How to make the most of summer to reinvent yourself professionally

During the summer, everything slows down a little. There are fewer meetings, fewer urgent emails, and more time to breathe. And that has a direct consequence: we start thinking more clearly. In fact, several studies on workplace well-being and motivation suggest that over 60% of professionals in Spain have considered changing jobs in recent months. Why? Because when people take a step back, many realize they’re not where they want to be… and they start to wonder: What if now is the right time to make a professional change?

But changing direction isn’t just about wishful thinking. It requires clarity and a realistic strategy. The good news? It’s entirely possible—step by step. Start by reviewing where you are, what skills you bring, where the job market is headed, and what you may need to learn in order to make the leap.

At this stage, any help is welcome. So if you’re exploring options to pivot your career or give your professional profile a boost, Planeta Formación y Universidades offers a free academic and career guidance tool. In collaboration with Singularity Experts, we’ve developed a test that analyzes your personal strengths, interests, and skills to recommend training programs and career paths with strong future potential.

Take time to reflect: what drives your reinvention?

Identify your passions and skills

One of the first steps in any career change is simply to pause and reflect. You don’t need to have everything figured out, but it’s essential to start sorting through your thoughts. Sometimes the best thing you can do is take a basic inventory: what you're good at, what tasks feel easy and enjoyable, and what kinds of activities make you lose track of time.

Many career pivots start with simple things—like rediscovering a forgotten skill or rekindling a long-lost interest. Think back to three or four recent moments when you felt proud of a job well done, or remember projects that truly energized you. Those memories can provide valuable insights.

Define what you want to achieve with this career shift

After identifying your skills and interests, the next step is to clarify why you want to change. It’s important to name your goal. Maybe you want more stability, the chance to learn something new, a break from your current routine, a better work environment, a job that fits better with your personal life, or perhaps you want to reconnect with a sense of purpose you’ve left behind.

Having that goal clearly defined from the start makes future decisions much easier. Wanting to switch industries isn’t the same as wanting to grow within your current field. Either way, the clearer your destination, the easier it is to chart your path.

Analyse the job market: are there opportunities for you?

Research trends and new opportunities in the sectors that interest you

Once you’ve set your sights on a goal, it’s time to explore the landscape. Understanding what’s happening in the job market helps you make informed, realistic decisions. As of 2025, certain sectors are seeing strong growth—like technology, healthcare, logistics, and renewable energy.

At the same time, the careers with the most job openings in Spain in 2025 are closely linked to digital transformation, sustainability, and essential services—areas that are shaping the future of employment.

Digital transformation continues to reshape many traditional roles. More and more companies are looking for people with basic digital literacy, data management skills (like big data), familiarity with analytical tools, and the ability to work in digital customer service environments.

Set clear and realistic goals for your reinvention

Define your short, medium and long-term objectives

• When it comes to career change, the best approach is to break the process down. Start with your short-term goals—small actions you can complete in a month or two. This might include reading up on a new industry, updating your resume, enrolling in a course, or taking a career guidance test to explore fields you’re curious about.
• Next, focus on medium-term goals. These could include completing a longer course, doing an internship, earning an official certification, or starting to submit job applications. This stage typically takes three to six months, depending on where you're starting from.
• Finally, consider your long-term goals: changing jobs, switching industries, taking on new responsibilities, or even launching your own business. This is the final stage and usually takes the longest to achieve.

Create a detailed action plan with specific milestones

Once you’ve set your goals, the most practical step is to put together a simple action plan with specific tasks and target dates. For example: in July, research three digital marketing courses; in August, update your professional profiles on social media; in September, send five applications to companies you’ve identified.

This kind of plan doesn’t need to be rigid. In fact, the more personalized it is to your pace and lifestyle, the easier it will be to follow through.

Train and acquire new skills

Learning new things is one of the most powerful ways to prepare for a career change. For example, if a particular industry—like artificial intelligence, data analytics, logistics, or healthcare services—is gaining momentum, now is a great time to research what kind of training is available in that field and whether it aligns with your future plans.

There’s a wide range of options: short courses, online certificates, specialized programs, hands-on workshops, and even publicly funded training. In Spain, universities, business schools, and institutions like Planeta Formación y Universidades are starting to offer more tailored programs to meet today’s needs—such as training in digital skills, cybersecurity, or content marketing.

The power of networking for your reinvention

The famous idea of “pulling strings” has nothing to do with asking for favors or handing out resumes. Networking, when done well, is something much more natural: staying in touch with acquaintances, exchanging ideas or questions with professionals in your field of interest, and spotting opportunities that often aren’t advertised publicly.

In Spain, a significant percentage of job opportunities come through personal referrals or direct recommendations. That’s why maintaining relationships with former colleagues, professors, collaborators—or even clients—can open unexpected doors. Some people have changed industries just by casually mentioning that they were “looking for something new.”

Beyond in-person contact, online professional networks like LinkedIn allow you to see what others are working on, what skills are in demand, and what paths people in similar situations have taken.

Adapt and cultivate a growth mindset

Changing careers requires adaptability—and that’s not always easy. There will be doubts, roadblocks, and days when it feels like nothing is moving forward. That’s when maintaining a growth mindset becomes essential: accepting that you're learning, that you’ll make mistakes, that some things won’t go well… and that this is all part of the process.

A growth mindset doesn’t mean staying motivated all the time. It means having the ability to adjust your plan when things don’t go as expected. If a course turns out to be unhelpful, switch to another. If an industry doesn’t feel right, rethink your direction. If an interview goes poorly, reflect on what didn’t work and prepare differently next time. It’s not just about persistence—it’s about flexibility.

Conclusion

Summer isn’t just a time to unwind—it’s also a unique opportunity to reconnect with yourself and reflect on where you want to go. With more time and space to think, it’s easier to recognize what drives you, what you’re good at, and what real opportunities are out there.

To support you in that process, Planeta Formación y Universidades offers a free academic and career guidance tool that, based on your interests and strengths, suggests training programs and career paths with strong future potential. It’s a resource designed for those moments when you need to pause, look around… and take the next step.