‘Knowing your why’: Eight key tips when making a career change

ByIsabella Hornick

Fact checked byKristen Dowd

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Key takeaways:

Before making a career change, know your motivation behind the change.
Other tips for a career change include making an action plan and shifting “your brand.”

For physicians considering a career change, Melinda M. Rathkopf, MD, MBA, says it is important to consider eight essential tips to execute the move successfully.

“Any change or pivot is not easy, so you want to make sure it’s a proactive and not a reactive ‘why.’ If you’re seeking something new or different just because you’re not happy with the current, you may find you’re not happy with the new and different. Knowing your ‘why’ is going to set you up for success,” Rathkopf, medical director of allergy/immunology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and associate professor of pediatrics in the division of allergy and immunology at Emory University School of Medicine, said during an interview with Healio.

The why and what

For the first tip, “start with the ‘why,’” Rathkopf encouraged physicians considering a career change to think about the motivation behind their desire to make the change. She referenced an article on the topic published on The Muse, which resonated with her.

“Of all the resources I read [on the career change process], this one really resonated with me because it goes to the core of the ‘why’,” Rathkopf, who is also a member of the Healio Women in Allergy Peer Perspective Board, said. “If you’re leaving a job or looking for a career change because you’re unhappy, you really need to look at that and consider why you think [a career change] would make you happy. Are you running from something or are you running towards something?”

The second tip is to get clear on the “what.”

“This involves picturing your dream job and writing out your strengths, skills, beliefs and other qualities,” Rathkopf said. “Write out what your perfect workday, or workweek would be like. What would fulfill you? What balance of teaching, clinical care and administrative work are you looking for? If I say I want my ‘what’ to be ‘I could run this entire hospital,’ I’m not sure I have the strengths and the skills to do that right now, so that’s not realistic.”

Next, figure out the “what’s it going to take,” she continued.

“[Once you] know clearly what it is you’re looking for, ask [yourself if you] have the skill set for that right now,” Rathkopf said. “Do you need additional training?”

After answering the key questions, it is time to make an action plan that outlines the steps necessary to achieve your goal.

“This part is especially important if you need to obtain extra training for the job you want,” Rathkopf said. “Can you leave your current job and pursue the training and additional exposure, or do you need to stay at your current job financially until you’re ready to make the pivot?”

Another key element to include in your action plan is discussions with family, the physician group you are leaving and your patients.

“Your action plan needs to include your family, especially if it creates a change in pay, a change in benefits and a move,” she said.

Shift, leverage and be realistic

The fifth tip is “shift your brand.”

“You want to leverage your strengths,” Rathkopf said. “Look at your current skills, [and figure out] which of these are transferable and vital to your new role, and market those skills. Highlight your relevant experiences and tailor your resume and your CV towards the job you’re looking for rather than the job you’ve been doing,” she said.

The next tip, “leverage your network,” focuses on showcasing your new career interests to those around you via social media and/or LinkedIn profiles, according to Rathkopf.

“[At this point in my career,] I was more motivated by a location, whereas previously in my career, I based it on the job and the people I’d be working with,” she told Healio. “I looked to see who I knew in the area, who I knew that I would be willing to work with and that they’d be willing to work with me and then reach out and see what they have available.”

While going through the career change process, Rathkopf said it is important to “give it time.”

“Don’t underestimate the work and time a career pivot can take,” she said. “When people pivot, they must remember to be realistic, be patient and be willing to work hard to make it happen.”

Set expectations

The final tip is “set your expectations” and remember your life outside of work, Rathkopf said.

“Don’t forget about the rest of your life, especially your family and friends,” she said. “Your pivot affects them also. As fulfilling as a career can be, it’s only part of your life.”

For physicians who feel like they are too far along into their career, Rathkopf said “it’s never too late.”

“I went back and got my MBA in my 50s,” she said. “I did this huge career change in my 50s. You’re never stuck, and it’s never too late to pivot.”

References:

Foss J. 8 steps to an utterly successful career change. Themuse.com. Published Oct. 20, 2014. https://www.themuse.com/advice/8-steps-to-an-utterly-successful-career-change.
Rathkopf MM. Bela Schick Lecture. Don’t be afraid to pivot: Changing your career rather than abandoning it. Presented at: 2025 AAAAI/WAO Joint Congress; Feb. 28-March 3, 2025; San Diego.