It’s a strange feeling, when you get to a crossroads in your career, or a point where you feel disillusioned about it, and you don't know what to do next. I’ve been there more than once. While I’ve had moments of good timing, right place, right opportunity… I’ve also had a few times where I felt completely lost with no idea what was next.
Friends around me seemed sorted. Promotions. Stability and a sense of certainty. And that made finding my “next best thing” feel even more daunting. I remember thinking, “Why does everyone else seem to have it figured out?” And my inner thoughts that I kept to myself were, “Is it too late for me to change?”
Hi, I’m Sam—a certified professional coach, a former accountant (even I can't believe that I did that job!), an HR and Skills Enablement professional, and someone who’s spent around 20 years leading Talent Acquisition teams and hiring strategies, with companies like WPP Landor & Fitch, Deloittes, IBM, Microsoft, Facebook, Kyndryl, and startups too. But that’s the polished version.
The real story? I’ve pivoted. I’ve taken risks. I’ve been rejected. I’ve quit things that weren’t working, and I’ve chosen paths that didn’t make sense on paper, but they made sense to me. For me.
And I did it all without a university degree. I spent two years travelling instead, learning through the “school of life”! So I’ve often wondered: Am I qualified to do something different?
Then one night, while doom-scrolling through the vacuum of LinkedIn jobs, I paused on a quote that said:
“You’re not behind—you’re just not aligned.”
That hit me. For the first time, I started asking better questions—What do I actually want? What kind of work fits who I am now?
And that’s what I’ve come to learn: career clarity doesn’t arrive all at once.
It shows up through questions. Through honest conversations. Through small, brave shifts.
The more I let go of what I “should” be doing and started listening to myself, the more focused and free I became. And did you know that since the pandemic, 4 million Brits have changed careers; for job satisfaction, better pay, or flexibility.
So that’s where my 3 C's come in. At the core of my coaching approach are the 3 C's that have shaped my own career journey. The third C for me is - Courageous.
Because I know how hard it is to put yourself out there when your confidence has taken a hit. But I also know that when you pair courage with self-awareness and strategy… that’s when doors start to open for you.
And that’s why I do what I do now.
I still work in Talent Acquisition because I absolutely love it.
But I also love coaching and helping people. So they don’t have to figure it all out alone like I did. Whether it's job seekers who feel stuck, unclear, or overwhelmed, or people looking for direction, answers or strength in their personal lives.
So, if my story resonates with you, just put some time aside for yourself. Have a think through your goals, your doubts, and what might be possible for you next!
Next up: “The biggest myth about career change (And why It’s keeping you stuck)”
Spoiler alert: it’s got nothing to do with your CV!
Samantha Barron, Certified professional Coach and Agile Champion at Career-Coach.net
Interested to join a FREE once monthly career coaching webinar hosted by Samantha? Select ‘YES’ on your Professional Profile registration page on JobsInAdtech.com to receive the details.