What is it : Careers
We all get career advice, particularly in times of change. Do nothing and keep your head down or follow your passion might summarise the spectrum. Unfortunately neither may be the best advice and, even more likely, may not be the best advice for you. So what do you do?
Common Signs : Careers
If the scary news is that change is constant then the good news is that now is the perfect time to reframe how you see change as an opportunity.
It is sometimes easier said than done and as with other issues that impact our emotional and mental well-being, career choices are usually accompanied by stress and anxiety. You might recognise some of these:
- Stress: feeling stressed about what the next step and trapped in an uninspiring position
- Fear: Concerns about the unknown, including uncertainty about job security, financial stability, and potential failure
- Anxiety: Worries about the process of finding a career path or a new job, adjusting to new responsibilities, and making a successful transition
- Confusion: Difficulty in making a decision, due to a lack of clarity about personal goals, skills, and values
- Doubt: Second-guessing our abilities and questioning whether a career path or if a change is the right decision
- Physical: fatigue, sleep problems, lack of energy or motivation, physical symptoms of stress
- Relationships: difficulty connecting with others, feeling lonely or disconnected, struggling to share worries as others seem to have their options under control
Tackling it : Careers
Making a career change can be a challenging and emotional process. There are several strategies that can support you to overcome these barriers. That’s where we can help. Here are some that we have found deliver meaningful benefit:
- Emotional regulation: Therapy can help individuals understand and manage their emotions, such as anxiety, fear, and self-doubt, that may be preventing them from making career choices or a career change
- Self-discovery: Therapy and coaching can help identify strengths, values, and interests, and how these can be applied in a new career
- Goal setting: Therapy and coaching can assist in setting realistic and attainable career goals, and help develop a plan to achieve these goals
- Mindset shift: Both therapy and coaching can help individuals shift limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns that may be holding you back, such as the belief that certain career paths are seen in a particular way, it’s too late to change careers or that you are not qualified for a certain job
- Action planning: Therapy and coaching can help individuals create a concrete action plan, including steps they can take to achieve their career goals and overcome any obstacles
- Resilience building: Both therapy and coaching can help individuals develop resilience and coping skills to handle the stress and uncertainty that can come with making a career change.
Therapy or coaching can help individuals gain clarity and confidence in their career choices, and provide them with the tools and support they need to make a successful transition.