5 mistakes to avoid when changing careers
Changing direction, reinventing yourself, giving new meaning to your career: professional retraining is attracting more and more employees, particularly after dismissal, a mutual termination agreement or a voluntary departure plan (PDV).
But be careful: a career change can’t be improvised.
At OUTPLACEMENT PROFESSIONNEL, we support people in transition every year, and we’ve noticed that certain mistakes are common . Here are the 5 most common ones… and how to avoid them.
1. Rushing into things without clarifying your project
The mistake: wanting to “do something else” without knowing what.
The right reflex: taking the time for a skills assessment , guided reflection, and working on your real motivations.
“Change” is not a goal in itself: you need to build a realistic, aligned and motivating professional project.
2. Choosing a path by default, not by conviction
The mistake: turning to a “trendy” or “hiring” profession without any real personal interest.
The right reflex: combine your aspirations, your values, and your transferable skills.
A successful reconversion is one that makes sense , not one that ticks a box on the market.
3. Neglecting market research and opportunities
The mistake: training for a career without checking the concrete opportunities behind it.
The right thing to do: check the job openings, working conditions, salaries, and possible advancements.
A realistic reconversion takes into account real demand, whether local or sectoral.
4. Underestimating personal investment
The mistake: thinking that career change will be quick, easy, or automatic.
The right thing to do: anticipate the effort, the time, the training required, and the sometimes necessary sacrifices (financial, geographical, etc.).
It’s a demanding journey… but exciting if you have the right support.
5. Wanting to do everything alone
The mistake: moving forward without support, without outside perspective, without structure.
The right thing to do: seek professional support: coaches, consultants, training organizations, or networks.
At OUTPLACEMENT PROFESSIONNEL, we support career change projects from A to Z: assessment, strategy, network, training, launch.