Wanting a career change?

Ever thought that you are in the wrong type of career but feel you have invested too much to change it now?

When I had the realisation I didn’t want to continue my career as an software engineer but wanted something very different, I was devastated.

That’s a strong word but I am not exaggerating the strength of the feelings that I felt.

And yet here I am many years later having changed career not once but twice. So what happened and how might what I learned help you if you are considering the same?

Finding work that is more than a ‘job’

In my late 20s, I went through a development experience when in IT that helped me work out who I really was: what my values were;  the difference I wanted to make in the world; identifying my strengths and what gave me energy as well as what drained me.

I don’t remember the detail, but I remember each person had to share from a seat in a circle what they had learned and what it meant .. and I cried as I spoke.

As someone who has always felt more credible with more and more knowledge and qualifications behind them (classic perfectionist, imposter phenomenon clues), I felt that the commitment (and anxiety and stress) that had gone into achieving an engineering degree, despite dropping out of University the first time, would be for nothing.

And yet, the tears were also I think of relief. That I was publicly stating that I wasn’t living my best professional life.

I then took small steps to move towards something more fulfilling… work that would be more than a ‘job’.

Asking for opportunities

I couldn’t afford to stop working, requalify, and get a more aligned job. Instead, I started to talk to people about how to move into HR over time, and, by talking about what I was hoping for, I managed to secure a project that I could head up in IT that would partner with HR to create a global graduate programme for IT, and from there built transferable skills that got me into HR.

With hindsight, I can see that this is the first of many times that I took courage to ask for something to support my career development that made a real difference to the path followed.

Other occasions include:

• Asking if I could base a global role that should have been in Chicago in the UK instead but make it work by travelling to be with the Chicago team for 2 weeks every 2 months. I created a business case showing the relative cost of this versus living locally in Chicago and the recruiting manager approved it – I interviewed for the job and got it.
  
  
• Asking to be a member of a global learning leadership team to represent my organisation (which had been acquired by another) and support cultural integration and being accepted as part of the team
  
  
• Sharing the type of role I would ideally be looking for in a global organisation with key stakeholders at a time when I was managing a restructure that would make my own role redundant and getting an internal consulting role that gave me broad geographical exposure
  
  

Each of these roles took me closer to being more fulfilled and widening my knowledge, experience and skillsets.

Being credible

Now this is an interesting one. The last stage of my career to date, (last 10 years) has been working as an independent coach and consultant. The global internal consulting role in organisational development helped with this.

In addition, I knew by 2012 that I really wanted to spend more time coaching leaders, managers and ambitious professionals. I had some small coaching certiifcations and experience but felt that I didn’t have enough to be credible. Who knows if this is the case but I decided to undertake a part time Masters in Coaching and Mentoring practice.

This was very HARD work – evenings and Sundays while working in a global role. It was also necessary for ME.. to help me believe that I could make it as an independent consultant and be seen as credible. It may not be necessary for everyone.

As a result of all of the above, I am fortunate to enjoy my working life – it fulfils me, and it enables me to deliver against my professional purpose to ‘free others up to lead in their work, careers, and lives’.

So, taking what I have learned, what are 3 actionable tips for you if you were considering a career change?

1. Find work that is more than a ‘job’
   Begin by exploring your values, strengths, and energy sources. Understanding what truly fulfils you will help clarify the kind of work that can be successfully fueled by your ambition. This self-awareness is the foundation for making meaningful, intentional career choices
   
2. Ask for opportunities
   Don’t wait for perfect conditions—start conversations, seek out projects, and ask for roles that build transferable skills, even if their adjacent to your current field. Courageous requests can lead to unexpected openings and help you move gradually towards a more fulfilling career path.
   
3. Feel credible
   Invest in the development—formal or informal—that helps you feel confident and authentic in your new direction. Credibility isn’t just about qualifications or deepening experience, it’s about believing in your own readiness and showing others why they should too.
   

What are you waiting for? You don’t need to take a leap overnight. Small steps, brave asks, and self-belief go a long way. Start where you are. Grow from there.