How Your Identity Shapes Your Career Direction
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Decide to change careers, and chances are you’ll find that a little or a lot of what you thought you knew about who you are and what matters to you has shifted, is shifting or needs to shift.
And underpinning all the tangible shifts you’ll explore as a career changer - new fields, new roles, new hours in new environments- is your sometimes weird and scary (but also hugely exciting) identity shift.
Once you’ve begun moving into your new career path, how do you start to live as that person? And what do you say when someone asks, ‘So what do you do?
6 Ways to nurture your ‘career changed’ identity
Be (self) conscious – in a good way
As you change careers, living the new version of you can feel a bit … faux. Being clear and intentional about shifting your identity can help reduce this awkwardness.
Ask yourself often:
Who am I becoming?
What does that person value and believe?
What do they do consistently and naturally?
Now watch, reassure and encourage yourself as you act like you were already that person.
This gets easier with practice.
And if you feel your shift is stalled or happening too slowly, James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, has this to say, ‘Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.’
As your identity shifts, your behaviours naturally fall into line.
The result? You spend less time and energy devising those (tricky to maintain) carrot and stick processes that ‘former you’ may have relied on to stay on track.
You’ll also get way less wobbly when things go awry. Identifying as someone who’s curious, calm under pressure and confidently en route to a solidly good place puts setbacks and stuff-ups in a much less threatening perspective.
When a hot lead on a new role goes cold or a cool-sounding job turns out to be duller than dishwater, you may feel a bit ‘blah’. But you won’t lose the lesson or let an inevitable glitch slow your progress.
Be ready to respond to, ‘So what do you do?’
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When you’re transitioning to a new career, finding a clear, confident response can be a bit awkward.
Maybe you’re leading a double life – straddling your ‘old’ and new careers. Perhaps you’re taking a break, studying, volunteering or still figuring out what might work.
If this is you, then try your version of,
‘I’m currently doing x for work, but I’m really excited/curious about y ‘
or
‘I’m exploring new career options, and it’s a work in progress. I’ll let you know when I’ve got something to share’
Remember that humans love to help, so drop them a hint, and they will likely jump right in to help you. Say something like,
‘I’m an accountant, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be in a more people-focused role. So I’m exploring different HR roles, but I’m finding it hard to find someone in leadership coaching who’d be willing to have a conversation.’
OR
‘I’m really curious about start-ups. Who do you know who works in a startup?’
Once you know what you want to do and you’re en route to doing it, you might share your new field and why you’ve been drawn to it.
Make your version of,
‘I’m a graphic designer. I really love building brands to help people express the essence of their business’
or
‘I’m a financial planner. I’ve always been keen on helping people get cluey and confident about managing their finances. ‘
Practice makes (kinda) perfect here. Eyeball yourself in the mirror and rehearse the words. Try them out on a range of supportive (and the odd sceptical) humans.
Give your career change an online nudge
Show up as ‘new you’ on LinkedIn.
Here are six ways to build your network and cred there, once you’ve moved into a new career:
Connect with ‘frequent posters’ in your new industry and comment on their posts. Don’t just say, ‘Great post,’ add something thoughtful that shows what they’re sharing resonates with you or that you’ve learnt something from it. Or ask a question to deepen the discussion.
Read other people’s comments on these posts and find yet more contacts to add!
Click the little bell icon on the top of people’s profiles to get notified when they post.
Connect with people speaking at, running or attending events you go to in your new industry
Post about discoveries and insights you’ve made in your new field. Slowly start becoming someone others want to follow and learn from
Unfollow people who are no longer relevant to your career! This will stop the LinkedIn algorithm showing you content from your old career world.
Put pen to paper
You are what you do, and writing about new beliefs and behaviours helps embed them. Try stating your identity first, then add a matching behaviour. This works for identity change at all levels and might look something like this.
I’m a curious career changer, so I’ll have two intentional career conversations every week.
I’m optimistic and resilient, so I’ll send five cold call contact requests to interesting people on LinkedIn.
I’m a year-round swimmer, so I’ll pull on my wetsuit and head to the ocean pool.
I’m a mad-good baker, so I’ll pitch my killer Hummingbird cake to that new café.
Owning your identity and listing the actions that match helps keep you on track as you transition to a new career. Because when it comes to intrinsic motivation- James Clear strikes again, ‘It’s one thing to say I’m the type of person who wants this. It’s something very different to say I’m the type of person who is this.’
Sink the ‘sunken costs’ fallacy
This is a scary, stop-you-in-your-tracks feeling often reinforced by well-meaning family and friends. You’re dead scared that the massive investment of blood, sweat, tears and cold hard cash you lavished on your old career will be lost. It won’t. Most of what we learn, practise, and experience in our previous career(s) informs and enhances wherever we do next.
Here's a litmus test question to help you put ‘sunk costs’ in perspective, when and wherever they’ve got you cornered.
If I hadn't already poured a heap of resources into this job/field/ role/relationship/other unfulfilling activity … would I stay in it?
If your honest response is a resounding, ‘NO,’ that’s a huge clue to move forward. However scary and profligate it might feel, don’t let past choices made in good faith keep you stuck in an unfulfilling career you’ve outgrown.
Want more on managing the ‘sunken costs’ fallacy? This article has useful tips.
Soothe (then shed) those sticky expectations
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So much of what we’re convinced we can and can’t do is ‘cultural’ – we absorb it from our families, community, peers and education.
You may come from a long line of [insert prestigious career type of choice] or be pencilled in to take over the family business. You might be bearing the weight of parental or partner or peer group beliefs about what’s best for you, based on who you once were but aren’t anymore.
These expectations are difficult boats to rock, let alone capsize and abandon. Revealing your career change project and reassuring loved ones that, ‘Yep, you’ve changed, but you’re still you, and no, you’re not bonkers,’ is a matter of timing, tact and quiet tenacity. Here’s how to do that.
8 Cool ways to tell your family and friends you’re changing careers.
Identity-led career change in a nutshell
Work gently and playfully on becoming the person who does the things you want to do.
Take the small, consistent incremental actions that match this identity and trust they’ll become a part of who you are.
Rehearse a clear, confident response to ‘So what do you do?’ You’ll feel less awkward and kick-start a sparky conversation.
Show up as ‘new you’ on LinkedIn - connect, comment, and post perspectives from your new career world
Write it up – ‘light touch’ lists Start with who you are, then add how you behave like this …. ‘I am … so I do …’
Help sink the ‘sunken costs’ fallacy by believing that nothing you’ve invested in good faith is ever lost.
Don’t let others’ expectations keep you stuck in a worn-out career. Do use these eight cool strategies to soothe fears and bring family and friends along.
Triggering the shift
Five successful career changers on realising they’d outgrown their professional identities.
‘I couldn't find satisfactory answers to the questions rolling around in my head.
As a real-time and particularly as a virtual events manager- Who was I benefiting? Did I believe in what I was offering? Which aspects of my day-to-day work life were positively impacting me personally or professionally? Was my role sitting well with my values and identity?
I was always disappointed with the answers, so I knew I needed to change.’
Former Events Manager Maddie helps companies become more energy efficient. She’s also a fledgling eco-fashion entrepreneur.
‘I had a clear sense that something had to shift, which showed up as a mix of frustration and realism. The work I was doing no longer reflected my knowledge and experience. I'd hit a point where I wasn't growing, and I began to doubt my ability, which was confronting.’
Formerly a PR Consultant to tech start-ups, Gareth is now a Senior Consultant supporting corporate clients to grow their businesses.
‘Deep down, I knew I wouldn't be in software sales forever. I'm in my mid-30s, and it certainly felt like the time to do some serious thinking about what I wanted to do in the long term.
I'd been very passionate about investing for close to 10 years. And although I worked in software sales, I was always more interested in reading and learning about investing than I was in software.’
Former software salesman Jimmy is now a Financial Advisor
‘I wanted to be the one making awesome things happen instead of talking about everyone else doing great things! And I was really ready for a change. It was time to try new things, learn something different and challenge myself in a new way.’
Communications Specialist Bec is now a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lead with a global provider of information and communications technology.
‘I lost perspective on what was 'normal' at work and what really mattered outside of work.
I was good at my job. It suited my personality, and I loved the fast pace of it. I got great satisfaction from the highs and worked incredibly hard to minimise the lows.
But eventually, I saw that the deadline-driven environment and constant pressure to deliver brought out the worst aspects of my driven and perfectionist personality.
I needed to re-set my habits, boundaries, and work-life balance. To do that, I had to remove myself from an environment I loved that had stopped working for me.’
Former Advertising Account Exec Anna is now Head of Marketing for a Coffee Company.
Need help to find the career that fits? Book a chat.
Hi, I’m Jo Green, a Career Change Coach.
I help thoughtful professionals who feel stuck or unfulfilled in their work find a clearer direction and move into work that feels meaningful and aligned with who they are.
Since 2016 I’ve supported hundreds of people to reshape their careers – whether that means changing roles, starting something new, or finding work that contributes more positively to people or the planet.
If you're thinking about a career change and want structured support, you can learn more about my career change coaching here.
Or you’re welcome to book a free 20-minute consultation to talk about where you’re at and whether coaching could help.
