Managing Transitions Using ‘Why? What? and When?’

Whether you are a student, one week into a new college course, a forty-something in a well-paid job, or somewhere in the vast landscape between these two positions, a study/career transition could always be an option, desire or need.

Whilst the final decision to commit to a transition can be a quick one, the thought processes, research and groundwork that lead to them should not be. Preparation for a transition is often complex, and requires careful consideration with the support of peers, educators and family.

When planning for a study/career change, taking the time to consider ‘the why’, ‘the what’ and ‘the when’, can help to promote the likelihood of success, and to instil confidence in transitional processes. This blog entry will provide further detail as to how these three stages can be approached, which you may find useful if you’re currently considering a change.

The Why?

Start by considering the reason or reasons as to why you want to change. There are numerous reasons as to why a person may feel they want to do this, but some of these can be more significant than others. Significant reasons for change could be that you feel that the subject area you are studying doesn’t have suitable career options, or that following research, you’ve become more aware of a new subject area that is more appropriate.

Less significant reasons could be the influence of peers e.g. that they have changed courses/career paths, a disagreement with a member of staff, or a bad experience of an event such as a university open day. It’s important to remember that when considering ‘the why’ for change, the greatest driver should be a research-influenced desire to study something new, as opposed to using the change as a method of moving away from something else.

The What?

Once satisfied with reason(s) for change, its important to assess what the new- or amended aspiration/target is. This may prompt internal questions such as “What is my end goal?”, “Am I working towards my end goal with my current circumstances?” and “In future, will I look back with regret if I don’t make changes now?”. Regret can be an uncomfortable topic to discuss either independently or with others, but it does have its place in careers planning. Quite often, the most prominent potential causes of regret when contemplating a transition are the regret that comes from making a change without adequate research, or the regret that comes from never making a change at all.

Whilst there are no absolute guarantees with careers planning, as aforementioned, a good way to alleviate the risk of regret is by conducting thorough research into the employment prospects, study institutions, and network opportunities associated with the new aspiration/target.

The When?

Any effective target is likely to be timebound. As a college student you are likely to be familiar with deadlines and time parameters, and you may find that the framework of each academic year (September – July) contributes to the framework of your careers planning. Actioning study/career transitions requires resilience, as this is the point where the planning e.g. considering ‘the why?’ and establishing ‘the what?’ is put into practice.

Whether this involves applying for a job, an apprenticeship, a university or a new college course, rejections are a possibility, but this doesn’t have to mean the end of a transition process. As has been a common theme in this blog entry, research plays its part here too. With regards to ‘the when?’, research can be drawn upon to persuade an employer, university of tutor as to why you are a good fit for their company, degree or college course.

Calculating the dates by which you want to achieve your aspirations also helps to promote your approaches to ‘dream big’ e.g. setting goals that will be difficult to reach, in a way that remains realistic. Whilst people of any age shouldn’t usually be discouraged from having highly aspirational targets, setting the most ambitious goals can become disillusioning and demotivating without structure. Setting timescales ensures a measure of accountability that may help you to stay invested in your plans, even if you encounter bumps in the road like rejection or delay.

What next?

If you feel that you are currently in transition, contemplating one, or you’d just like to know more about how you could plan ahead, please book an appointment with a Careers and Welfare Co-ordinator or Careers and Welfare Site Lead on your campus. Alternatively, you can email careers&welfare@tmc.ac.uk.

During an appointment, your advisor will learn about circumstances, talk about your future goals, and help you put a plan into place to get there. Additionally, they will support you with advice and guidance to find and choose suitable career pathways, and help you to explore a range of different options.

Useful Links

a) The following LinkedIn article below provides further information on, and examples of the types of thoughts/feelings a person may recognise before initiating a transition (under ‘When to Consider a Career Transition’). Access to this article may require you to login with LinkedIn: Navigating Career Transitions: When, Why, and How to Make Your Move | LinkedIn

b) For further information on some of the key ‘soft’ or ‘transferable’ skills to support achieving a smooth study/career transition, please see ‘Steps to a Successful Career Transition’ in this article: What Is Career Transition, And Why Is It Important? - Career Focus

c) If you’d like to know more about how you can plan your next study/career move(s) as effectively as possible, read the following article: How To Set Career Goals | NGTC Group Training