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Today I’m changing careers.
What started out as a decision to major in Accounting (mostly due to the perceived ease of finding work after University), turned into a seven-year realization that 1) Corporate America sucks, 2) money and security don’t equate to meaning, and 3) fiddling with numbers on a computer all day doesn’t appeal to me.
Sometimes it’s frustrating that lessons can take so long to learn. Shouldn’t I have known that Corporate America’s doctrine is a pile of garbage? Isn’t it obvious that money and security don’t lead to a meaningful life on their own? Shouldn’t I have known better and paid attention to the nagging voice in my head telling me that I didn’t enjoy what I was doing? Despite my own ignorance, it’s so easy to get caught in the flow of everyone else around us: family expectations, social norms, the dreams of someone other than ourselves. I’m confident this change in career will bring its own lessons and challenges, but it feels incredible to take hold of a passion and let it blossom rather than fade.
Although I’m sure your story doesn’t match up one-to-one with mine, if you can relate to the sense of being stuck in a job, I’d love to share a few key lessons I’ve learned when it comes to switching industries:
1. Shift Your Mindset
In Michael Hyatt’s Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals, he uses the concept of Limiting Beliefs vs. Liberating Truths. Often, when we’re looking to make a lifestyle or career change, our biggest barrier lies in our thoughts. It’s incredibly easy to have limiting beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world around us. Let me share a few I had:
- “Changing careers is too hard.”
- “No one in the brewing industry will want to hire you.”
- “I’ll be letting my family down if I choose this path.”
It wasn’t until I seriously looked at my limiting beliefs that I could parse out my fears and focus on the liberating truths:
- “With dedication, I can work toward a career that excites and motivates me.”
- “I’m confident in my ability to interview well, and my love for the craft will show.”
- “I need to choose the path that is right for me, and my family can choose for themselves whether they’ll support me or not.”
2. Dream Big
After university, I was offered a job at an accounting firm. Three years in I knew that working in finance wasn’t for me, but instead of dreaming of what I could do, I chose to search for another job in the same industry – hoping that a small change would do the trick. That option was safe and easy. Unsurprisingly, a year after obtaining that new job, I was having the same feelings of dread, lack of meaning, and exhaustion. Only once I was willing to consider my “dream job” a possibility, was I able to take action to pursue that career.
Whether you’re a real estate agent wanting to be a plumber or a financial adviser dreaming to be a cook, don’t be afraid to tap into what excites you. It will likely take time and effort to make your dream a reality, but action in pursuit of that goal is always going to be better than allowing yourself to be stuck in a job you find to be lifeless.
3. Test the Waters
I had two main fears related to changing my career. First, I was afraid of losing my security. Shifting from being a state auditor to a brewer would likely entail a pay cut and loss of benefits. Second, I was afraid of changing my career, only to find out it still didn’t feel right. That’s why I decided to test the waters.
Instead of quitting my job right away and haphazardly sending resumes to every brewery I knew, I started homebrewing. From there, as I grew to love the craft more, I started moonlighting as a beertender to see if I enjoyed the culture surrounding the beverage just as much. This wasn’t a quick process by any means, but it allowed me to build confidence, experience, and connections which were crucial for my transition.
4. Make Connections
As intimidating as ‘networking’ can sound, it’s not only easy to do – it’s one of the most crucial aspects of changing careers. Even if you have the necessary experience, passion, and credentials, you might find it difficult to wedge your way into a new industry without connections. The biggest challenge I faced when looking to become a brewer was that most jobs required experience, but I couldn’t get that experience because I needed experience.
It was only when I took the step to start beertending that I was able to make connections with brewers in the area. It was through frequenting those establishments and expressing my interest in the industry that I eventually was given a chance as an apprentice.
Making connections isn’t about schmoozing potential employers – it’s about becoming familiar with your target industry, learning from individuals you look up to, and creating a network of people who know you and could possibly impact your employment in the future.
5. Pull the Trigger
At this point we’ve shifted our mindset, dreamed big, tested the waters, and made connections – now it’s time to take the leap of faith. What’s deceptively difficult about this step is that it can feel like the point of no return (even if it’s not). Every fear you’ve had about changing careers will be knocking on your door before you send in your two-weeks notice. Here are some fears I experienced:
- What will happen if this doesn’t work out?
- What if I don’t enjoy doing this full-time?
- What if I suck at my job?
- What if my wife and I can’t live on this reduced salary?
It’s like a tidal wave of self-doubt washed over me, and it was a moment of truth when I decided to send my resignation letter. To be completely honest those fears are still lingering in my brain, but I’m confident that my past career wasn’t for me, and I know this new journey will be full of learning, excitement, and change.
Maybe the only thing holding you back is taking the plunge. If that’s the case, dig into the fears behind your hesitation, and see them for what they really are.
I wish you all the luck in your transition!