First Step of Job or Career Change: Overcome Underlying Fear of Change

It's not often that one reads job/career advice in the Health Section of a newspaper. However, given the 'mind games' encountered in the modern office perhaps a psychotherapist is perfectly suited to provide advice for the job hunt.

Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and contributor to the Los Angeles Times, has these suggestions for would-be job seekers:

1. Understand emotional inertia. Even if you feel that you want to leave and begin contemplating a new job or career, understand that 'fear of change' is normal and understandable but can manifest itself as self-doubt and inactivity on the job front. Not facing this fear can mean that "days turn to weeks, weeks into months, and soon a year of [career] inactivity has gone by."

2. Once you've addressed your fear of change, map out your motivation and goals. "Establish whether you are trying to move away from a job that is undesirable--a nasty boss, demanding hours, low pay--or toward an appealing opportunity--great benefits, a stimulating environment, rewarding tasks. Either is justifiable, but the latter is motivated by inspiration not desperation, and therefore puts you in a stronger position." In other words, even if the catalyst for change was to get away from a negative, turn it around to a quest for something positive that you want. Make sure this is how you think about it and communicate it to others.

3. Determine a timetable for making the change. Factor in issues in your life that might make waiting for a short time appropriate and recognize that an absence of reasons to wait might mean that this is a good time to make the move. Note that it is easier to get a job when you already have a job. "Hiring managers find employed candidates attractive because they view the person dedicated to his job despite the quest for a new job. When a job offer is made, employment status translates into negotiating power.

Above all, Alpert recommends, approach change with an open mind since "short-term stress is better than long-term monotony and feeling stuck in a rut."

Source: Los Angeles Times 12/11/2006 (Health Section, print edition only).

This post is part of LifeTwo's Midlife Career Change FAQ covering all aspects of changing careers in middle age.