Take Action: Navigate Your Career Transitions

Life is full of transitions such as starting school or work, changing jobs, moving to a new city, or shifting career goals due to unforeseen disruptions.

While exciting, transitions often bring uncertainty and self-doubt. But here’s the good news, you don’t have to have everything figured out. What matters most is developing the confidence and tools to navigate change. That’s how you grow, adapt, and thrive.

What Are Career Transitions? 

Career transitions can be planned, like graduating or applying for a job, while others are unexpected, like being laid off, facing illness, or burnout. Transitions often involve stepping into the unknown, learning new skills, adjusting your mindset, and sometimes redefining your goals or purpose.

People who navigate transitions well are motivated, adaptable, and hopeful about their future. They respond with intention and resilience. Confidence in your ability to adapt (your career adaptability) helps you stay motivated, set goals, and take meaningful action, even during uncertain times.

3 Ways to Strengthen Your Navigation Skills

These simple practices can boost your confidence, purpose, and readiness, whether you’re just starting out or rethinking your next move. 

1. Develop Resilience and a Growth Mindset 

Confidence doesn’t mean knowing everything, it means believing that you can learn and grow, especially when faced with a challenge.

Try this: Write a short “resilience story” about a challenge you faced in life, at school, or work, and what helped you get through it? Describe what happened, what you learnt, how you progressed forward, and any positive outcomes that emerged. How did you adapt, persist, or bounce back? What would you do differently next time you experience the challenge? 

Your past ability in navigating change is proof you can do it again!

Can't think of a story? Ask others what challenges they have faced and how they navigated the situation.

Confidence grows through action, not perfection. 

2. Find Meaning and Grow Your Motivation

Transitions are easier to navigate when they feel connected to something bigger, a sense of purpose, or meaningful direction. 

Try this: Ask yourself...

• Why do I want to pursue this study, job, or goal? 

• What impact do I want to have on others or the world? 

• What strengths or values will I bring with me?

You don’t need a big dream—just a meaningful next step. 

3. Build Supportive Connections

Nobody navigates transitions alone. Relationships with people who listen, encourage, and challenge you can make all the difference. 

Try this: Identify one person you can talk to about your learning or career path, a teacher, coach, friend, mentor, or family member. Get the conversation going by expressing you'd like to talk about your study/training/career, and if you could ask for their advice or share what you are thinking. 

Next steps: Practice introducing yourself to people working in roles you admire. Ask how they got into their careers, what they enjoy about their work, and what advice they’d give someone starting out.

Reach out to people who are supportive. Just one supportive person can boost your confidence and help expand your options. 

What If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed? 

Transitions often bring mixed emotions—it's normal to feel excitement, fear, uncertainty, and hope all at the same time.

Here’s what you can do:

• Break big steps into smaller ones. Small wins build confidence. 

• Complete the career choice readiness quiz at: www.trajectories.nz (note hard to answer questions; they are clues that can focus your attention and help you identify what next steps you may need to take).

• Remember, change can lead to new possibilities even if it’s hard at first. 

• Connect with Trajectories to plan your next transition.

In Summary: What's Important to Remember? 

Transitions are a part of life. Building confidence, meaning, and support systems help you stay grounded and hopeful even during change. Remember and learn from your past experiences when you have demonstrated adaptability and navigated change successfully.

You don’t need to have all the answers. Just take one step at a time and remember, growth happens in the in-between moments.