How to Overcome Career Transition Guilt

I had coffee with someone who wondered how I could be so productive and positive after such an exhausting experience. They’ve been out of work two months before me; I understood the weariness in her typically youthful face and the sadness of her voice. I explained this is the second time in 27 years being part of a management misalignment, re-org/layoff. I remember so vividly the shock and paralysis in 2008. No one says it’s normal to feel like you’re in a haze, you’re angry, you’re hurt. It’s grief and that is normal. I gave her 4 steps that I took to recover and these 4 steps became muscle memory everytime I transitioned from one place to another thereafter. The same 4 steps will save you emotional pain when you know your compass, aka your core values, are being tested or misaligned. - first, start with your why. Why do you work? Why did you want to work there? Why this job? Why this career? - second, what. What did you bring to the team? What did they give you/or what did you learn? What would you do again? What would you do without? What are your non-negotiables? - third, assess. Spend one week assessing if you are up to speed with the market, latest trends in industry, familiar with the newest tools. Go toe to toe with the job descriptions and evaluate yourself. Then get acquainted with the stuff that is missing. Webinars, free conferences, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera + certifications. As you are applying + interviewing, keep learning and apply what you are learning to the conversations. Building your own plane and flying it at the same time; businesses do it all the time! - fourth, create your compass. What motivates you to get up and work? And what do you need to see/feel/hear to be excited about aligning your personal brand with theirs? How will you know if what they say rings true for you? What kind of environment do you need to thrive in? Then use these answers to sort through the jobs, use these answers to reframe your resume, use these answers to refine your networking skills and use these answers to interview opportunities for your career prospects. Use these answers to dissuade your negative thoughts and the people around you who might not understand your compass.

As a producer of educational software in Silicon Valley in my early 20s, I started to realize my passion was more in the purpose and the educational side of the work and less about the project management and development of technology itself. I moved into a technology integration role in a school as a transition role and then earned a degree as a school counselor and moved from there into career coaching. It was a total shift but I made it happen over a number of small steps. Leaving a long-held job can bring up a lot of emotions. Transitioning to entrepreneurship or a new role adds complexity. Here’s what’s (probably) going to come up for you as you navigate this change: 1️⃣ Ruminating and Second-Guessing: Experiment with small steps towards your desired path. 2️⃣ Feeling Guilty: Recognize natural emotions but focus on new opportunities. 3️⃣ Fear of Losing Status: Embrace shedding old identities for growth. 4️⃣ Needing to Adapt: Be prepared to embrace change in different environments. 5️⃣ Managing Perceptions: Demonstrate eagerness to learn and evolve. 6️⃣ Balancing Emotions: Embrace excitement and fear as fuel for growth. Remember, a career transition is about both emotional and professional evolution. Aim for a balance of terror and exhilaration for a bold leap forward! Read more at HBR: https://lnkd.in/eaPq2XSp

I was recently featured as a guest on the Career Switch Podcast hosted by the amazing Lixandra Urresta.   In this episode, we delved into the unique challenges faced by people of color and first-generation professionals when making career transitions.    As an Asian Latina and first-generation professional myself, I had the opportunity to discuss how our family's cultural influences, particularly the scarcity mindset, can impact our career choices.   We explored the power of networking, the importance of building a supportive community, and ways to overcome common fears associated with career changes.   We also tackled the issue of guilt, a prevalent feeling that often hinders individuals from pursuing their desired career paths.    Throughout the episode, I shared practical tips, including Highlight Reel and Words of Empowerment exercises, to combat self-doubt and release the "survival mode" mentality.   If you're curious about navigating career transitions, dealing with guilt, and building a community of support, I invite you to listen! Enjoy! #careerpiovts #community #networking