In 1977, a discovery revolutionized cancer research: Harold Varmus brought to light the first oncogene. However, his path to medicine wasn’t linear. Varmus graduated in English Literature and even served as editor of the Amherst college newspaper. Later, Harvard Medical School rejected him twice, and when he finally got in, he became more interested in Psychiatry. However, his clinical experiences led him toward Microbiology, where he won the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Career change can be a bit daunting. It doesn’t matter if you’re 19 and considering dropping out of the studies you started a couple of semesters ago or if you’ve been working for a decade and want to enter a different profession. The feeling is the same: fear, doubt, a little voice telling you, “What if I’m making a mistake?”
Even taking a step further in the same field can be challenging, no matter how similar the professions are. Even in PA to MD bridge programs, where experience and prior knowledge count, you have to adapt to new responsibilities and expectations, for example. In any case, if you’re at that crossroads, take a deep breath. You’re not alone. Career change is a challenge, but the important thing is to decide calmly and confidently.
How to change careers confidently?
Above all, remember that you are not your past. Ideas like “If I’ve already invested three years in this, how can I quit?” or “How can I start over in my thirties?” are mental obstacles we often put ourselves in. In psychology, these are known as sunk costs, and they’re a bias that pushes you to persevere just because you’ve already invested time or money, even if you know it’s not what you want.
Instead of thinking you’ve wasted years, tell yourself, “These years have taught me what I want and what I don’t want.” You’ll see how the picture you were playing in your mind changes. This more open attitude will help you determine if you really want to change careers or if it’s the best thing for you.
1. Clarify your motives: Do you know where you’re going or are you just running away?
If something is nagging at you inside every time you think about your future, don’t ignore it. Discomfort, the feeling of not fitting in or not being where you want to be are unpleasant, but they could be telling you that you need to try something different in your life.
But be careful, it’s important not to confuse discomfort with escape. Changing careers because “this is too difficult” or “I’m not as good as the others” could lead you to repeat those same patterns in the next studies you choose, putting you back where you started.
It’s also important not to interpret fatigue as a Failure. You may feel like you’re in the wrong career or profession, but it could be due to burnout. A tired brain sees everything in a gray area, exaggerates mistakes, and minimizes progress. Do you want to continue growing professionally? Are you passionate about another profession? Have you discovered you’re good in another sector? If so, go for it. But don’t make a decision until you figure out what moves you.
2. Visualize your day-to-day life, not your LinkedIn title
Dreaming of being a great doctor or a renowned architect sounds nice. But… what is the actual day-to-day life of that profession like? We often idealize change without paying attention to the fine print. We focus so much on the positive aspects that we forget the negatives. We have some concrete ideas, but others are vague and fall more into the realm of fantasy than reality. So, before jumping into another degree or enrolling in a master’s degree, do your research.
It’s better to talk to professionals in the industry because they have a pulse on what’s happening, are subject to routine demands, and can reveal all those problems that never appear in TV shows or movies. Pay attention to how they work, what tasks they perform, and what challenges they face. Ask yourself: Do I see myself there? Does my energy match that pace? Do I have the right personality? Having a more realistic vision will prevent you from making decisions based on fantasies.
A study conducted at Sacramento State University found that imagining yourself in future scenarios can be very helpful. Therefore, visualize a typical work day in the profession you’re interested in and compare it with what you really enjoy doing. Then try to imagine how you would feel in three, six months, or a year if you took that path. Paying attention to how your body reacts and the emotions that overwhelm you will give you greater clarity and confidence to make your decision.
3. Seek support from others outside your inner circle
“Alone we can do very little; together we can do much,” said Helen Keller. Career change is an important decision because what you do—or will do—is strongly anchored in your identity, so it’s also a way to redefine and reinvent yourself. It has been shown that having the emotional support of those closest to you makes this transition easier, but it can also backfire.
Sometimes, when you want to make big career changes, friends, family, and those closest to you can discourage you rather than encourage you, simply because they have a hard time imagining you any other way or are afraid of what that change might mean for you. Basically, they’ve developed a fixed vision of who you are, which could make it difficult for you to explore new professional paths.
In fact, this protective tendency is combined with another limitation: they probably don’t have many different ideas to offer you because they’ve anchored your identity to those studies or professions. In these cases, it’s essential to expand your network. Talk to people who have changed careers, former mentors, or friends who will listen without judgment.
It’s not about being told what to do, but rather thinking out loud with someone other than your inner critic. Dialogue opens up paths you sometimes can’t see on your own. You can also talk to a career counselor or psychologist who can help you clarify your ideas or even plan every step of the way, as you shouldn’t neglect all the “logistics” involved in career changes.
Finally, remember that changing careers is a process of exploring possibilities and learning about what you really want to do and who you want to become. Sometimes we choose a career because it seemed the most logical, safest, or “the right thing to do,” and then we discover we don’t like it, we don’t have a calling, or we’re not cut out for it. That’s okay. Life isn’t linear. The important thing is that you are able to readjust your path to get closer to what you’re most passionate about and what motivates you. At the end of the day, a degree is only a few years long, but a profession is something you carry with you for life.
References:
Marshall, R. C. & Farrell, I. C. (2019) Career Guided Imagery: A Narrative Approach for Emerging Adults. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health; 14(2): 193–204.
Phillips, S. D. et. Al. (2001) Making Career Decisions in a Relational Context. The Counseling Psychologist; 29(2): 193-214.
Ibarra, H. (2003) Working identity: Unconventional strategies for reinventing your career. Harvard Business Press: Boston.
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