Why it took me 10 years to make a career change

Why it took me 10 years to learn this — and how you can do it faster.

For a long time, I dreamed of making a career change.

The idea of stepping into something new excited me — and completely terrified me.

Two fears held me back for years:

• I didn’t know where to start
  
• I believed I wasn’t “qualified enough” to try something new
  

Even though I was doing well in my job, the self-doubt was relentless.

Could I really succeed in a different industry?
Would I have to take a pay cut and start over from scratch?

The Shift That Changed Everything

It took me years to realise something simple — but powerful:

I wasn’t starting over.

Everything I’d done up to that point — my skills, experiences, and even my mistakes — had value. I just wasn’t seeing them clearly.

Deloitte research backs this up: 85% of the skills we use are transferable.

That statistic changed how I viewed my career change. Instead of seeing it as a leap into the unknown, I started to see it as a continuation of my growth.

My skills weren’t a limitation.
They were an asset.

The real shift came when I learned how to showcase my value in a way hiring teams could understand. Instead of relying solely on online applications, I focused on intentional ways to stand out — ways that highlighted my strengths and positioned me as a high-value candidate.

What Happened Next

Fast forward four years, and my career grew beyond anything I imagined.

• I successfully transitioned into a new industry
  
• I earned my biggest promotion within two years
  
• I was recognised as the #1 creator in my field
  

Here’s the truth most people don’t hear often enough:

Changing careers doesn’t mean leaving your success behind.
It means building on it to step into something even better.

What You Can Do Today

If you’re thinking about making a career change, here’s where to start:

• Recognise the value of your transferable skills
  Take stock of what you’ve accomplished and identify the skills that can apply to a new industry.
  
• Tell your story effectively
  Focus on outcomes and impact — these speak louder than job titles.
  
• Be strategic in your job search
  Go beyond online applications. Network intentionally, connect with hiring managers, and find creative ways to make your value visible.
  

Final Thoughts

Making a career change doesn’t have to take ten years like it did for me.

I’ve taken everything I learned — the trial, error, and hard lessons — and built a programme to help you shortcut the process.

Career Accelerator, my signature group programme, is opening soon. It combines:

• A proven curriculum
  
• Live coaching sessions
  
• Practice interviews and salary negotiations with recruiters from companies like Meta and ByteDance
  

If you’re ready to take the first step toward a career that truly lights you up, join the waitlist for VIP pricing and early access.

Rooting for you,
 Angel Kilian
Founder | Career inFocus

Learn the exact strategies the top 1% use to land premium roles without online applications. Register for our FREE masterclass to for the exact strategies. www.careerinfocus.co/masterclass