When it comes to your career fear should never be the motivation for any choice you make. When you make career choices out of fear, you limit your potential.   Unfortunately, many people allow fear to lead them when it comes to choosing or not choosing a career path. Have you ever chosen a position just for the salary and benefits, telling yourself that while the job is not a good fit for your talents, the sacrifice is worth it? Or, have you stayed with an employer even though your opportunities for growth within the organization were limited?  These are situations where fear is what is really holding you back. In order to conquer your career fear, keep these three factors in mind:

1. Learn to recognize when your choices are driven by fear.

If you want to make a change yet cannot seem to take the steps necessary to move on, learn to understand how fear could be holding you back. It could be fear of change, fear of losing your paycheck, or the fear of having to learn a new job or get acquainted with new co-workers. Perhaps you are afraid of rejection-- you know you are qualified, but you think other potential employers might not recognize your talents. Fear is a normal emotion. But if you allow fear to prevent you from taking action, your reality will never match up to your dreams. 

2. Being prepared helps you reduce your fears.

Once you know what you are afraid of, you can work to assuage your fears by creating security for yourself. If you want to make a career change that might require you to take a pay cut, build a cushion of savings before you make the move. If your fear relates to the new skills you would need to have before a desired position could be yours, start learning the new skills on your timeline by taking a class at a local community college or career center. If fear of rejection is holding you back, recognize that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain when you are working towards a dream. Every step you take towards your goal is a step away from what is currently making you unhappy or dissatisfied.

3.  The ability to conquer your fears comes from experience.

Remember your first job interview? You’ll likely never forget the butterflies in your stomach and the sweaty palm you extended for the introductory handshake.  But, chances are your next interview after that was better, and by the third one you were hitting your stride. The more you muster the courage to face your fears, the less fear you’ll ultimately feel. That’s the great thing about experience, it gives you confidence. If you constantly expose yourself to situations that make you nervous or uneasy, you’ll eventually reach a point where it takes something significant to make you fearful. This is especially true in your quest for the right career. Explore every opportunity of interest and continuously work to expand your professional comfort zone.

Career fear ruins your chances of true happiness. The next time you think of making a career change push yourself to act with confidence by understanding your fears.  Only then will you be able to overcome them.