Searching for a new career can be overwhelming. For some people, the job-hunting process is like climbing a mountain when you are really out of shape! Do any of these statements sound familiar? 

• I don’t know where to start. 
• I don’t know what I want to do anymore or what options I might enjoy. 
• I don’t know if my resume is good enough. 

Alleviate the Fear of Career Change 

That overwhelming feeling that comes from not knowing is enough to keep many people in their current job, especially with the pressure of needing a steady income. And that’s when the fear sets in.  

Here are some simple but powerful steps that can help: 

Take an inventory of what you know. Write down which tasks you are looking to accomplish (i.e. identify companies you want to work for, update your resume, start networking, and learn new job search strategies). 

Research the tasks above. What resources, articles, blogs, etc. can you use to answer your questions?  Some examples are Glassdoor, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Wolfgang blogs, LinkedIn articles, and Forbes. 

Take it day by day. Are you overwhelmed looking at your list and realizing how much must be done to accomplish all those goals? Start by dreaming up where you want to be. Now, ask yourself: What can you do this month? This week? Today? Dreams take time and taking small steps in a new direction can prepare you for the moment when the right opportunity presents itself. Projecting too far into the future can keep you from just taking the next small step. 

Start with Smaller Tasks 

Breaking larger tasks into smaller ones can make it much easier to get started. Updating your resume may by intimidating, but if you break it down into several steps, you will be more motivated and accomplish it faster. For example: 

• Locate my most recent resume. 
• List what is missing and list what needs updating. 
• Add my current position to the resume. 

Approaching each task like this will make your goal more manageable. You can tackle one or two of those tasks each day and make steady progress rather than trying to tackle the entire change in one shot. 

Wolfgang Career Coaching is a full-service career transition and career development firm that works with clients across the country to find fulfillment in their careers. Texas Exes members have access to resources and discounts on Wolfgang Career Coaching services. Learn more about Wolfgang Career Coaching here.