We feel it in our gut when it’s time to make a career change. We often know what we don’t like or what’s not working, but at the same time don’t know what to work towards. It’s an inner tension – do I stay or do I go? And, where am I even headed?
In these instances, we need a career transition vision that inspires us to move toward something new. This supports us in letting go of the comfort or familiarity of how things are today. In plain terms, it makes the change feel less scary.
What’s the difference between career change and transition?
While these two concepts are closely related, they are also distinctly different. It’s helpful to consider how these are different as it relates to our careers.
Think of a change as an event, often occurring outside of us as individuals and often occurs relatively quickly. A change is defined by its outcome – “what” has changed. In the context of our careers that may be submitting our resignation, creating an LLC, applying to a graduate program, or buying a campervan to explore the world.
Alternatively, think of transition as a person’s response to a change. It’s the internal process we go through as we prepare for, move through and adapt to the change. Transitions often occur over a much longer timeline. In the context of our careers that may include feeling a sense of loss when we prepare our resignation, imposter syndrome as we think about being successful in our new career, and making lifestyle changes to adapt to a new financial situation.
For most people, it is the transition associated with the career change and not the change itself that presents the biggest challenges.
What is a career transition vision?
Before jumping into why creating a career transition vision matters, let’s address what a vision is. I often use travel and outdoors analogies, so think of a vision as the destination. It’s not how you’re going to get there or even why you’re going to this destination. Instead a vision addresses questions like:
- What will it look, feel, sound, and be like at the destination?
- What are some ways in which you will know you arrived at your destination?
It’s ok if your career transition vision isn’t crystal clear at the start. Think of the transition process as cyclical. It will become more clear with time, like a camera moving into focus.
4 Reasons to Create a Career Transition Vision
It can be so tempting to jump right into creating a career transition plan, but here are X reasons to pause and create a career transition vision for yourself.
1 | Helps to solidify how your current career situation is no longer working for you.
According to Bridges Transition Model, the first step is to acknowledge that every new beginning starts with an ending. Creating a career transition vision allows us to take stock of what is ending or being left behind and what we want to carry forward. This can include relationships, elements of workplace culture, work-life balance, job duties or responsibilities and even locations.
2 | Serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration to move towards.
Have you ever saved a photo of a dream destination, home, or something else that you want in your life in the future? That image, mental or physical, serves as a reminder and inspiration of what you are working towards.
Similarly, a career transition vision is what inspires us to stay the course because we can see what’s on the other side and it’s SO good. As it becomes more clear over time, the vision draws us closer and motivates us to take action.
3 | It’s difficult to create a map if you don’t know where you’re going.
Remember how I said a vision is the destination? Well, you can’t create a map to reach that destination if you don’t know where you’re going.
Picture putting your career transition vision into Google Maps as your destination and hitting the “directions” button. This creates a bunch of different paths to get from where you are right now to your destination.
4| Becomes a filter as you consider options for what’s next in your career.
Your career transition vision becomes one of the filters for all of the possibilities you consider. If a particular path doesn’t lead you to the destination you’ve defined in your vision, then it’s likely not the right path and you can move on to the next option.
This makes the career transition process more grounded and efficient because you have a measuring gauge of the different possibilities ahead of you.
Are you ready to create your career transition vision?
Have I convinced you to create a career transition vision? If so, stay tuned for my “how to” guide on how to create one.
Take action: Consider what your own experiences are with change and transition. How do you typically respond to changes? What has been most supportive for you when you are going through a transition? How has creating a vision worked well for you in the past?
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