making a career
change or
pivot
Have you been feeling bored or frustrated at work lately? Or, are you in an industry that’s looking like it’s not going to work out? Or perhaps you've recently been furloughed or laid off, and are considering going in a totally new direction.
Today our topic is on making a career change, and there are 4 key steps to get you started here:
(1) WHAT IS YOUR WHY? WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?
(2) ASSESS YOURSELF
(3) DO YOUR RESEARCH
(4) GET STARTED!
Before that: Do you really need a career change?
Decide if you REALLY need a career change, and PS I did a #Vlog on this a while back on “Do I stay or do I go?” And here I’d start with REALLY examining my present reality – am I being soft and working through an unusual hard time OR am I really seeing how this is not where I’m meant to be?
And I’d urge you to think hard about this, be brutally honest, because so often I see how frankly in this day and age – we’ve all (including myself) idolized our careers to be the answer to everything, that it will be the one thing that defines us and, that is frankly not true and will only set us up for disappointment. So take a hard look and ask yourself – And if you convince yourself that this is the right move for you then, this is what you do:
(1) DETERMINE YOUR WHY
- Why are you making this move?
- What are your priorities?
Is it money, is it experience, is it connections? I know when I was getting started I had to take a few roles which I knew were not exactly for me but gave me the financial runway, for me to do what I want to be doing
(2) Assess yourself – your values, skills, personality, what specifically do you like doing,
List all of these out. And think about how they can be transferable If you have worked in television production, for instance, but want to move to human resources, your interpersonal skills, as well as problem-solving abilities, and a knack at juggling tasks and managing personalities, can be tremendously helpful.
What are some of the instances in the past which you’ve been through that informs you of yourself? When were you at your ‘peak’ and what were you doing then?
(3) Do your research – make a list of jobs that sound like could fit you, what does this look like, feel like? What is the day to day? Speak to people, get on youtube, conduct informational interviews
(4) Get started, train for your new career –
The best way to get started, is to get started. Volunteer, work part time, expose yourself to opportunities which will set you up nicely for your next career. Also, always be intentional – set a timeline for this “pilot”, your personal set of little experiments along the way.
Also, remember that 80% of jobs are still filled by word of mouth, focus on making meaningful connections.
Perfectionism is another word for fear
SOME OTHER TIPS in getting prepared:
* Update Your Resume: Review each job you are applying for carefully and customize your CV to highlight the key requirements of the job. Don’t underestimate the importance of really showcasing how relevant your past experiences are.
* Lean Into Your Existing Network: Don’t feel like you need to start a whole new network, just because you’re switching gears. Inform close friends and trusted confidants that you’re considering a move, and share the details on what you’re looking for. You never know what jobs will come into people’s inboxes.
* Conduct Informational Interviews: One easy way to expand your network, and learn the lingo of the new field you want to enter, is to do informational interviews. Remember as much as your future employer is interviewing you, you are also interviewing them for the next chapter of your career!