It’s hard to change careers, and it’s even harder when your path is anything but straight. But our client, Nathan, proves that it’s possible to pivot with clarity, faith and strategy.
In just under 2 months, Nathan went from job search burnout to landing his dream role as Executive Coordinator at United Way Greater Houston. His journey, from petroleum engineering to missions work overseas to nonprofit leadership, is packed with career change lessons for anyone wondering if it’s too late to start over.
Lesson 1: Clarity Starts With Letting Go
One of the hardest career change lessons Nathan learned was to let go of the paths that no longer fit, breaking away from the traditional belief that you should only pursue the degree you graduated with.
“I wanted to keep trying for all of them and see what came first,” Nathan explains. “But that was slowing me down.”
Through our program, Nathan explored key questions like:
- What kind of work energizes me?
- What tasks drain me, even if I’m good at them?
- Do I actually want to spend 70% of my time doing this?
These questions helped him narrow his focus and release the fear of rejections. He realized that his technical background was valuable, but he didn’t want a role dominated by solitary computer work. Instead, he wanted roles with more human connection and a mission-driven focus, which he pursued.
Lesson 2: Informational Interviews Are a Game-Changer
Like most of our clients, Nathan was hesitant about reaching out to people for informational interviews at first. “I had fears of what people would think, but I realized that most people enjoy sharing advice and it makes them feel like experts,” Nathan shared.
Through these informational interviews, Nathan gained clarity on what roles suited him and discovered hidden job opportunities! These conversations also helped him build confidence for later outreach to hiring managers.
As we always tell our clients, conversations (and not endless scrolling through job boards) are the fastest route to clarity! Start with people you know, and then expand to professionals in your target fields.
Lesson 3: Strategic Outreach Opens Doors
This became one of Nathan’s most valuable career change lessons – that networking is NOT just about asking for jobs. It’s about building real connections, and that’s why he didn’t stop at informational interviews.
Once he narrowed his focus to nonprofit roles, he began reaching out directly to hiring managers. This was daunting at first, but those informational interviews gave him the confidence to make those connections.
When he saw an opening for an Executive Coordinator role at United Way of Houston, he applied, even though it wasn’t one of his initial target roles. Then he took it a step further: he connected with the VP that he would later support.
This proactive approach helped him stand out. It led to a phone interview, and eventually a job offer (and one that he actually feels called to!).
If you’re still hesitant about strategic outreach, just try sending out 5 messages today. You’ll never know when a simple LinkedIn message could totally change your career!
Lesson 4: Progress Loves a Tracker
Nathan used our simple system to track applications, outreach efforts, and interviews. His results speak for themselves:
- 31 applications sent (although he states that there may be more that are just quick applications)
- 41 professionals contacted
- 6 interviews secured
- 1 dream job offer in less than 2 months!
Tracking your progress can turn your chaotic job search into a manageable process. It also gives you encouragement when the responses start coming in.
Lesson 5: Faith and Community Can Sustain You
Job searching can definitely feel isolating, but Nathan found strength in God and our little community!
“The prayer calls and digital community were huge,” he says. “It was encouraging to see others going through the same thing, celebrating their wins, and being reminded that we’re not alone in this journey.”
This spiritual support helped Nathan stay grounded and hopeful during setbacks (which is always normal for a job search)! The key takeaway is to surround yourself with people who remind you that your worth is not tied to your work, and God’s timing is always perfect!
Your Career Change Is Possible Too
No matter how crazy you think your ideas are, or if you want to switch careers to something that you think is impossible to achieve, Nathan’s story just proves that ALL your path is leading you to meaningful and fulfilling work!
In our group, we call Nathan the action-taker, because he really did become consistent with his actions as soon as he got the clarity on the path he wanted. If you’re ready to change careers but feel unsure where to start, we can help you:
- Get clarity on the job you want – even if you feel so lost right now
- Rebrand your resume and LinkedIn to highlight your God-given gifts and talents
- Teach you how to network naturally and land referrals
- Equip you with interview confidence and salary negotiation skills
- + more!
Your breakthrough could be closer than you think. Book a free call here!
If you need more inspiration, listen to Nathan’s full story here.
