At 47 I was made redundant – it was a shock and not something I wanted. My purpose had gone, and my confidence was badly shaken. I grieved for the team, the business, and for me. I was lost.
When people asked, “What are you going to do next?” and I couldn’t answer them, I felt like a complete failure. I truly hated not being able to answer that question. Being offered a job two months later was such a relief. I felt useful, wanted and valuable again.
But it wasn’t that simple. A month into the new job, I realised I had made a huge mistake. I had lurched into the job to feel better, but I was unhappier than ever.
- In my first team meeting, I had to tell my team their roles were being made redundant.
- The culture was hierarchical and competitive, but I have a values of equity and respect for all.
- I’d been seduced a ‘sexy, high profile brand’, only to realise that I wasn’t as excited by their products as others seemed to be.
Five months later I left. Instead of rushing into yet another big job, I finally created enough space to discover, explore and experiment. I set about building a portfolio of work that met my needs at that time. In the end, it kick started the next chapter of my life, but at the time it was very painful.
Changing work paths can revitalize your career, increase your earning potential and help you secure the dream job you’ve been chasing. If not done carefully, however, a drastic job change can sabotage your career.
Amanda C. Haury
Five common career-changing mistakes. Do any resonate for you?
Planned happenstance – deliberately planning to respond to, and make the most of, unexpected opportunities.
Professor John Krumboltz of Stanford University
- Too rigid or indecisive career designing. Career designing is a more modern, creative and flexible approach to career development. It involves envisioning multiple potential career directions, factoring in various life and work scenarios, making the most of unexpected opportunities. Being too rigid can mean you miss opportunities and too loose / indecisive can mean you lack direction and sleepwalk into your future – rarely a wise strategy.
- Changing direction without doing your homework. Another mistake that can cost you (like me) is changing jobs or career direction without doing sufficient research. Whilst the position may sound interesting and lucrative, it is vital to do you due diligence – ideally with a variety of sources that you trust and will be candid with you. If I’d asked a direct question like “is there anything I really need to know before I take this job” I may have avoided my mistake.
- Making a career change out of desperation. Dissatisfaction with your current role / career can grow gradually or be triggered by an event – like redundancy or harassment. We all know the importance of not making rash choices in the midst of stressful circumstances, yet many of us still do. You may have to make a quick decision, but pausing and talking things through with a non-biased, challenging supporter (like a coach) could make all the difference.
- Following the money. Although money is the main reason most people work, it should not always be the deciding factor when changing careers. Changing careers based upon money alone may be a decision you later regret if you do not do the necessary research to justify the career switch. Many successful people found success by following their passions, and they did this by aligning their work with their preferences. You will want to ensure that the type of work you will be doing and the amount of work you will have to put in will be worth the pay increase.
- Selling yourself short. You’ve gathered a host of skills and experiences, boosting your resume / CV along the way. Most (if not all) skills are transferable so make sure you have an up to date picture of what they are. Even if you are moving into a new discipline, a lateral career move may be an option – giving you credit for your breadth of experience, allowing you to maintain your salary, while learning a new trade. Remember, no candidate will have all the skills and experiences needed otherwise they wouldn’t be interested in the job, so you are no different.
In a study, 89% of people said they would consider making a lateral career move with no financial incentive. The most common reasons were to find greater personal satisfaction (57%), to pursue a new career path (41%), and to take up a professional challenge (40%).
HBR (2016)
I talk to a lot of people about careers and almost everyone can tell you about a career mistake. The trick, as always, is to learn from the experience and apply that learning into new and different experiences.
Further reading
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/5-career-changing-mistakes-flna1C7574788
https://hbr.org/2016/05/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-lateral-career-moves-for-professional-growth
Walker, L (2020) Dancing with fear and confidence: How to liberate yourself and your career in midlife
Fulfilling work 