The Hard Truth About Career Changes (And How to Crush Them!)
Meg Bowman MS CNS LDN CHES
If you’re like many others embarking on a career change to nutrition, you’ve seen how chronic disease and elusive symptoms can affect your life, and the lives of all those around you. You know how important nutrition is to feel better, and you want to help other people in their own journey to health and wellbeing. But the hope and excitement of this new career is mixed with trepidation and uncertainty, much like trying to make dinner while balancing on a tightrope! I’d like to share the secret sauce that has worked for me, and other CNS candidates that I’ve worked with:
The Comfort Zone Conundrum: Leaving the familiar behind and venturing into uncharted professional territory can be unsettling. It requires you to embrace the unknown and push beyond your comfort zone, just like the time you tried to assemble a piece of Ikea furniture without the manual. Scary stuff! But you overcame that challenge and ended up with a charming bookshelf, using exactly the same skills you’ll need here - adaptability and a willingness to learn. Embrace the unknown, my friend!
Pursuing Your Passion: You’ve been working on this career change for a while now, and you find it so much more invigorating and energizing than your previous career. This is WAY more than half the battle. Finding a career that sets your soul on fire isn’t easy for most people - and here you are, navigating nutrition graduate school, and loving every minute of it. Keep your focus on this passion - it’s not only what is going to get you through the hard parts, it’s also what is going to set you apart from other nutrition providers out there!
Developing New Skills: So you’ve decided to switch careers, but your skillset feels about as relevant as a VHS tape in a streaming world (for those who aren’t as old as I am, VHS came before DVDs which came before streaming). Fear not! Your skills are absolutely transferable. Part of the reason career changers feel so much imposter syndrome is that they are comfortable with their former careers. They know what needs to be done, have done it a bajillion times, and don’t even have to think about how to solve problems. You’ll soon develop the same familiarity with nutrition practice. In my experience, there is a big sigh of relief that happens about 4-5 months into the Supervised Practice Experience, and another big release of tension that most people feel at 8 months. This is how long it takes most people to figure out their new processes and identify their clinical signature.
“Your skills are absolutely transferable”
The Fear Factor: Cheer up, this definitely isn’t reality TV where you get voted off the island. I actually encourage CNS candidates to try things knowing they might screw up. Why? Because messing up happens. That’s okay! Fearing something and doing it anyway is what growth looks like. Often, we are tempted to show up to prove to others we have our crap together - but doing this keeps you in fear mode. Embrace that vulnerability. Talk to your peers and supervisors about the stuff you’re finding hard. I promise it will feel better when you’ve done it.
Embarking on a career change is a courageous decision that comes with its fair share of challenges. By acknowledging and addressing these hurdles head-on, you can navigate the transition with greater confidence and success. Embrace the opportunity for growth, seek guidance when needed, and stay resilient in the face of obstacles. #Crushedit
XOXO, Meg