In my experience as a Career Coach supporting clients with their career management, a person beginning their career will often consider or plan for a certain trajectory. The most common path is one that follows a vertical line — an upward slope, progressing from role to new role, increasing salary and responsibilities alongside learning, status and, often, stress. There is a rhythm to it, a recognizable forward movement.
Other people follow a more horizontal path, choosing to stay in one place and deepen their expertise, or to balance their work life with other equally meaningful pursuits. Both are valid. Both take intention.
What about the energy of career transition — that uncertain space between jobs when nothing seems to be happening? The trajectory has stopped. Momentum feels elusive. What can a person do during this time to feel like they are still growing, still moving, still themselves?
This is the territory I work in every day. I continue to be inspired by the resilience and creativity of people as they absorb the initial shock of a work stop and then navigate the uncertainty of what comes next. I asked several past career transition clients what had sustained them. Here is what they told me.
1. Take excellent care of yourself. Job searching is hard work. Be scrupulous with exercise, solid nutrition, and sleep. “A lack of good habits is demotivating,” one person shared. Another noticed how much better she felt when she committed to her self-care routine — and her confidence in her search grew alongside it.
2. Networking is key. Online applications consume enormous time and energy, and staring at a screen is draining. Find ways to interact with real people. One of the most effective strategies is volunteering — find something meaningful to you and invest in it. You will make a difference, and you will be building relationships with people who may well support your career advancement down the road.
3. Find a rhythm to your week. Some clients discovered that early mornings were their sharpest job-search hours, with afternoons saved for self-care and learning. Others found the first three days of the week most productive and used the freedom of an open schedule for adventures — backcountry ski trips, walking children home from school, whatever recharged them. Consider short-term contracts too. They remind you of your value, bring in revenue, and keep your network alive.
4. Surround yourself with upbeat people. Find those who love you and like to laugh with you. Read motivating authors and seek out communities built around encouragement and practical support. A good job-search support group will sustain you through the dry spells and celebrate genuinely when good news comes.
5. Keep learning. One client picked up a new language during her transition; another expanded his coding skills. Formal learning adds to your resume and signals your commitment to growth. Volunteering, as mentioned above, can be equally meaningful — and what you learn about yourself in service of others is often the most valuable of all.
This time, as uncertain as it feels, will pass. The question worth sitting with is: how do you want to look back on it? How has it made you stronger, increased your resilience, and added to your value — not just as a professional, but as a person?
Roselyn Himann
Vanterra HR
Vanterra HR is a Canadian career management firm delivering customised outplacement, coaching, and career transition programmes for individuals and organisations across North America.