Breaking Free: Tackling the Fear of a Lateral Move
As humans, we’re naturally fearful of the unknown, which means that change can be scary. However, throughout your career, allowing fear to rule your decisions can be stifling. To achieve professional and personal goals, you must feel free to make a lateral move, seeking new opportunities to learn and grow.
Studies show that most adults have had an average of 12 different jobs by the time they reach the age of 55, and in today’s world, “job hopping” is becoming more common, particularly among Gen Z candidates.
It's important to recognize that the legal industry views "job hopping" differently. Traditionally, legal professionals have longer tenures and change jobs less frequently. “Job hopping” can be seen negatively in this field, as loyalty and commitment to a firm are highly valued.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a lateral move or are stuck at one or two firms for your entire career. Transitioning to a new role can provide access to enhanced flexibility, expanded growth opportunities, and improved alignment with your professional aspirations.
The challenge is figuring out how to overcome the natural hesitation most of us feel when leaving our comfort zones. To help with that, here’s our guide to conquering the fear of change.
Understanding Fear of Change in Your Career
Psychology tells us that human beings often fear change. We grow accustomed to certain patterns in our lives, and the “predictability” that comes with consistent experiences in a specific role or job is comforting.
Moving into a new role can surface various concerns. Some attorneys fear they won’t be able to thrive in their new role as they did in their previous positions. Imposter syndrome can also create issues, particularly for attorneys moving into roles with more responsibilities.
We often ask ourselves whether we have what it takes to excel in new positions. Plus, in today’s complex corporate landscape, there’s the constant fear of financial insecurity.
During challenging economic times, the prospect of job insecurity can make a career move seem daunting. Many individuals fear they may lack stability in a new position, or worse, be the first to go if they don't meet performance goals. The well-known saying "last in, first out" often amplifies these concerns.
On top of this, each new job comes with unique challenges to overcome. You may find that you have skill gaps to address before you can thrive in a role, particularly if a firm is embracing new processes and technologies.
If you're a lawyer transitioning into a role with increased responsibility, such as partnership or managing a larger caseload, you might be concerned about maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
This sort of uncertainty often prompts lawyers to stay in their current roles, meaning missed opportunities and forfeited career growth.
Overcoming the Fear of Change
Tackling the fear of change when moving to a new firm or role isn’t always easy. People generally experience some anxiety when starting a new position. An interesting statistic shows that around 53% of employees say starting a new role is scarier than a trip to the dentist!
If you are reluctant to embrace change, there are ways to conquer your fear, prepare yourself, adjust your mindset, and welcome every career growth opportunity that comes your way openly.
Step 1: Assess your Current Situation
Conducting a self-assessment exercise is an excellent way to prepare for a successful job transition. Looking closely at your current situation will help you define the reasons for wanting to move to a new firm or role. Our Career Checklist was specifically designed to help you with this.
If you're considering a job change, it's important to understand your motivations. Reflect on whether you're feeling stagnant in your current role, misaligned with the firm or practice group culture, or simply disengaged. Identifying the "why" behind your desire for change can be a powerful tool. It allows you to focus on the positive aspects of embracing change, especially when those inevitable nerves start to creep in. Remember, recognizing the reasons for your desired change can serve as a reminder of the benefits that await you.
As part of the process, research can include looking into firm culture (by reading associate reviews and getting insight from a well-connected recruiter) or growth opportunities (by checking a firm's website). This will help define how moving jobs will help you achieve your long-term career goals.
In addition, reviewing your current situation will allow you to assess your strengths and weaknesses/development areas. Knowing your strengths will help you to overcome feelings of imposter syndrome, while understanding your weaknesses will help you identify areas where you need to improve. This way, you can develop skills that will help you excel in your new position.
Step 2: Preparing for the Transition
After your self-assessment, you should hold enough valuable information to help determine how to prepare for a move. This will put you in a position to compare your list of strengths and key skills to the role you want to transition to.
Ask yourself how you can overcome gaps and weaknesses in your skills with a personalized development plan. You might invest in online courses and workshops or seek a mentor to help you through the migration process. We suggest focusing on both soft and technical skills when working to overcome any gaps.
Remember that your recruiter is skilled in all these areas and can help.
If you don’t have a new role lined up already, consider how you can prepare for the “job search” journey, including:
Building your network: Optimize your online presence on channels like LinkedIn. Attend industry events and try to develop strong connections with other lawyers.
Preparing for interviews: Research common interview questions, learn about the firms you want to work for and prepare STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) responses to interview questions.
Enhancing your job search: Work with a recruiter to access a wider range of job opportunities, tailor your Resumé and cover letter to each firm you want to work for and use more targeted job search strategies.
Step 3: Overcoming Mental Barriers
Mental barriers can pose the biggest hurdle for lawyers moving into new roles. It’s natural to feel anxious and uncertain. However, the wrong mindset can exacerbate your fears and prevent you from making crucial moves in your career.
Start by assessing your anxieties. Ask yourself what you’re worried about and what you can do to alleviate those concerns. If you’re nervous about not meeting your firm’s expectations, look at skills you can develop to make yourself feel more confident in your application.
If your main concern is managing work/life balance in a new role, establish boundaries early on. This is something that is often much easier to do when starting a new job. Implement a strategy for self-care during your career transition, and practice developing your time management skills.
Transitioning Into Your New Role
After you’ve dealt with the anxieties associated with searching for a new job, completing interviews, and preparing for a different role, moving into your new position can be challenging, too. To boost your chances of immediate and ongoing success:
Embrace the Onboarding Process
Before your official start date, proactively seek information about the firm's practice areas (especially beyond your own), clients, and culture. Although you may not be able to delve into specific casework until you're officially on board, familiarize yourself with the firm's overall direction and values.
Integrate into the Culture
If you’ve researched, you should know what to expect from a new firm’s culture. However, actively observing and learning from colleagues around you will help you to embed yourself into the environment more effectively. Maintain an open mindset about new ways of working, and be ready to ask for advice when necessary.
Be a Team Player
Become an active participant in your firm's culture and foster genuine connections with your colleagues. Take advantage of firm events and schedule individual meetings to gain insights from experienced colleagues in your field. Seek out a mentor or buddy, even outside of formal programs, and regularly ask for their feedback.
Remember, the seasoned professionals within your firm, such as assistants, finance teams, PD, recruiting, HR, and IT staff, possess a wealth of knowledge and can be invaluable resources as you navigate your career. Show them the respect they deserve, and you'll find they can be instrumental in helping you learn and grow.
Stay Adaptable
Your responsibilities and team dynamics could change unexpectedly. Stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies in your practice area. Regularly assess and update your skill set and seek opportunities to learn and grow. Invest in building your abilities over time and strengthening your network.
Think Long-Term
Remember to keep an eye on your long-term career goals. Think about how you can take advantage of development opportunities and unique projects to take new steps in your career. Look at how you can develop transferrable skills to assist you in future roles.
Breaking Free from Comfort Zones
We all have our comfort zones, which sometimes can be helpful, particularly when setting boundaries. However, if a fear of change stops you from progressing in your career, it’s important to find ways to push beyond this roadblock.
The strategies above will help you to step out of what feels comfortable and assist you in achieving new career goals. Despite being able to tackle this on your own, working with a professional recruiter can set you apart from the competition. Your recruitment partner can help you identify priorities, find and highlight opportunities that match your goals, and assist you in making positive decisions throughout your career.
