Le vecchie competenze possono tradursi in nuove sfide?

Can old skills translate to new challenges?

We love to celebrate new jobs and fresh starts - here on LinkedIn and in real life. But we don't talk much about the tough learning curve that comes with them.

After having spent the first years of my career as an energy trader, I took a risk and joined a big consulting firm. It was exciting, but also terrifying – I had no idea if I could do it. 

As you can guess, ending my energy trader career meant I never got to be one of those Wall Street 🐺😉

But let me continue with becoming a consultant: it was cold water. I started working on projects with colleagues who'd been doing this for years. I had deep expertise in one field, while the knowledge of others was much more and wider about the industry. 

I was told to ask questions, but as it is often the case, I felt too ashamed and overwhelmed. I remember one project in particular - the first time I visited a client. I wanted to be prepared but I didn't know where to start. I was up the night before going through some tough feedback and researching. 

It was not easy, but slowly, I improved. I gained confidence, got positive feedback, and later, when the time came, even earned a promotion. 

That experience changed me. I realized that my skills from trading were more useful than I thought. 

The analytical skills, strategic thinking and financial acumen I used day-to-day as an energy trader, gave me a foundation to build on, even when things were uncomfortable.

Today, I lead change projects at EY. It's a role that  pushes me to learn and adapt, just like that first career change did. It taught me that growth comes from getting along with discomfort, and that our skills are more adaptable than we realize.

What about you? Have you faced a steep learning curve in your career? I'd love to hear your stories. 

 #change #tlchange #upskillyourself

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