Making A Career Change– Successfully

Jackie Koch is the Founder of People Principles. People Principles offers Fractional Recruiting and People Operations services for high-growth companies. They are experts in scaling teams from 5 to 50 employees. People Principles has become incredibly successful thanks to Jackie’s leadership and her past career experience (which wasn’t always in the HR space). 

In this blog, I’m going to talk about how to make a career change–successfully. 

When it comes to changing your career, there are a few key things to remember. 

First and foremost, don't let other people's opinions affect your decision-making process. Everyone has an opinion on what you should do with your life and career, but at the end of the day, their opinions aren't as important as yours. It's up to you to make the decisions that will shape your future. 

Jackie says she is wired to not care what people think. Although Jackie wants to be perceived as a hard worker and a nice person, she doesn’t get caught up in what other people are thinking about her actions. If she wants to try something (like starting a business) and fails, so what! 

As an aspiring career changer, don't let other people's opinions stop you from reaching for what makes you happy. Sure, it's important to receive constructive feedback and take advice into consideration - but ultimately the decision is up to you. Don't allow yourself to become weighed down by others' opinions or fears - if this career change is something that truly makes sense for your future then go after it.

Second, take time to research what other career options are available for you. Don't rush into anything without taking a step back and looking around at all of your options first. Think about what kind of job or field would best suit your skillset and interests. Consider your 5-9 passions outside of your 9-5, would you want to turn any of those passions into a career? You should also consider how much money you could potentially make in a new role, and figure out if the career shift will be worth it in the long run.

In our podcast episode together, Jackie shared her thought process while changing careers. She wanted to transition into a role that was fulfilling and used her skills. Although she was very passionate about fitness, she knew that working in that industry full-time wouldn’t leave her fulfilled. Ultimately, she decided that HR and scaling businesses was a skill from her past work experience that she could capitalize on. 

If you decide that it's best for you to start a new career, researching the industry you are interested in is essential. Can you reach your career goals in this industry? What are the industry trends? You may find it helpful to attend an industry event to get a sense of what the future may look like. 

Throughout the career change process, be sure to stay organized and focused on your goals. While you may experience moments of doubt or uncertainty, remember why you are making this change in the first place – chances are it’s because you want a career that is more fulfilling and brings out the best in you. Be open to learning new skills and embrace any challenges that come with transitioning into an unfamiliar career path. 

Third, take some risks. As an entrepreneur or career changer, you'll have to step outside of your comfort zone on a regular basis. This means not being afraid to try something new or make mistakes along the way. 

There will always be roadblocks when it comes to making a career change. The sooner you identify them, the sooner you can create a plan to overcome them. For example, what are your specific fears about making a career change? Are there any distractions that you need to minimize? Are there practical realities that you need to factor into your plans, such as paying for a mortgage or a child? Write down all of your roadblocks so that you can see them and analyze them. Create a reasonable plan of action for each one.

Successful career changers have found success by taking risks and staying motivated throughout their journey–even through the roadblocks. As an entrepreneur, use your determination and creativity to get ahead; no matter what career field you enter, there will always be people who doubt your ability to succeed or situations that make it feel impossible to achieve your goals. Don’t let this stop you from making the move. 

Finally, remember to stay positive and be patient with yourself. Changing careers is not easy and it takes time to adjust to a new career path. Stay focused on achieving your career goals and don't get discouraged by any setbacks you might encounter along the way. Celebrate your successes and learn from your mistakes.

Making a career change can be stressful, so don’t let it take over your life! Make sure you schedule time to spend with your family and friends doing something fun. Or make sure that you have time for your favorite hobby or something else that you enjoy. This will help you feel refreshed to go back to the career change process without getting burned out.

Don't look back in six months and wonder where the time went. 

The career path of an entrepreneur can be full of surprises and challenges, but it's also extremely rewarding. If you keep these top lessons in mind, you'll be well-equipped to transition into a career that brings satisfaction, joy, and personal growth.  

Women business founders are an inspiring group of career changers who have persevered despite the odds. They offer some of the best career change lessons that we can learn from: focus on building meaningful relationships, keep learning new skills, and remain positive even when things get difficult. These top lessons learned can help anyone looking to make a career change successfully.

It’s also important to remember that changing career paths is a process; it won’t happen overnight but by taking small steps each day, you will eventually achieve success. Career changes are an exciting journey and you should relax, take your time to learn new skills, and don’t forget to enjoy the process. Be open to advice but trust your instincts and make sure you always have a plan. Don't be afraid of standing out from the crowd. You have unique strengths and qualities that will set you apart from other entrepreneurs – use them to your advantage! The sky is the limit when it comes to career paths, so make sure to reach for the stars and never settle for less than what you deserve. 

Take these career transition lessons learned from a top business founder as a reminder that success in career transition is achievable if you stay focused and trust yourself. Tune into the Jackie Serviss Show for my episode with Jackie!