Introduction
Most importantly, change in itself challenges one’s
Undertaking a career change may seem like a
self esteem.
daunting task, but it doesn’t need to! It’s important to
understand why you feel stuck, and this ebook breaks
Clearly something inside you tells you that you’re
it down into 10 simple steps.
ready for change, or you wouldn’t be reading this
book. Take that further – take action. Use this ebook
Each step is important because it either (a) helps you
to understand why you’re stuck and take the steps to
understand what’s not working, or (b) reveals the
get out of the mud!
actions you need to take. Ideally, you will gain a
clearer understanding of where to go next in your
career.
Let’s talk for a moment about career change. Change
is hard for people. Change brings the new, and in the
new, there are no guarantees. There’s no guarantee
you will like your next job or company, or that you
will be successful at it, or even be rewarded for it the
way you’d like to be.

I don’t know what to do with my major
A Note on ‘Feeling Stuck’
Let’s pick them apart:
Almost every client says: “I just feel stuck.” It’s been
described as a brick wall, a cliff, or feeling frozen,
1. I’m just not happy in my job: This is a big
confused, anxious, worried, or powerless. It happens
one. Could be she isn’t interested in the work,
because they can’t find their first job, a new job or
or it’s a skills mismatch, or it’s not the right
just a job that makes them happy. My clients are
work environment. The good news is you can
stuck because their careers don’t . . . fit.
fix it once you find it.
Here are some examples:
2. I don’t know where to look for a job: Most
likely the problem is that she doesn’t know

I’m just not happy in my job
what she really wants to do. If you can answer

I don’t know where to look for a job
that big question (and you can), finding the job

I’m burned out with my job
is usually a lot easier.

I’m really bored in my work

I don’t have any career direction

I’m afraid no one will hire me, I’ve been a stay-
to: I can’t get ahead): This client’s problem
at-home mom
is that they are using their “burnout
3. I’m burned out with my job (usually akin
skills.” They are using skills they are really
got a confidence problem. But hey, is it
good at, but don’t enjoy using. By the way,
because she’s scared to try, or because she’s
from the company’s standpoint it’s not the
afraid she can’t do the work? Each of those are
highest and best use of this employee, either.
sub-problems to be addressed and resolved.
4. I’m really bored in my work: This client’s
And now for the grand finale . . .
creativity isn’t being tapped enough.
7. I don’t know what to do with my major: Of
5. I don’t have any career direction: Ahhhh. I
course you don’t. Don’t even get me started on
get this one a lot. Careers have picked her,
the root cause of this problem. Um, they don’t
right? Time to turn the tables. Getting
have much CAREER COUNSELING in high
someone in the driver’s seat of their career path
school anymore! Or much in college unless
is not always without a challenge. Usually this
students seek it out, for that matter. But the real
client’s problem relates to how she makes
problems here are simply that you lack career
decisions. (After this problem is uncovered, a
information about yourself and about the world
therapist can supercharge her progress).
of work.
6. I’m afraid no one will hire me, I’ve been a
stay-at-home mom: This one’s easy. She’s
Number 7 is honestly one of my favorites. There is
nothing more fulfilling than sinking my teeth into the
career path of a young adult, who may or may not
have graduated college (doesn’t really matter), and is
So what’s the right career for me?
ready to get started.
Ready for the big secret? There is no one career.
The impact that can be made on their lives in just a
few short sessions is tremendous, life-lasting, and a
The good news is that there may be several careers
recipe for a foundation of mental health.
that could make you happy. What’s important is that
you understand why a career will make you happy,
Don’t let this be you!
Just think what the
what your natural skill sets are, the type of people you
wrong career can do to
like to work with, and the type of work you are
someone over time: Depression,
anxiety, stress, self-esteem issues,
interested in. Good news! Usually your natural skill
sets match the type of work you are interested in.
financial problems, marital problems,
drinking or drug problems, or weight
In the following chapters, 10 Keys to Conceptualizing
problems which can lead to diabetes or
a Career Change are introduced. Read each chapter,
other health issues.
reflect, and complete any worksheets included to
make the information translate to your unique career
Everyone, even those in the dawn of their careers, can
use the tools outlined in the next chapters.
development.
Have fun, and if you have any questions please don’t
10 Steps to a Career Change
hesitate to visit my website at www.julielacroix.com
or send me an email: [email protected].
Step 1: What’s your project in life?
Thank you for downloading this workbook. I hope it
Step 2: Determine Role vs. Industry
helps you gain the insight and clarity you are looking
for to make a career change.
Step 3: Is it People, Data, Things or Ideas?
Step 4: Determine your valuable skills
Step 5: Match up your skills and interests
Step 6: Find your people
Step 7: Choose the right work environment
Step 8: Know your greatest strength and weakness
Step 9: Find the answers to what you don’t know
Step 10: Know your local job market
Step 1 – What’s your project in life?
Here they are:
Find the theme that keeps expressing itself
1. Driver’s Ed Instructor
throughout your life and you will determine your
2. Technology Salesperson
life project – your purpose. Look at how you’ve
3. Tour Guide
acted, what’s interested you, and the people you’ve
4. Academic Advisor
been attracted to in three life areas: work, leisure and
5. Antiques Dealer
learning.
6. Executive Recruiter
7. Industrial Psychologist
How you played as a child, what you chose to study
and why, what you do in your spare time and what
8. Internet Marketing Guru (you know, the
passive income people that blog all day)
jobs interest you are all clues to help you identify a
9. Luxury Car Salesperson
theme.
10.Arborist
The first step is to brainstorm all the careers you have
Some of these careers seem related but there are some
daydreamed about. I used to daydream about a lot of
outliers which are quite unrelated. Arborist? What’s
jobs and still think there are careers I would enjoy.
that all about? Well, I’m interested in trees. I’ve
Yes. . . even I, a career counselor, can think of other
always loved biology and I’m really good at
careers I would love.
remembering the names of things, especially in Latin.
natural fit. I lead people to the right answers to their
I think it would be a really fun job!
career problems.
What about the pattern? Do you see the pattern
between these careers? Look carefully for the theme.
List your top 10 dream jobs:
It’s something along the lines of . . . leading people to
solutions - by following a hidden framework.
1.
2.
Whether it’s outfitting their home in precious
3.
antiques, guiding the team dynamics as an Industrial
4.
Psychologist, getting someone the right trees for their
5.
property, teaching a kid how to drive or helping
6.
someone buy the right car, I really like to help people
7.
by leading them to the right answers. And for me,
8.
that includes helping people navigate their careers.
9.
10.
I like knowing what’s going on behind the scenes so I
can help people make sense of seemingly complicated
things. Like career choice – there’s a framework to it.
So luckily for me, my job as a Career Counselor is a
What’s your theme?
Step 2: Determine Role vs. Industry
Think about that.
Change Industry: Same role (teacher), new setting:
Think about it: What’s making you unhappy – your
role, or your industry? Maybe it’s both. Once you
If the teacher stayed in the same role, she would still
realize what the main source of your pain is, you can
be a teacher but she would have to change industries.
visualize some career moves.
In her case maybe that’s a new setting, such as
moving from public school or private school, or from
Example: A teacher is burned out. She has great
elementary school to high school – all of those are
skills (class management, organization, planning,
great ideas but she’s burned out on a classroom of
etc.) but doesn’t want to work directly with a group of
kids. If she really wanted to move outside the entire
kids again. She’d like to look at other options outside
industry, her equivalent role in corporate America
of education but she feels stuck. Who will hire a
may be Corporate Trainer. There she could pick any
teacher, and what can she qualify for?
industry and stay in a teaching role.
Look at your situation in terms of role vs. industry. Is
Change Role: Same industry (education), new role
it better to (a) stay in the same role but change
Become an administrator, school counselor, work for
industries? Or, (b) change your role and stay in the
a textbook company, an educational software
same industry.
company, retrain or return to school for additional
certifications, work at the district in a management
position, operations or human resources, organize
home schooling programs, manage a private school,
No matter where you are in your career, there is
consider working in different levels of education
somewhere else to go. Career mobility is easier for
(preschool, adult ed, community college, etc.),
some and harder for others. With some research,
become a coach, parenting expert, become a
perseverance and a little luck, a new job will appear.
consultant. . . . .
You will probably find that a move in one direction
comes more naturally or is more attainable than
In her situation, conceptualizing a role change within
another. Go with the path of least resistance!
the industry of education brings on a substantial
number of possibilities. Which lens brings the most
Remember that an ideal job for you is most likely a
possibilities for you? A role change, or an industry
few career moves away, not just one. That’s why we
change?
call it career planning! Also remember that there
may be several ideal jobs for you so don’t worry too
Looking at your career problem through the
much about trying to find your dream job. If you find
framework of role vs. industry is a macro view.
a job where you are interested in your work and using
Sometimes we are so involved in our own day to day
skills you like to use, you’re going to be in a great
lives that solutions to problems seem out of reach.
position.
Use this tool to look at your career problem from high
up, like 30,000 feet.
Look for that first – a step in the right direction.
Step 3: Is it People, Data, Things or Ideas?
People
People are complex, and so is the job market.
Frameworks have been developed to classify both
jobs and personalities. One of the most simple yet
Ideas
important frameworks is used universally across the
?
Data
field of career development. It is used by the
government to help organize the Dictionary of
Things
Occupational Titles, and we find it behind many
career assessments. It is simply called “People, Data,
Things, Ideas.”
Consider for a moment each of the four categories.
Here is the magic question:
Identify your primary and secondary categories. Does
one jump out at you? Is there a tie for second place?
Would you rather work primarily with People, Data,
What would be your least favorite? What activities,
Things or Ideas?
vocational or avocational (hobbies), have you been
involved in where you have worked primarily within
the category?
 Which category jumps out at you as your
primary category?
utilization to determine what the real problem is and
where to start making changes.
 What about secondary, tertiary categories?
Check the following that relate to you:
 Was there a tie between two categories?
Skills Problems
 Undefined/Unclear skills
 What’s your least favorite category?
 Underutilization of your strongest / favorite
skills (Underemployed)
Step 4: Determine your valuable skills
 Overutilization of your weakest / least favorite
skills (Burnout)
Skills are measured in 2 ways:
 Lack of skills
1. How good you are at them
2. How much you like using them.
BURNOUT
When you think about the skills you use daily, do you
If your current job is burning you out, most likely you
like them? How much? Are you good at them? How
are simply using skills that you don’t enjoy using.
good? It’s so important to pick apart your skills
Just think what a job would be like using your
strongest skills. Pretty good, right?
Well, take that a step further – what if you had a job
 Teaching
where you were using your STRONGEST skills and
 Training
you really ENJOYED using them? Heaven, right?
 Mentoring
 Coaching
It’s important to determine your strongest skills and
 Managing
also the ones you most enjoy using.
 Sales
 Customer Service
The following lists are examples of skills in each of
 Counseling
the 4 Career Quadrants: People, Data, Things and
Ideas.
“Data” Skills:
Put a check next to your strongest skills, then go
 Researching
through them again and circle the ones you enjoy
 Reading
using the most.
 Planning
“People” Skills:
 Communicating
 Coordinating
 Writing
 Organizing
 Categorizing
 Monitoring
 Budgeting
 Report Writing
 Problem Solving
 Error Checking
 Generating Ideas
 Analyzing
“Things” Skills:
 Evaluating
 Dealing with Ambiguity
 Mechanical Abilities
 Conceptualizing
 Repairing
 Synthesizing
 Manual Dexterity
 Strategizing
 Agility
 Decision Making
 Motor Skills
 Hand-Eye Coordination
Burnout and a career that fits are both directly
 Visual Acuity
related to the skills you use on a daily basis.
 Equipment Maintenance
 Installing
Although these lists are not all of the skills in the
 Equipment Selection
labor market, they will give you a good idea of what
your best and most favorite skills are. Ask yourself
“Ideas” Skills:
 Critical Thinking
the following questions:
 Which of the above skills do you want to use
Step 5: Match up your skills and interests
the most?
Almost every career problem has one of the following
 Into which main category do your skills fall?
interests. Which relates to you?
(People, Data, Things, Ideas)
Interests Problems
 What would you name your main skill sets?
(Managing, Researching, Operations, etc.)
 Unclear / too many interests
 Not interested in your work
 Main interests pertain to hobbies not career
 Which skills am I good at but don’t enjoy
 Limited interests
using? (Burnout skills)
Matching interests to careers is another way to
 Is my current job allowing me to use my
strongest, favorite skills?
 Which jobs that I’m considering would let
me use my strongest, favorite skills?
evaluate your current situation and find your next
steps.
We have looked at skills already and determined that
you should be looking for a career path that allows
you to use your strongest, favorite skills. Now, let’s
discuss finding work that actually interests you.
If you’re not interested in what you’re doing,
regardless of the skills you are using,
you will get bored!
Now put it all together and build a matrix of your top
skills, interests and job titles. Here is an example
using my dream jobs.
So what interests you? Brainstorm anything.
SKILL(S)
INTEREST AREA
JOB TITLE___________
Teaching/Coaching/Mentoring
Cars
Driver’s Ed Instructor
ANYTHING that interests you.
Sales
Technology
Technology Salesperson
Teaching/Coaching/Mentoring
History/Travel
Tour Guide
Teaching/Coaching/Mentoring
Education in America
Academic Advisor
Sales, Evaluating, Researching
French Antiques
Antiques Dealer
1.
2.
3.
Sales, Teaching/Coaching/Mentoring Career Development
Executive Recruiter
Researching, Counseling
Career Development
Industrial Psychologist
Writing, Researching
Variety
Internet Mktg/Blogging
Sales
Cars
Luxury Car Salesperson
Teaching/Coaching/Mentoring
Trees
Arborist
4.
5.
6.
When you apply your skill sets to interest areas,
7.
you unlock a variety of potential careers!
8.
9.
You can see I highlighted the two main skill sets
10.
occurring the most. Have fun using this model to do
some really productive career brainstorming!
NOTE:
Skills
You can start anywhere – using either your skills,
your interest areas or dream job titles.
Just keep working the model until you have it all
filled out.
There’s no right or wrong way, just keep referring to
your skills and interests for clues, and be creative!
Here is the key:
Combining your main skill sets with your interests
leads you to job titles.
Interests
Job Titles
Step 6: Find your people
judgment and help them. Sales people need to have
the gift of gab and the ability to approach perfect
Do you like the people you work with? Do you
strangers, along with a desire to “help others.” People
connect with them? Are they people you would like
who work outdoors tend to enjoy being outdoors,
to have over to dinner at your house? Most
working with their hands and physically experiencing
importantly, do you “get them” and do they “get
their environments. Their interests usually center
you”?
around an active lifestyle.
When you’re thinking about making a career change,
Think about the people you connect with. They can
people are a big clue. Every field attracts a type, and
come from anywhere – church, school, neighborhood,
you want to be working with people who click. A big
past jobs, even some childhood or college friends
clue to whether you are in the right field is to look
you’ve had. When have you interacted, worked or
around at the people who do your job.
socialized with people you really connected with, and
what were you doing?
Do they share the same project in life?
Think about it. Certain jobs require certain natural
abilities. Counselors need to have the innate ability to
see people for who they are, accept them without
Complete the following questionnaire:
Let’s use that information to determine something
about you. We connect professionally with people for
• Social/professional groups I’ve connected with:
two reasons:
• They are like us – sharing our same interests or
• People I’ve connected with:
skills
• They are our ‘Work Pair’ – with
complementary skills
• Times in my life I’ve felt connected:
Either can be a big clue.
• Activities I perform where I feel connected:
It is fulfilling to be around people who share our same
interests or skills. Interests and skills are usually
derived from similar personality styles, so these
Great - So you’ve interacted, worked or socialized
people are probably people you would enjoy inviting
with people you feel a strong connection to. They
over for dinner!
sound like wonderful people!
Since they share the same interests and skills, they
“get you” and you “get them.” If you don’t have a
group like this in life, professional or social, this is a
Which people did you work with best? The ones who
clue that you may not have yet aligned your interests
took charge, or the ones who were more organized?
and skills.
Or maybe it was the quiet observer who always
produced high quality work. Or the clown!
Conversely, you may have connected with individuals
who are completely different from you, but for
Knowing your “work pair” can help you imagine
whatever reason you respect one another and work
functional areas within a company which attract that
really well together.
type, and then how your skills might also fit in to
benefit them.
This is not your imagination, it’s chemistry.
IMPORTANT!!!
It’s what happens when complementary skill sets
meet. In the workplace, these are rewarding,
Drawing from your own life experiences is
productive working relationships.
important, and so is learning new things about other
people in interesting industries. I cannot stress
Think back to jobs you’ve had where you’ve had to
enough the importance of becoming involved in
work as part of a team. Or think back to high school
professional associations as a way to find people you
or college when you participated in group projects.
click with – and those people will lead you to great
opportunities!
OTHER:
Who are your people? The ones you’ve really
These people who may hold some clues to your next
clicked with? Which people have you really
career move. Chances are good you either have
enjoyed working/playing/praying/creating with?
similar or complementary skills and interests.
CHILDHOOD:
Break it down:
HIGH SCHOOL:
COLLEGE:
WORK:
SOCIAL:
CHURCH:
HOBBIES:
Person’s
Similar or
What’s their
name?
Complementary? Job?
Is there a pattern?
Step 7: Choose the right work environment
Are there any particular job titles or fields of work
Do busy people stress you out? Or, do slow, stagnant
which they are attracted to, or work well in? What
environments make you itchy for activity?
could this mean for you in terms of researching new
careers?
Identifying the right work environment helps you
identify not only the types of industries you may be
Jot down what comes to mind:
suited to, but also the types of actual companies and
cultures you will most likely work best in.
Remember the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding?”
The main character in that movie is a perfect example.
She grew up in this big, loud family full of
overbearing aunts and cousins. Yet, her job was a
solitary desk job in a quiet office. She loved the
__________________________________________
peace and quiet! Growing up in the raucous family
stressed her out and she was more comfortable, happy
and productive working quietly.
What’s best for you?
Each company has a different culture which, in turn,
create different environments. Overall, industries
Complete the following worksheet to determine what
attract workers which create an industry culture that is
types of environments you thrive in. Consider the
broader than just the company. Some ways to
following when you think about environments you’ve
characterize an environment include:
worked in:
Traditional
1. Use of skills – Were you able to display
your skill sets?
2. High performing teams – Did you work
well with the other people there?
Innovative
Fast-paced
Methodical
Quiet
3. Engagement – Were you interested in the
Social
type of activity/work you were doing?
Serious
4. Stress – What was it about the
environment that caused you stress?
5. Happiness – What was it about the
environment that made you feel positive?
Diverse
Changing
Consistent
Competitive
Step 8: Know your greatest strength and weakness
Here is an example:
Don’t wait for the interview question to consider your
WEAKNESS: I have a hard time saying no to people
greatest strength or weakness. Get to work on that
now, so you are prepared to answer the question with
STRENGTH: I am a loyal coworker
confidence and so you - and they - know what you’re
looking for.
SUMMARY STATEMENT: My greatest strength is
also a weakness – it’s hard to say no so I take on a lot
It’s actually an easy question to answer if you are
of work. I’m a very loyal coworker because of this
insightful and willing to gather data from others who
and committed to my team, and constantly make sure
know you well.
what I’m taking on is a high priority.
All weaknesses can be turned into strengths, and you
___________________________________________
should know your own strong character traits that
work for both.
As hard as it may be to hear (gulp!), ask your friends
and family what your greatest strengths and
Turn those weaknesses into strengths, and write a
weaknesses are, and list their answers, along with
little summary statement which ends on a upbeat note.
yours in the following space.
It will help you understand your own workstyle more!
Strengths:
Step 9: Find the answers to what you don’t know
Still not clear? Then make a list of what you don’t
know, and this list becomes your research list.
Some common items on the ‘I don’t know’ list are:
Weaknesses:
• I don’t know what skills they’re looking for
• I don’t know how many companies do that in
this area
• I don’t know how to market myself
• I don’t know if I need more education
• I don’t know if I’m qualified
Summary Statement:
If you take each of the questions you don’t know the
answers to, and turn them into a ‘to-do’ list, you’ll
have a really juicy research project.
Don’t be afraid of research! Research is the key to
Make those questions your research action items:
mapping your next move.
• Find the skills required for my target
There are tons of information out there and none is
occupation
difficult to access via the library or internet.
• Research the top companies in my area
However, the picture is not going to construct itself.
• Match my skills to the required skills to
You will need to find the bits and pieces of
information and construct a picture by yourself.
determine my marketable skills
• Find related education programs in my area
• List the skills of other people in my target
TIP:
occupation
Usually it takes about 10 hours of research,
including the time you’re spending in this
Step 10: Know your local job market
workbook, to construct a picture clear enough to
take action on.
I can never stress enough the importance of research!
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
Know thy industry, know thy value.
Is the industry growing or contracting?
(Find an industry report from a professional
When you’re getting to know your local job market,
association or a resource at the library or online)
it’s important to look at your target occupation from
the top down.
What are the target companies in your area?
(Construct a list using library databases, the internet,
You’ll want to know more than just what you see on
business journals and newspapers)
the job boards. You need to be informed – very
informed! When I say informed I mean INFORMED.
What are the professional associations?
As in, if you went into an interview you would be able
(Find, list and get to know all of them. If there is
to give them an industry snapshot, a list of the top few
more than one, visit each of them at least once! Read
competitors including those locally, the industry
EVERY word on their websites and review the
growth rate, opportunities for expansion, how many
certifications they offer for the field.)
job openings the company and its competitors have,
the local colleges with training programs, etc.
Who do you know in the field?
Use social media! Social media is a powerful
Here are some big questions to answer, with some
research tool to discover the people you need to know.
specific advice to help you get the data you need:
Which local colleges provide training?
Thank you for taking the time to read this workbook.
Nothing replaces the value of individual counseling,
but this book captures the essence of it. Each of these
steps are important, and can be taken in any order.
But take them! Don’t just let this book sit on your
shelf.
These are not necessarily the only 10 steps that will
lead you to a magically wonderful career, but they are
the core of what you need to get heading in the right
direction.
I encourage you to look first into knowing and
understanding yourself as a worker by defining your
skills and your interests. Then, look out into the
world of work. Do these 2 things in that order. And
finally, make your move.
© Julie LaCroix, 2016