Imagine a bird in a beautiful cage.
From the outside, it looks like the perfect home: polished bars, regular meals, shelter from storms. The bird is safe.
But when you look closer, you notice the way it stares at the sky. It’s comfortable in there… but the bird longs to fly.
That’s what I hear consistently from public sector leaders who’ve been thinking about their next career move.
They value the stability and benefits of their current role. The “golden” part of the cage.
But they also feel the weight of what they’re missing: more autonomy, creativity, flexibility. More alignment with what they really care about.
They long for something different and wonder: what else might be out there?
But the cage keeps them from following their curiosity.
In this episode, I’m going to talk about the #1 fear that keeps them inside: financial security.
I’ll share three practical steps you can take to go through that door and spread your wings.
The Heart Of The Fear
Have you found yourself thinking just now “I feel a bit like that bird”?
You’re not alone!
When I speak with public sector leaders considering a career shift, they share a whole cluster of concerns:
“Will I fit into a different organisational culture?”
“What will happen to what I’ve built up?”
“Who will I be without my title, my role, the mission I’ve carried for so long?”
But before all of that, the first thing they say is this:
“I’m scared of losing the financial security I have now.”
And I get it!
In the public sector, your salary may not always match the private sector, but it is stable. Benefits are predictable. Your income arrives, without you having to chase it down. In many countries, you can count on a pension.
It’s why so many leaders tell me they feel like they’re in ‘golden handcuffs’.
On the one hand, the security feels too valuable to risk. On the other hand, they feel restless.
They long for something different: more autonomy, more flexibility, more creativity. More alignment with what they actually care about – and who they’ve become.
That inner tension – between staying safe and stepping into the unknown – can keep them stuck for years.
A Reality Check on Certainty of Public Sector Benefits
Here’s something I gently raise with my clients: even public sector benefits aren’t carved in stone.
With aging populations, budget pressures, and shifting political priorities, more and more governments are encouraging employees to look after themselves more. To create personal retirement plans as another pillar.
It’s worth finding out the facts in your country so your decisions are based on reality – not assumptions.
3 Steps To Navigate Financial Fears About Shifting Your Public Sector Career
Step 1: Do The Math
Look at your actual numbers. Not the vague maths you’ve been doing in your head – the real numbers.
- What do you earn after tax?
- How much do you save or invest, and is it for short-term or long-term goals?
- Where does your money actually go each month?
Seeing the facts on paper will help you to better understand your status quo more clearly.
Step 2: Get Clear On What You Really Care About
Ask yourself:
- Who and what is most important to you right now?
- What level of financial security do you actually need – versus the level that just feels comfortable?
- How does that connect to your career goals?
And: What are you prepared to do?
If you really want more autonomy, flexibility, creativity – or whatever it is you want more of – are you ready to adjust your expenses or your income expectations to get more of that in your life?
Step 3: Decide What You’re Willing To Do Differently
- Could you create a financial buffer before making a change?
- Could you adjust your lifestyle for a period of time?
- Could you explore part-time consulting or project work as a bridge job?
How you answer these questions comes down to your context, your personal circumstances and what you value. Be honest with yourself. And then be OK with the decision you make.
The goal isn’t to throw away security. It’s to design YOUR version of a safety net so you can start exploring without feeling like you’re leaping into thin air.
What’s The Deeper Question Here?
Often, the fear of losing financial security is really about wanting safety AND certainty. That’s understandable.
The trick is to build those needs into your career-change plan. Rather than letting them stop you before you even get started.
Your answers may change over time. Health, caring responsibilities, or stage of life can shift your priorities. That’s why it’s worth revisiting these questions whenever something significant changes.
Yes, the unknown can be scary.
But staying where you are out of fear can slowly drain your energy, your sense of purpose in life, and your sense of self. And that has a ripple effect, too. On your well-being. And on the people around you.
Life is too short to stay stuck in a role that no longer fits.
You don’t have to throw out the baby with the bathwater. You can keep the parts of your work and life you value most – AND create space for the new.
This is exactly the kind of work I do with my clients in my 5-month Find Your Career Space programme. We unpack all kinds of fears about career change: from culture fit, to legacy, to identity and purpose. And we create a plan that balances security with possibility in a way that’s right for YOU.
Find out more about the programme on the Work with Yvonne page on my website SpaceToShiftYourCareer.com.
Until next time: make space, rediscover YOU, and then take action.