Hey Reader,
I've been thinking a lot about mindset lately. Mindset is the lens through which we see ourselves, our worth, and our potential. It shapes how we respond to rejection, uncertainty, and new challenges. During career transitions our mindset becomes more impactful.
Many of the clients I work with initially come in with a fixed mindset, often unknowingly. They may say things like:
- “I’ve only ever worked in this industry. Who would hire me elsewhere?”
- “I’m not the kind of person who thrives in leadership roles.”
- “I failed before, what if I mess it up again?”
These thoughts are signs of their nervous system trying to protect them from the unknown. However, when it's left unchecked, it can keep you small. It convinces you that your past defines your future and safety lies in staying put.
If you shift to using a growth mindset, people with this often believe:
- Skills can be learned
- Identities can evolve
- Missteps are part of the process, not proof of failure
A growth mindset doesn’t eliminate fear, but it helps you work with it.
Common Mindset Blocks in Career Change
Below are some of the most common beliefs I hear and how they can hold you back:
- I need to have it all figured out before I make a move. Perfectionism often masks fear. In truth, clarity often comes from action, not before it.
- I’m too old / too behind / too inexperienced to start over. These age- or experience-based narratives are rooted in comparison. They ignore your lived experience, transferable skills, and wisdom; things that no job title can quantify.
- If I leave, I’ll let people down. Especially for people-pleasers or caregivers, the idea of prioritizing your own path can feel selfish. But self-abandonment is unsustainable.
How to Cultivate a Supportive Mindset
Mindset work isn’t about toxic positivity or forcing yourself to believe something. It’s about building an inner environment where change is possible.
Below are a few practices, I encourage to clients that I work with:
- Name the fear and get curious: Instead of trying to eliminate fear, get to know it. What is it trying to protect you from? What past experiences might it be tied to?
- Gather your evidence: Reflect on times when you did adapt, grow, or shift roles successfully. Talk to others who have made a similar leap. Seeing what’s possible for others reminds us it’s possible for us too.
- Affirm your values, not just your skills. When you’re unclear on what to do next, return to why. What do you care about? What energizes you? Career change often starts by realigning with your core values.
- Practice self-compassion. Change is hard. Everyone second guesses themselves. You will make mistakes. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. Treat yourself the way you would a close friend going through something similar.
Final Thoughts
Career transitions invite us to rewrite the stories we tell about who we are and what we’re capable of. It started on the inside. Your mindset sets the tone for everything else: the way you show up in interviews, how you process rejection, and whether you allow yourself to dream bigger.
If you’re on the edge of a career change or in the messy middle, pause and ask yourself:
What kind of mindset am I bringing to this moment?
Is it rooted in fear, or in possibility?
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about changing jobs.
It’s about changing your relationship with yourself as you do.
🎉 Upcoming events
Join me and Liz Donovan from Squiggle Strategy as we explore practical tools to manage the emotional rollercoaster of job hunting.
I’ll break down the real causes of burnout and share evidence based tools for recovery for yourself and your team.
