How to Change Careers by Changing Your Mindset

As professions are impacted by rapidly changing technology and fast-paced business, it stands to reason that our path to job satisfaction is tumultuous at best. According to recent research by InHerSight, 57% of women are seriously considering a career change. 

Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average tenure of the American worker at any one job is just 4.3 years. Not surprisingly, younger professionals are driving that number down, living up to the millennial moniker of “generation why” as they search for greater purpose, self-truth, and companies whose missions align with their own.

There’s never a time in our educational journey when we’re NOT asked about our career aspirations. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question we hear repeatedly throughout our adolescence, and we’re expected to know the answer early on. How can we be sure what our career aspirations are before we’ve had real-life work experience? Before we’ve even fully developed into our adult selves with our own sense of ethics, interests, and life vision?

With the pressure and demand to decide your career path at such a young age, it’s reasonable to reach a realization that your first-chosen profession isn’t right for you. But when your skills and experiences have all been molded by the same type of opportunities, you might wonder where to start.

Know that you’re not stuck. While some people know from kindergarten that they want to be a teacher or a doctor or a firefighter, the overwhelming majority of job seekers are doing just that–seeking. Seeking purpose, passion, and the career that feels right. 

When making a career shift into a different profession, you need to change your way of thinking. Here are four ways to fine-tune your mindset and prepare for the change you’re ready to make.

1. Reprogram your brain to focus on your new space.

When you’ve identified the path that feels most fitting in your career change, dive into the industry and immerse yourself in a new headspace. Find content related to your desired area of expertise, then jump into available opportunities and volunteer positions that allow you to gain experience. Devour all things related to your preferred profession–from articles and blog posts to industry news. And utilize LinkedIn to find and connect with thought leaders you admire. Follow their blogs and social profiles to gain insight that you trust.

Commit to learning about and embracing your desired profession even before you’ve landed a role in the field. When it becomes the focal point of your spare time, you allow your mind to make a purposeful shift as you focus on the goals in front of you.

2. Concentrate on your long-term vision when networking and editing your resume.

When making the a career change, adjust your resume to reflect the experiences that most closely relate to the industry you wish to enter. Don’t lie–ever–but emphasize the skill sets you possess that apply to your desired career change.

Likewise, look for ways to connect with professionals at companies you could seek employment with in the future. Focus on building relationships, finding mentors, and positioning yourself as an eager and engaged professional with a strong desire to learn.

Make every move with your future at the forefront of your focus. Your consistent effort will help your mindset stay tuned-in with your goals.

3. Make sure your language matches your future plans, not your current role.

A big part of adjusting your mindset is adjusting the way you speak about yourself and your work. When you talk about your career, focus on the type of role you hope to grow into instead of your current position or how you feel stuck.

Through positive self-talk, you’ll find yourself encouraged and more apt to take advantage of opportunities you may not otherwise have even noticed. The power in stating intentions out loud is stronger than you think. It leads to growth and development that will perfectly position you to reach your goals.

4. Accept that you’re the only person holding yourself back from change.

This is possibly the most effective effort you can make to remove yourself from your fixed mindset and embrace growth wholeheartedly. Don’t wait for opportunities to arise or the stars to perfectly align. Instead, create opportunities for yourself. Take control and go after what you want–the best experience is gained by doing.

Focus on personal and professional growth on a daily basis. Work hard and push yourself from your self-imposed limits to a mindset that allows you to reach your goals and thrive.

Following through on your career change

If you’re looking to follow through on your career change in a remote setting, check our database of fully remote jobs everyday, with positions that range from customer service and data entry to accounting, design, and much more.

Connect to Fully Remote Jobs Now >

About the Author

Val Matta is the co-owner and leader of business development at CareerShift, a comprehensive job hunting and career management solution for companies, outplacement firms, job seekers, and university career centers. You can connect with her and the CareerShift team on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com

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By Guest Author | Categories: Work Remotely

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