Lessons from a Career Changer (Part II)

I’ve always loved interviewing career changers with a great story to tell: of how they took some sizable risks, brought a growth mindset, and adapted in the midst of unique and often challenging circumstances.

The musician with a PhD in composition, who brought their mathematical, design-focused mindset to user experience. The subject matter expert who knew they would excel at sales in their field - even though they weren't a "salesperson." The business owner who failed at their startup, then took the lessons learned back to a corporate position.

What do all of these people have in common? That brings me to my next lesson learned as a career changer...

Bet on yourself

When I was hired on at a staffing agency with zero experience in recruiting, I was seriously afraid of failing. And in a commission-based role where failure meant not making money, the stakes were high. But I knew I had determination, strong client management skills, and deep knowledge of the fields and roles I was recruiting for - after all, I had worked alongside many of them in previous jobs. I kept at it day after day, week after week, month after month. And over time, I made my own success.

Betting on ourselves isn't about having blind optimism. It's the essential work of knowing who we are - and just as importantly, believing in what we're capable of - then building confidence by putting our skills to work. Even when it seems others aren't willing to take a risk on us, we can continuously find a way forward by placing personal bets in new spaces.