Navigating early career change: When and how to go about it

Picture this: You just graduated college, started your first your first 9-5, and it feels … not right. Happiness eludes you, professional fulfillment remains elusive, and you can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t your place or your calling. And you know what? That’s fine. It’s perfectly normal to experience doubts about your career, especially early on—and perhaps even more than once. That’s why, in this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know if you’re considering a career change as a young professional, with insights from career pivot coach Erin Lewber.

It’s a career change world

Let’s start with some statistics. Did you know that an average of 52% of American employees seriously consider a career change? In fact, an average American working professional will have 10 jobs by the age of 42, and will have altered the trajectory of their career 5-7 times throughout their whole working life.

In terms of young professionals, the need for changing careers appears even more recurring compared to their older colleagues. Results from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that employees between the ages of 25 and 34 tend to hold an average of 4 jobs, whereas those between 35 and 44 hold 2 to 3 jobs. What’s more, almost 80% of satisfied workers under the age of 20 express a desire for a career change by the time they reach their 30s.

Career change is a common occurrence, no matter where you are in your professional journey. If anything, nowadays it’s almost expected for people to switch jobs and explore different career paths rather than sticking with one company or role for decades.

Generally, there are numerous reasons why young professionals decide to change careers. “But it always boils down to something not working well enough: pay, work-life balance, purpose of the work, location, etc.,” says Lewber. “Individuals changing careers are doing so because they’ve taken a look at their lives and decided something isn’t aligned; something isn’t working anymore. They’re insisting on something better and willing to take action to make it happen.”

And when is a better time to make such a change than when you’re still young and relatively new to the workforce? “If you’re a young professional, this is the time to take chances and bet on yourself. If you can’t shake the call of a particular role or opportunity, go for it,” advises Lewber. Your professional youth is key in discovering what you strive for in terms of your career development, as well as in forming your character and your skillset. “There’s plenty of time to correct if it doesn’t work out.”

Making the decision

Deciding to change careers is not an easy, straightforward process. So how do we discern the genuine need for a career shift from moments of fleeting dissatisfaction or uncertainty?

“Ever heard the saying, ‘the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence’? This is incredibly true for career change,” Lewber shares. Most of the time the grass isn’t greener—it’s just different grass. “Every job out there has pros/cons, good/bad, things you’ll like/things you’ll dislike. That’s why, before changing careers, it’s important to identify what isn’t working and why those things don’t work—then consider the things that are working well in the current role.”

When considering early career transitions, a significant point of the discussion revolves around the choice between either pursuing a passion or opting for a more stable profession. On the other hand, passion can exist in so many forms, also outside of work, Lewber reminds us—be it hobbies, volunteer opportunities, relationships, or interests. Most of the time, your job should mainly complement your life, providing you with the means to pursue these passions.

“When it comes to career change, the best advice I can offer is to separate emotion from fact so the career changer can evaluate the true opportunity related to making a move,” says Lewber. “Even if you’re passionate about a job, there will be good/bad days, things you like/dislike. Pick the job that best enables you to live your best whole-person life.”

Finding your path

To discover the ideal career path for yourself, it’s crucial to blend self-awareness with thorough research. Begin by honestly assessing what aspects of your current job resonate with you and which ones don’t, as well as pinpointing your professional desires and aspirations for your next endeavor.

Following this introspection, dive into research. “There’s never been a time in history where information was more accessible than it is right now,” says Lewber. “Between Google, LinkedIn, [and] ChatGPT, every job seeker has access to people and resources that can help them learn about different career paths and find the right fit.”

You need to be smart and strategic about your career change. It’s not just about what you want to do next, it’s about what you have to do to get there. “My best advice for this part of the process is to take your time, don’t rush, and do good work that builds a solid foundation of confidence and knowledge on which to build the rest of the pivot,” Lewber explains.

Transferring your skills and knowledge

Taking your time to learn relevant skills and nuances about your future field is important. Equally essential when transitioning careers is recognizing transferable skills. “These are the skills that lift and shift to many different roles,” explains Lewber.

“It is almost always easier to transition into a role that favors soft skills—relationship building, personality, energy, competitive nature—over specific technical skills—[the] ability to program in a specific computer language, deep knowledge of certain software or systems,” Lewber continues. If you’re not sure which skills you already possess might be useful for your career change, try using AI tools. “You can write a prompt asking ChatGPT to evaluate a list of skills you’ve written and suggest some roles that could be good for you, and tell you why it suggested them to you.”

If particular hard skills and knowledge are required, you’ll need to give yourself time to acquire them before you start looking for a new role. “Reputable courses and boot camps can be great options for that,” says Lewber. “Remember to always make sure the course or training, or any source of knowledge you use, is reputable before you go for it.”

Don’t forget about networking

Networking is a crucial part of the career change process, as it can help you learn about any potential careers in your field of interest, which could even lead to finding a role through a referral. When you openly share what you’re looking for, you’ll create opportunities for the people you know to connect the dots and help.

“The best way to network while changing careers is to tell the people around you what you’re trying to accomplish,” says Lewber. “Tell your hairdresser that you’re looking for a new job in sales—perhaps they have another client who leads sales teams … You never know who knows someone!”

Similar proactive measures should be adopted when building a new network. For that, Lewber suggests leveraging LinkedIn and actively engaging with relevant individuals on the platform. “Use the search feature to find people who are doing what you’d like to do. Follow them and send a note with your connection request with a clear statement on why you’d like to connect.”

And if you find people who work in your target role and post regular content about it, show up in the comments and make yourself visible. Here’s a template Lewber recommends using:

Hi [name], your posts have been so helpful as I’m working to pivot into [field]. What’s the best piece of advice you’d offer someone trying to break into a [field] role right now? Thank you!

“Simple, specific questions are easy to read AND easy to answer, which increases your odds of a reply,” says Lewber. “And if you get a reply, now you’re in a networking conversation!”

Beware of these challenges

Transitioning to a new career path, even when you have a clear direction in mind, can be daunting and riddled with challenges. Lewber identifies three main pitfalls to be aware of during your career change journey.

1. Lack of focus

“Many career changers know they want something else, but they aren’t sure what it is,” says Lewber. Instead of quitting your job and applying for everything that sounds better than the job you just had, actually spend the time to figure out what you want and come up with a plan on how to get there.

“Hopping on job-hunting sites with only an idea for a new career may _feel _really fun, exciting, and productive, but it generally doesn’t pan out well because there’s no focus or intentional plan, which leaves the job seeker frustrated … and without interviews.”

2. No understanding of the new role

Unfortunately, young professionals thinking about changing careers tend to fall in love with the idea of a new role. They’ll read a few things about it or hear about it from their friends and just want to jump on board. “The problem is, they don’t take time to research the role and understand important things like core capabilities, tools and technologies required, common terminologies, the daily/weekly/monthly/yearly norms of the role, etc,” says Lewber. “As a result, they show up looking unprepared and under-informed, compared to other candidates who have experience.”

This mistake can be avoided in a couple of ways. You can:

• chat to people already performing your dream role,
• have conversations with mentors from LinkedIn,
• enroll in a reputable course or boot camp,
• use AI tools to ask basic questions about the role.

“The good news is that anyone can learn about a role—it just takes some time and effort,” says Lewber.

3. The job market

In the past couple of years, the job market has changed tremendously. “We’ve gone from the candidates’ market to one controlled by layoffs, reductions, or slowed numbers of job postings,” says Lewber. A young career changer should take this new job market reality into account from the very beginning of their career change journey.

For example, job hunters should look at how long an average job search takes from start to finish or what is expected to be proven during the recruitment process in their chosen field. “Managing expectations based on the current job market reality can really help prevent frustration associated with feeling like the pivot should happen faster—and prevent reactive or bad decisions, like taking a job that isn’t right for them.”

Key takeaways: Making a career change early on

Embarking on an early career change is a significant yet increasingly common decision among young professionals. Here are a few critical insights to guide you through this transition:

• Wide prevalence: The urge to switch careers is a frequent phenomenon, with statistics showing a consistent desire among young workers to explore various paths for greater fulfillment and alignment with personal values.
• Self-assessment and research: A successful career change hinges on thorough self-reflection and research. Identifying what aspects of your current role align or clash with your aspirations is essential, as is understanding the new field’s requirements and realities.
• Networking and skill transfer: Building a robust network and effectively communicating your transferable skills are pivotal steps in navigating a career pivot. Leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and recognizing both hard and soft skills that can apply to your new career path are crucial strategies.
• Understanding market dynamics: Acknowledge the current job market’s complexities. Adjusting expectations and preparation according to the market’s state can help mitigate frustrations and lead to more strategic decisions.

By taking a considered and proactive approach, you can navigate the complexities of an early career change and move towards a role that better aligns with your aspirations and values. Good luck!

Photo: Welcome to the Jungle

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