lively. Given the limited reception, I had to content myself with a phone call. But this is a call I will never forget. Thinking about it, I can still hear the see’s chop and feel the Mediterranean breeze on my cheeks.

Benoit has been sailing the Mediterranean for 3 months. His trimaran Bravo Romeo (named after his initials) is at anchor, safely nestled in a bay of a small island of the Peloponnese. Which island? He is not sure. He knows he is safe here, alone on his boat, waiting for a weather window to open, so that he can sail about 48 hours the Ionian sea to Athens. From there, Benoit will pursue his route West across the Mediterranean into colder waters of the Atlantic, then up North to his destination Lorient, France. There, he will have some work done on the boat to be ready for the upcoming season.

Since we can’t see each other, I ask Benoit to describe the scene. He is sitting on his deck, facing a beautiful wild cliff. The water is crystal clear. The sunset is ridiculously gorgeous. Earlier today, he fiddled on the boat, read a book, chatted with his family over the phone, checked the weather report, and went for a long swim with his top-of-the-art diving fins. He is trim, tanned, he feels fantastic. He will have crisp fresh fish for dinner. What else? Benoit is not on vacation. He is working actually, or rather, enjoying fully the “why” of an all-but-obvious change of career. Ready to dive in with me?

What did you do before?

I was a leader in the media industry, with an entrepreneur mindset. I was an Executive Director in TV and production groups. I launched more than 12 TV channels. I created 3 companies that I sold. Lately, I was hired by a big media group with a mission to build teams, create content and make units profitable. Then, when I delivered that, new acquisitions happened, again and again. Every time, all the work had to be done again from scratch. In 8 years, I had 5 successive email addresses, without technically changing jobs. I am OK with hard work, I was always fully engaged, and I truly loved being part of these professional adventures. At some point though, it became clear that I was dedicating my life to creating value for shareholders, but I was not actually building anything for myself. When I reached 50 years old, I realized could not do this any longer, even for hefty salaries. I was also aware that, in my age group, it would be difficult to find a new job if I had to. It was brutal, but a salutary wake-up call. I decided to take my destiny in hands.

What triggered the change?

I have been sailing all my life, as a hobby, becoming an instructor at the age of 17, and performing in many competitions. As an amateur skipper, I took family and friends to Corsica, Greece, and other destinations. I thought: “the clock is ticking. Today I can do it, physically and mentally. Make my hobby my work. Earn my autonomy through a job I am passionate about”. I took a year to test the waters, study the market, assess the demand. And to answer questions: Is this what I want to do? Do I enjoy it?

How did it go?

I decided to go full speed and invest.
I got some serious training. I Joined the Royal Yachting Association training at Blue Sailing graduated as a professional skipper.
I bought a boat. I have become a mechanic for maintenance and small repairs. I learn something new every day.
I pay for my professional insurance. I am a company owner in many ways.
Now I feel “in the jaw of launch”. There is no way back.

What did you learn about yourself?

This new adventure put me in a state of fierce challenge, as when I was 30.
At this age, I had a well-paid executive job in the N°1 French media group. The CEO came to my office and asked: Do you want to launch a new TV channel? I said yes, without experience, and before I knew it, I was in charge. At the time I had this fearless confidence, which may have been somewhat carelessness too. Usually, after 50 years old, you are more prudent. You become risk-averse. Instead of that, I am buying a boat. Bam. Now I am experiencing this rage to win again, and it feels good.

What were the hurdles?

I wish I had got more expert advice when I bought my boat. I did not anticipate some problems that I had to fix afterward. If I meet someone in a similar situation, I will offer my competence to help her make educated decisions.
I also find it hard to be away from my family for long periods of time. We communicate a lot, but still, it may be the most difficult aspect of my new life.
And I am uncertain: Will my business be successful in the long term?

Who are you now?

When I sail, my decision takes its full meaning. The wind, the sea spay, setting sail, I knew all of this. But knowing that I am sailing my own boat, which is also my business, I shout for joy, I sing out loud. The reward is proportionate to the effort. I don’t have any regret. I love the adventure. Even though I wish I had done some things differently, like buying my boat, I don’t look back. I adjust my business plan, and I am getting ready during the winter for the beginning of the season in March 2022. I have found again this mindset, which is 100 times better than feeling obsolete and vulnerable in the corporate environment.

Your advice to people who want to change careers?

After a lifetime of challenges, when your career has to shift, you have lost your ability to fight, when you need it most. Nobody is prepared. You must be ready to fail. My choice is to take this risk.
If I fail, it will not harm me.
Because I am grateful for having tried. When I turn 70, I will not say “I could have done it, but I did not”. I am 200% aligned with myself.

Do you want to know more about Benoît Runel? Check his website here.

Career Transitioning: 10 Things I Wish I’d Known Earlier (Part 2)

This is Part II of my previous article about what I have learned, having experienced three career transitions and helped numerous professionals play a successful second act of life. I hope you enjoy the read.

6. The only approval you need is yours

Beautifully expressed by Amanda Gorman, the need for approval is one of the most common hurdles that may stop you in your momentum. The minute you share bold, ambitious dreams for yourself, you will see a number of red flags raised around you. Well-intentioned, loving people in your life will instantly reject the idea that you may get lost in ambitious and risky projects. They want you safe, and the status quo is largely safer than… anything else. Red flags will come from all directions. Colleagues, friends, and family members may sense an unavowable pang of jealousy at your renewed aliveness. Don’t take it personally, don’t be impressed.

7. Big dreams don’t make you a dreamer

The biggest red flag, though, is in yourself. It is cultural. People with dreams are dreamers. Dreamers are no achievers. This idea was drilled in your subconscious at an early stage, and you will find it, sure enough, on your way to a new career. Don’t buy the simplification. Rather engage in honest exploration: What is really important to you? What does your future, the one you crave, look like, taste like? What is your own definition of success, from now on? Does it encompass every aspect of your life? Does it bring value to you and the people around you? What would be the markers of your future success? The more aware you are of what you really want and why, the most enticing your vision is, the better. As the genius dream architect Walt Disney said: “If you can dream it, you can do it”.

8. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity

How many times this week did you hear yourself say “She is so lucky, to get this job” or, about yourself “I was lucky to meet this person”. By default, we tend to attribute good things happening unexpectedly to luck, whatever this word means. Abundant scientific literature shows that lucky people have their own way to attract luck, in doing two things: They put all the chances on their side, and they open their senses 360° to allow happy coincidence to happen. If you want to share a fantastic business idea with a very searched after person, you may want to make sure this idea has value for the person, refine and rehearse your pitch until it is irresistible, get all the intel you can about where this person may be hanging out, and keep in mind that if your idea is truly great, it will find its way to the real world. With or without this person.

9. It is so cool to go back to school

A current cause of stress for career transitioners is the necessity to get extra training. Will you be able to learn as fast as you used to? Is your brain capable of memorizing new knowledge? How awkward will it feel to sit on a school bench at your age? What will your ex-colleagues think? How will you cope with homework, supervision, and exams? Most likely, all of these fears will materialize. Yes, you will feel intellectually rusted. Yes, you will have to deploy your best efforts to catch up. Yes, it will feel awkward sometimes. Yes, some well-intentioned peer will ask what the hell do you expect, getting back to school at your age. And yes, homework sucks. But the reward is invaluable. Your decision to be a student again is a gift you offer to yourself and an investment in your future. The process is fun too. Learning has its own way to pump up your spirit and upgrade your self-image.

10. You will never look back

Maybe the most important thing I which I had known is that there is no way back. More accurately, there is no desire to go back to square one. You are a creature of movement, like all living creatures in this world. The journey towards a fulfilling second act of life is bumpy and interesting. We talked about the inner reward of learning, and learning comes in many different ways. Questioning the status quo makes you more alive. Taking bold moves towards work and life that you love triggers renewed energy. And keep in mind that you might well become a source of inspiration for other people’s own journey into transition.

If you missed part 1 of this article, you can read it here.

Career Transitioning: 10 Things I Wish I’d Known Earlier (Part 1)

Continue reading part 2 of this post

Alexandra Humbel

My mentor suggested that I write a post about the things I wish I had known earlier about career transition. I liked the idea and, based on my personal journey as well as my experience as a coach, I started with a half dozen points aimed at helping professionals get on the fast lane. I ended up with twice as many points, and the kind of long article I, myself, have a hard time digesting. Hence the decision to stick to 10 essential points, dispatched in 2 posts. This is Part I, I hope you enjoy the read. Part II is available here.

10 Things I Wish I Had Known Earlier About Career Transitioning.

1. You are not alone

Studies show that an increasing number of experienced professionals are undertaking a career change, and even more are considering it. Three-fifths of UK workers (60%) intend to make changes to their careers as a result of the Covid outbreak, an increase of seven percentage points since July 2020 (53%).*

So why does it feel weird and lonely? It is because nothing prepared you to handle one or several career changes in your life. Society tends to assign you a role, tied to a life cycle: In your junior years, you prove your competence. As you are getting experienced, you excel in your field. And then, what? You retire. While there is nothing wrong with linear career paths, it does not work for everyone. Probably not for you, if you are reading these lines.

2. Your skills are transferable – All of them

My clients who crave a new career are taken aback by the thought that their expertise might be lost when they change jobs. It is natural to take pride in those skills you have mastered over time. The good news is, you take everything with you on the journey. Those skills will manifest in creative ways, coming in handy to serve your goals while you are expanding in your new project. Interestingly, ancient or dormant skills will show up and prove valuable to handle new situations. Your brain creates new circuits while tapping into resources you did not remember you had. And this is particularly refreshing.

3. It is OK to be lost in transition

Describing career transitions as uncomfortable is an understatement. More accurately: Everything which made you feel grounded in social status is gone. Welcome to unchartered territories, where nobody is waiting for you with your name on a sign. No driver, no limousine. It requires courage to leave the familiar in order to become a new version of yourself. Uncomfortable, scared, and excited all together, highs and lows are in order. But, as Maya Angelou said: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” The butterfly is you.

4. Money and time are no excuses

“I will do a job I really love when I have enough time, or money” (or both).

Does that sound familiar? Of course, these two factors are critical components of a decision, and critical metrics to monitor all along the way. Controlling your time and financial resources through a career transition will be essential to succeed. Be aware that the conservative, risk-averse part of you will always show up with these massive excuses that are the lack of (or the fear of lack of) time and or money. Or both. It is your call to let these fears be the master of you.

5. Nature is in constant change and so are you

“Nothing is absolute, everything changes, everything moves, everything evolves, everything flies and goes away”.

These lines written by the fascinating artist Frida Kahlo can be interpreted as words of regret and melancholy. Or, from another perspective, as the constant evolution of all things that allow rebirth, re-invention, possibilities, relief, reboot, rejuvenation, and creation. When looking back at your career, you may take pride in what you have achieved, and, simultaneously, realize that this pattern is no longer fulfilling you. You can cherish your past achievements and look forward to what you are going to do next. This is not a lack of consistency in your choices. It is about the inherent nature of all of us, to thrive in movement or shrink in stagnation.

*Aviva “How do we live” Report, 2021