5 Myths That Keep You From Changing Careers

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Have you ever felt stuck in your career, watching others find work that truly clicks for them while you struggle to find that same satisfaction? You're not alone! 

As a career coach, I hear these limiting beliefs from clients all the time. The good news? They're just myths—not truths. Let me break them down for you.

Myth #1: "I need to do something that linearly builds on my past jobs."

While telling a coherent story about your career path is important, it doesn't need to be a straight line. 

The average person holds 12.4 jobs between ages 18 and 54, and most people in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties stay in a job for only about 2.5 years. Nonlinear paths are the norm, not the exception.

Past client example: Tam Pham, who started in digital marketing, took a chess sabbatical, worked in events and community, and ultimately found his passion founding Bachata Library.

Reality check: Focus on identifying your transferable skills rather than job titles. When you detach skills from their context, new possibilities emerge. And remember that you are the storyteller and you can make your career plot points make sense with a little bit of narrative crafting.  

Myth #2: "It’s too different."

"That's not me" can be one of the most limiting beliefs of all. Being afraid of what people will think of you if you try to do something different, or that you won’t be able to show up in a new kind of way is going to keep you right where you are. You can’t find a new fitting role if you don’t even allow yourself to be open to a new way of showing up. 

Past client example: Julia, who came from a creative family and started her career as a designer. Despite her background, she felt drawn to medicine. It took courage for her to challenge her own identity and explore this new path, but she's now in a pre-med program and feels more aligned than ever.

Reality check: Your past doesn't dictate your future. Just because you haven't done something before doesn't mean you can't do it now.

Myth #3: "I need a clear plan before I make a transition."

Many of us are taught that a successful career move requires meticulous planning—the five-year roadmap, the detailed strategy, all the contingencies covered. This belief keeps countless people stuck in unfulfilling roles while they try to plan their way to perfection. But the truth is a roadmap or plan is… just a plan. Usually when you’re in explore mode it actually can be good to test some experiments and plan for the process to be more iterative. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith before all the details come into focus. Having some direction is valuable, but waiting for complete clarity often means waiting forever.

Past client example: Andrea was burning out in her newsroom job and quit without a detailed plan. She trusted in her skills and experience, took time to recuperate, and eventually landed a prestigious journalism fellowship. Now she works as a freelance video journalist and filmmaker.

Reality check: Taking stock of your expertise, connections, and past wins can give you the confidence to take a leap without having everything figured out in advance.

Myth #4: "It's too late for me."

This one is particularly painful—the belief that you've missed your window of opportunity because of your age or stage in life. We look around at others who seem to have figured it all out earlier, or we worry about starting at the bottom when our peers are mid-career. This time-based comparison keeps us stuck in careers that no longer serve us, all because we believe the arbitrary timeline we've created for ourselves is somehow Truth. 

Past client example: Lisa, a ceramicist in her mid-forties, worried it was too late to become an artist. After discovering clay and building a studio in her garage, she worked on building confidence in her artistic identity. Within months, she organized her first solo exhibition which was a glowing success.

Reality check: Unless you're trying out for the Junior Olympics at age 30, most career paths remain possible regardless of your age. Think of late bloomers like Toni Morrison and Julia Child!

Myth #5: "I need more money to change careers."

Financial concerns are legitimate when considering a career transition, but they can snowball from practical considerations into insurmountable barriers if we don’t keep the fears in check. The belief that we need a substantial financial cushion or that pursuing meaningful work inevitably means sacrificing income keeps many people from exploring alternatives. While having resources certainly helps, creativity and gradual transitions can often overcome financial constraints.

Kayleigh started with jobs in hospitality and nannying while doing freelance illustration and selling ceramics on the side. She wanted to center her creativity in her income stream but worried about the financial implications. By investing in a Squarespace design course and teaching herself web design, she eventually replaced her nannying income with creative client work.

Reality check: You don't need to be rich to switch careers. Get clear about your true financial needs and find an experimental path forward that works with your risk tolerance.

The Bottom Line: Your Mindset Matters

What you choose to believe can be the difference between staying stuck and finding a path you love. If you listen to these limiting beliefs, you'll stay right where you are. If you prize growth and want to find that satisfying fit, make sure you focus on good mental hygiene.

Career change isn't easy, but thinking of it as a healthy stretch can make growth feel manageable. What do you want to stretch into?