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Career transitions are inevitable and prevalent.

Whether the result of downsizing, a promotion, or a need for change, transitions involve invisible work.

Managing uncertainty and emotional preparation are the covert work of career transitions.

Do I have what it takes for this job?

What does “you’re not the right fit for this position” even mean?

Time is running out; I may have to just take the next soul-crushing job because I’ve got to pay the bills.

Each of these questions are thoughts that may have run through your mind during a career transition.

Career transitions are often framed as moments of opportunity, growth, reinvention, and uncertainty. Whether you are transitioning because of downsizing, growing out of your current role, or just needing a change, there is invisible work that comes with pivoting to something new. The mental load required to move from one professional identity to another is often underestimated. We also can’t forget the cognitive, emotional, and relational labor experienced in making the transition.

With the prevalence of career transitions, scholars have taken note. Most recently, research from the Journal of Vocational Behavior and the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology reveals three factors that shape the career transition experience the most:

the type of transition you’re making

whether it’s planned or unexpected

how things turn out in the end

Each of these influences not just what you do during a transition, but how much internal effort it takes to get through it.

The first factor is the type of transition itself. Are you staying within........

© Psychology Today