Making a career change is similar to putting a puzzle together: you have a vision or a dream, but you create it step by step, one piece at a time.
Though most of us would like to wake up one morning and know with absolute clarity what we want to do with our lives, making a career change is a process—something you surrender to with a rhythm and timing all its own.
Here are my favorite books to help guide you during this period in your life:
- Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William Bridges
Start with this book! A must read for anyone trying to understand the transition process. A book of great comfort as it helps you realize that personal transitions are fairly universal and common (and that, no, you are not going crazy!). By taking you through the stages of transition, the author demonstrates that what you are experiencing is actually very natural and normal.
- Developing Intuition by Shakti Gawain
Many times a career transition signifies that it is time to start listening to your own inner guidance, your intuition, and time to turn away from what the outside world is telling you to do. Shakti explains what intuition is, how to tap into our intuition, and how to trust and act on this inner source of wisdom. Shakti teaches us we can rely on our intuition especially when we feel confused about what to do next (which happens often in a career transition!).
- Embracing Our Selves: The Voice Dialogue Manual by Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone
Wonderful book for anyone who is feeling stuck. Hal and Sidra Stone explain we are each made up of many “selves” and often these selves are in conflict with each other; thus, causing deep confusion. They also talk about “disowned” selves—selves which we need to be made aware of if we are to reach our full potential. Read the opening Prologue, “The Awakening”, and see if it does not deeply resonate with you.
- Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Baron-Tieger
The goal of this more traditional career guide is to help you find work which is more naturally suited to your personality type (Myer’s Briggs). A most helpful book, it provides you with concrete examples of careers which might be personally satisfying to you. The authors also provide detailed career profiles of people, common threads and characteristics of satisfying careers, and helpful tips for conducting a search—all tailored to your specific type.
- Working Identity by Herminia Ibarra
Excellent book written mostly for mid-career professionals, particularly people who have invested a lot of time and money in their current profession. The main premise is that traditional career assessment models do not work since they recommend “figuring out” what you want to do before taking action. Herminia suggests that the “knowing” actually comes from stepping out–crafting experiments, trying different jobs on for size, and expanding your network of resources and people. She also offers in-depth profiles of people who have made dramatic (and not so dramatic) changes in their lives.
Would love to hear your feedback! Please post your comments here or e-mail me at mlfavata@yahoo.com.
