"One reason people resist change is because they focus on what they have to give up, instead of what they have to gain."
~ Rick Godwin
Change can be hard, particularly during an unexpected career transition. You may experience feelings of loss for what you have to give up, fear for the uncertainty of your future, and anger at your change of circumstances.
Sometimes life throws us curveballs, and I have always been a believer that sometimes the universe gives us a little nudge at times to help us on the right path. It’s so easy to be anxious about change, which is natural, but if you don’t take the approach of thinking about how unexpected career change could have a positive impact on your life, you may close yourself off to great opportunities or chance encounters that could come your way.
One of the career development theories which I absolutely resonate with is John Krumboltz's Planned Happenstance Theory. This theory recognises that many unpredictable factors and chance events impact our lives, and an ever changing labour market requires a need to be able to deal with change. If we can learn to approach change and chance encounters with a positive mindset, we are better placed to turn serendipity into opportunities. (https://www.careers.govt.nz/resources/career-practice/career-theory-models/krumboltzs-theory/)
When working through a career transition, it’s also an excellent opportunity to ‘check-in’ with yourself and raise your self-awareness about what you really enjoy (the work that really energises you), the types of environments you love working in, what values are most important to you, and what your preferences are for your next role.
Doing a thorough self-evaluation, having some great job search strategies and tools, and being open to exploring opportunities can really help to set you up for success during what can be a challenging time. Who knows, an event like a chance conversation could provide an opportunity or an idea for career direction that you hadn't considered before, and having the right mindset will allow you to be open to exploring this.
Our career workshops and 1:1 career services provide you with the knowledge and tools to build your career management skills to support you during career transitions.
I would love to help you navigate your career journey.