“I worked so hard, but I didn’t enjoy most of what I was doing.” 

What work were you doing previously?    

I was Branch Chief in the headquarters office at NASA, managing six staff and the federal budget process.

What are you doing now?    

I’m now Strategic Advisor to the CFO at the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

Why did you change?

Probably ten different reasons, but if I boil it down, I spent 11 years at NASA and I was never as fulfilled as I had been in some prior jobs. 

I worked so hard, I felt like I was burning the candle at both ends, but I didn’t enjoy most of what I was doing. 

There was a lot of work in that agency that I would have preferred to get involved with – but either those opportunities weren’t open to me, or I didn’t have the bandwidth to take them on. 

When was the moment you decided to make the change?    

I was on a food tasting tour in Italy. 

Everyone was going around the table, sharing where they were from and what they did. I was the last to share, and when I said I worked at NASA, everyone was amazed. 

It felt like I “won” the conversation. 

I thought about that moment a lot over the following week, and the penny dropped that I had stayed in my job for so long because it sounded good, not because I enjoyed it. 

That moment was a real turning point for me.

How did you choose your new career?

I took part in the Career Change Launch Pad with Careershifters. Part of what we do on the course is identify career directions that we’re excited about. 

Looking at what emerged for me from that process, I discovered that I didn’t have to leave my industry entirely. It was just my particular job, and the culture of the agency where I worked, that I was unhappy with. In fact, I could do a lot of what I enjoy as a specialist. 

That meant I could be a lot more focused in my job-search process.

Are you happy with the change?  

I am. It’s been a challenging 18 months, no question, but I feel like I’m having a positive impact. 

My new role has lots of room for work I enjoy: creative problem solving, strategic planning, process improvement, culture building, adopting technology. 

Plus, my new boss and other colleagues are actually people I had worked with several years ago, and they allow me to carve out space for the work that gets me out of bed in the morning.  

I’m still adjusting to the culture, but it seems like a more natural fit for me. 

I feel like I can trust my instincts again.

What do you miss and what don't you miss?

At NASA I gained a ton of technical knowledge, and I miss being able to use that expertise. 

I also miss following the scientific discoveries and asking colleagues my layman questions! 

I’m a science fiction fan and have always had a deep fascination with the universe, which is what drew me to working at that agency in the first place.

How did you go about making the shift?

I quit my job about a week after the trip to Italy. 

I took 6 months for myself, doing some travel and volunteering, and I joined the Launch Pad to help me work out what I wanted to do next. 

After that, I was job-hunting for about another 6 months, and I ended up getting offers from both the Peace Corps and National Science Foundation within a few days of each other. 

Thanks to the Launch Pad, I was clear on what was most important to me – and that helped me make my choice between the two. 

I picked the NSF offer.  

How did you develop (or transfer) the skills you needed for your new role?

I’m still in the process of doing so. 

In this kind of sector, it takes time to build the relationships and understanding to do my work as effectively as I want to. 

Some of my technical expertise around the federal budget process has transferred, and I’ve enjoyed sharing my experience of different approaches than the process this new agency uses. 

Talking about my experience and using it as a training opportunity for colleagues has been an effective way for me to meet people and build their trust. 

I’ve also looked for special projects and volunteered to get involved, which has helped me build connections and learn the ropes. 

What didn’t go well? What wrong turns did you take?

About three months before getting the NSF position, I thought I had a job lined up (that I really wanted) at a different agency. 

Unfortunately, the funding for the position fell through and they were unable to offer it to me (or anyone else). 

It was really disappointing at the time.

I took that setback really hard, and in retrospect, I wish I hadn’t. 

How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible?    

Between my savings and my wife’s job, we were able to make it work. 

We’ve now swapped places – I’m working, and it’s her turn to take some time off. 

What was the most difficult thing about changing?

What help did you get?

The Launch Pad provided a good framework for working through a career shift.

In particular, it helped me be more comfortable talking to others about what I was doing, even while I wasn’t working. 

What have you learnt in the process?    

I’ve learned to enjoy the indirect paths my life is taking. Not everything is a straight shot, nor does it have to be!

What do you wish you'd done differently?

Maybe I wish I’d made a change sooner? But not really. Things worked out as they should have.

What would you advise others to do in the same situation? 

A lot of people in my life couldn’t understand why I would leave NASA (they still can’t to some extent), and their opinions affected me. 

Do your best to explain what you are doing, but don’t ruminate over other people’s anxiety.  

What resources would you recommend to others?

"Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans was a great read.

What lessons could you take from Sean's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Sean took part in our Career Change Launch Pad. If you're ready to join a group of bright, motivated career changers on a structured programme to help you find more fulfilling work, you can find out more here.