Career Change Course Part 1 - Uncovering Your Dream List

Summary

Nikki Smith presents the first installment of a three-part career-change program from Candidate Coach. This session focuses on generating at least three possible “dream role” or business ideas before evaluating their feasibility. The broader program is designed to help participants move from wanting a career change to having a clearer plan: later sessions cover testing ideas and building confidence, then choosing a practical route to a new role.

Frameworks and playbooks

• Seven-step career-change framework: This session covers the first step—uncovering possible roles or business ideas. Later sessions address “mini experiments” and roadmaps for making a change.
• Baseline self-assessment: Participants write down:
  • How long they have been considering a change, such as three months, one year, or two to three years.
  • Their main obstacle: having no ideas, having too many ideas, or not knowing where to start.
  • Their reasons for changing, such as seeking greater autonomy, a more positive environment, or flexibility.
  • Their progress over the past six weeks, using a red/orange/green rating to indicate inactivity or uncertainty, inconsistent action, or consistent action.
• Dream-role brainstorming: Participants imagine having unlimited time, talent, and money—not just money—and list ideas without judging whether they are practical or achievable. The aim is to generate options, not choose one immediately.
• Four idea categories: Explore creative work, lifestyle possibilities, running a business, and employee roles. Examples include writing, sculpture, living by the sea, traveling, product or service businesses, coaching, consultancy, charities, and purpose-driven companies.
• Keep multiple options open: Smith recommends delaying early filtering. Participants who already favor an idea, have several interests, or doubt that an idea could be viable are encouraged to continue to the next session, which is intended to help test ideas and build clarity and confidence.

Case study and examples

Alex, formerly head of retail banking at Bendigo Bank, felt there was more she wanted from work but had no clear alternative and little confidence about leaving banking. The exercise generated 12 ideas, including interior design, Italian tour guiding, consulting, and owning a farm with rescue dogs.

The idea that emerged most strongly drew on Alex’s strengths in strategy and working with people. She moved into a full-time business helping companies grow. The video shows her six months after leaving the bank.

Smith also shares personal examples of unrestricted brainstorming: becoming a philanthropist, working as a scuba-diving instructor, and creating large sculptures—even when those ideas initially seem unrealistic.

Metrics and targets

• Smith reports more than 18 years of career-change experience, having conducted over 2,000 job interviews and assessed over 6,000 resumes.
• The target for this session is to leave with at least three role or business ideas.
• For Alex, Smith describes a shift from zero confidence and clarity to approximately 95% confidence and clarity. Alex was working full-time in her business six months after leaving the bank.
• The video mentions the possibility that 80% of jobs are not advertised, framing this as a later job-search challenge rather than a focus of this session.

Actionable recommendations

1. Write down your current career-change situation, obstacles, motivations, and recent level of action.
2. Brainstorm across both employment and business options, including lifestyle preferences.
3. Add ideas that appeal to you, even if you lack the skills, confidence, or a clear route to making them viable.
4. Treat the list as a starting point, not a commitment. Use later testing and planning to decide what to pursue.

Presenter and source

• Nikki Smith is a psychologist and career-change coach, and the presenter and creator of the training.
• The Candidate Coach is the channel and career-coaching resource hosting the course.