7 Habits Of Physicians Who Successfully Transition To Other Careers
A successful transition out of clinical medicine starts with commitment to the process and then developing habits to keep moving forward.
Here are 7 habits of physicians who successfully transition to other careers.
1. They are brutally honest with themselves.
At first this may not seem like a habit, but if you’ve developed a mental habit of not paying attention to your needs and desires, or if you tend to do what others expect of you, creating a habit of tuning in to what you want can be life changing.
Tips:
- Define for yourself what’s working and what’s not working in your current situation.
- Define your core values, and what you really want.
2. They prioritize career change activities.
From figuring out your next best career to landing your new role, you will need time and energy. And who has extra time and energy at the end of the day? Nobody! However, if you realign priorities and eliminate non-essential activities, energy becomes available.
Tips:
- Evaluate your current job situation. Which projects/committees can you offload? While you won’t neglect current job responsibilities, be strategic in the activities you give your time and energy to.
- Determine a minimum number of minutes/day or hours/week you will work on your career transition. Then block that time off and protect it from less important activities.
3. They build relationships with people who support them and help them get where they want to go.
You already know the statistics: 85% of jobs are filled via networking with personal and professional connections.
The importance of strengthening connections with people you know and building a new network of people who are working in the industry you’re interested in cannot be overstated. Get in the habit of talking to as many people as you can about your career change.
Tips:
- Set a goal for how many people you want to connect with per day/week.
- For how, read How to build your network Part I and How to build your network Part 2.
4. They stay focused
It’s tempting to spend time going down rabbit holes of non-clinical career options that leave you overwhelmed and confused about what’s a good fit for you.
Instead, start with broad possibilities, and narrow the options to one or two interesting areas. Focus your research until you’re clear if you want to keep going or explore something else.
Tip:
- Pick one new non-clinical role to research at a time. As you explore this area, notice how you’re feeling. Do you feel excited and energized, or bored and overwhelmed?
5. They leave their comfort zone to move into their growth zone.
To move from the familiarity of your current situation to the uncertain and unfamiliar, say, “YES!” to exploring a career possibility, even if you think you’re not qualified.
Tip:
- Change your self-talk! Add the word “yet” to anything you think you can’t do or don’t know. For example, when you read an interesting job description, instead of, “I don’t have the skills/experience,” say, “I don’t have the skills/experience yet!”
6. They ride the rollercoaster of ups and downs.
Expect the ride to your new career to be up and down! There will be rejections and new directions, ghosting and responses, leads and dead ends.
Tips:
- Learn to ride the emotional rollercoaster.
- Interpret all events as learning experiences.
7. They take time for rest and relaxation.
Take regular breaks from your career search activity to allow your subconscious mind to process and assist in your decision-making. This also helps to prevent burnout and overwhelm.
Tip:
- Take one day off each week from all career transition activities. Notice what happens.