5 Steps to Figuring Out Your Next Career Move
My husband knew from the time he was a teen that he wanted to be a dentist. I, on the other hand, bumbled around in my young adulthood between pursuing acting, art therapy, and FBI profiling — to this day, no one can quell my love of Dateline — before finally landing in dentistry. If I’m being honest, I only landed there because I “ran out of time” to decide what my next move would be after college. Dentistry seemed logical. Practical. I had the grades for it. My parents were both in healthcare. I was dating a dental student, and I was working in the admissions office of the dental school at the time. All arrows seemed to point in that direction. Maybe you have a similar story.
Cut to twenty years later: I practice orthodontics, but only as a “side gig” to support my growing coaching practice. My husband and I joke to our kids that sometimes you know what you want to do really early in life, and other times, you take a lifetime to figure it out. Neither is right or wrong, but always being honest with yourself about whether you’re actually happy doing what you’re doing is imperative.
You’ve probably heard that the average person in the U.S. changes careers 5-7 times during their working years, though truth be told, there’s really no significant statistical data to support that number. A 2021 poll , however, did find that the majority (52%) of U.S. workers were considering a job change in the coming year, and up to 44% had concrete plans in place to make it happen. More than that, the desire for change wasn’t confined to low and middle-income workers. Even close to half of higher-ups and six-figure earners were planning a career shift.
Whatever the reason, suffice it to say that you aren’t alone if you’re feeling the urge to pursue a different career path, either within or outside your current field. But feeling the desire to make that change and knowing what that change will be are two very different things. How do you bridge the gap and decide what path is right for you?
Here are 5 steps to deciding your next career move
Cut out the noise.
To hear yourself, you have to get quiet. Take everyone and everything else out of the equation as it pertains to your career path decision. For now, don’t think about finances or your level of education or what you or anyone else expects of you. Instead, pretend that none of that matters. There are no “shoulds” or “shouldn’ts.” No “can’t’s.” This step transcends any and all practicality, instead connecting you to something deep inside that’s been tugging at you. This “something” is the reason you’re even aware you’ve been wanting a change in the first place. So keep getting quieter and listen to it. It has a lot more to tell you. Idealists might call this step of the process “dreaming,” but if that sounds too fluffy, then just think of it as gaining clarity on what you actually want if anything were possible.
Loosen your grip on what you’re really good at.
Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s going to be fulfilling for you. I’m great at doing dishes, but I get zero enjoyment from doing them. Some people hold so tightly to one trusty skill set that they miss out on the opportunity to explore avenues that could be far more rewarding for them. Be willing to be bad, learn, and grow at something you actually enjoy. Trust that you have the ability and tenacity to reprogram your brain in service of work that has more meaning to you. Neuroplasticity isn’t a myth! With time, you’ll get really good at something new and be better off for it.
The Twenty minute brainstorm.
Now that you’ve given yourself permission to dream (okay: to gain clarity on what you really want) and you’ve opened up possibilities beyond what you’re already good at, it’s time to put pen to paper. Never underestimate the power of a good brainstorm. The rules in this case are: 1) For 20 minutes, write down any career path/avenue that sparks interest in you. That’s it. Sounds easy, right? Okay, maybe not at first, and that’s okay. If you need help remembering what it feels like to have a spark of interest, think back to childhood: What were things you always loved to do growing up? Or even now, what do you find yourself talking often and effortlessly about with friends ? What hobbies do you have that could inform your career or become a career themselves? What shows do you watch or podcasts do you listen to? Anything that holds your attention has a hint of spark in it for you. Be creative and leave nothing off the table.
Research.
Now you’ve got a list of some enticing stuff. Here’s where you start to incorporate the bigger picture and the logistics. From your list, pick one or two avenues that speak to you the most. Ask yourself what would be involved in making that a reality for you. (Do your best to keep any fears that might pop up in the backseat of this ride.) Is there additional education/training needed? Would you continue to work in your current situation for a certain period of time, and if so, until when (i.e. a particular benchmark or period of time?) Are there others in a situation similar to you who are wanting to take this kind of leap? How does your spouse or family factor into this new path? What other logistical considerations need to be made, trusting that you have the ability to be creative in your line of thinking and problem-solving?
Create space to pursue.
By this point, the dream has become and idea, which has become a very real possibility. Congratulations! The only thing left to do is to pursue your new path. Of course, in order to do that, you’ll need to be intentional and set goals (ideally specific and time-bound). This is where you map out your course, creating in your routine some time and space to achieve those goals. Maybe it’s as little as a couple of hours every Sunday or as much as an hour a day. Whatever it is, you’ll want to make sure it’s sustainable for you over a period of time so that you don’t burn yourself out. (P.S. a classic form of self-sabotage is going 100 mph toward your goal using everything you’ve got — pretty much a guarantee you won’t make it all the way there.) Career transitions don’t have to happen overnight, and often they don’t. The key is that you’re paying attention to what you want and being strategic about how to get there in time.
If you’re considering a shift in your career and need help with any of the steps above, coaching can be of great value. I’d love to chat more with you about it! Feel free to connect for a free consultation HERE.
