Helpful tips for career transitions

Every year end, I find myself reflecting on what I’ve learned and where I’m headed.

That reflection often brings excitement—and sometimes anxiety—about picking up new skills.

Maybe you’re in the same situation: you want to shift into a different role, explore a new industry, or simply feel more competent in an area that’s long interested you.

Either way, learning a new skill in the context of a career move can be challenging. Here are a few things that have kept me on track.

Find structure

Information is everywhere. The real challenge is figuring out what to learn—and when. If you jump straight into advanced concepts, you’ll get overwhelmed and likely quit.

When you’re transitioning careers, you might not have a formal curriculum to guide you. You’ll essentially set your own learning plan.

I like to break any skill into three rough levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Ask yourself: Where am I right now? What do I need to reach the next level?

Answering these questions helps you plan so it’s less overwhelming.

Seek out community

Skills grow faster in a supportive environment.

When I started learning Product Design in 2018, I joined a design community in Lagos called Usable.

I built friendships with people who were on the same journey and that provided me with fresh ideas, feedback, and opportunities.

Communities can introduce you to opportunities you might not find on your own—especially in a new field.

So look for Slack channels, local meetups, or online forums where people in your target industry connect.

Don’t be shy about showing up. You never know who you’ll meet or what might come your way.

Look for mentors

The apprenticeship model has lasted for centuries because it works.

Observing someone experienced in your chosen field can show you precisely where to focus and what to avoid.

A good mentor helps you see what high-quality work looks like.

They can offer advice, give you constructive feedback, and potentially connect you with people who can accelerate your growth—crucial if you’re entering a field where you have few contacts.

But mentorship doesn’t always happen in person.

If direct contact isn’t possible, follow people you admire on social media, read their articles or watch their talks, and pay attention to how they think.

Mentorship is about learning someone’s thought process, not just copying tactics.

You’ll suck at first (that’s okay)

When you’re new at something—especially in a new career path—your work can feel inadequate.

You might recognize what “great” looks like, yet struggle to achieve it. It’s normal to wonder if you’ll ever catch up.

Ed Sheeran famously exposed one of his earliest tracks—terrible by his own admission—to show how essential practice is.

That’s exactly what you can expect: make something not-so-great, learn from it, make a slightly better version, and repeat.

Get feedback

Practice is necessary, but feedback helps you refine what you practice.

If you only work alone, it’s tough to gauge your progress.

When you quickly go from “I have an idea” to “Here’s a rough version—please give feedback,” you’ll learn sooner what’s effective and what needs fixing.

If you’ve found a community or a mentor, those are reliable sources of honest feedback.

Share your work in progress and pay attention to the critique. It can sting, but remember it’s aimed at the work, not you.

Over time, this cycle of creation and refinement will help you improve faster than you might expect.

In closing

Learning new skills is an important part of staying relevant—especially if you’re stepping into a whole new career path.

It’s rarely easy, but it helps to have a plan: figure out where you are, tap into a community, find mentors, and accept that the early stages can be messy.

Through consistent practice and ongoing feedback, you’ll be surprised by how quickly you improve.

Special thanks to Chibuzor Okeke and Done Josiah for reading early drafts.