Three Things To Consider Before Making a Career Switch
At 25, I ditched my marketing job and followed my passion for UX/UI design. I’ll be the first to tell you, it was everything I wanted and more. And deep down, it ended up changing my life in ways I never imagined. Taking off on this new adventure felt like a breath of fresh air until one day it didn’t. Here are things I wish I would have considered before making a career switch. Let’s dive in!
The grass will always look greener on the other side
From the excitement of getting that offer letter, to the first day at the new job, starting a new career can almost feel euphoric. I remember how this newfound sense of enthusiasm made me forget all the doubts I had before making the career switch. After settling in at my new position, I realized what I truly loved was not just UX/UI design, but rather creating authentic consumer experiences that keep people coming back for more. I remember having this lingering feeling of wanting to take the new things I just learned and incorporate them into my old role. My advice would be to identify what part of this new role excites you the most and find a way to incorporate that into your current position before making the career switch. My passion was to create unparalleled consumer experiences, and I could have done that in multiple ways without having to make a career switch.
Starting over professionally
I was so ready to dive into my new role that I completely forgot what my career progression would now look like. Having worked in marketing, I knew about the different opportunities I needed to advance in my career and I was easily able to see five years down the road. In my new role, not only was I starting from the very bottom, I overlooked how highly saturated the job market was and what tools I would need when looking for new positions one day. I loved my new position, but realized I loved the certainty I felt I had in my marketing career more. My recommendation would be to research how others in your potential role have advanced in their career. Understanding your long-term play in a new role should be a key component in determining if a career switch is right for you.
Things can shift in an instant
About six months into my new role, I found out my position was being cut. I had none of the tools I needed to apply for jobs in this field and minimal work to show for the last six months. After the panic subsided, I had a moment of self-reflection. I started to understand why my original career, the marketing job I had left behind six months prior, was where I needed to be. I don’t know if my decision to return to marketing was made out of desperation or by fate, but it ultimately led me to land my dream opportunity.
My journey was a whirlwind of self-discovery and growth. While the transition brought exciting moments and amazing colleagues, I learned that the most rewarding endeavors stem from determining what excites us and finding a way to incorporate that into our careers. As I found my way back to marketing, I realized that change doesn’t mean abandoning our roots; sometimes, the winding road leads us back to where we left off.
