Career Transition: A Case for Making the Leap (Part 2/2)
I’m often asked for advice on how to approach a career transition when people are familiar with my journey, which I shared in Part 1 of this post. Over the last several weeks, I’ve received a fascinating number of such calls. Apparently, being forced into isolation and having some additional time for quiet reflection (or not-so-quiet reflection if you’re quarantined with kids 🤪) gives us an opportunity to consider and evaluate the path we are on and whether it is still the right one.
As a follow-up to my personal story, I wanted to share some valuable lessons I’ve learned through my own career transitions that I hope might be helpful to others considering a move of their own.
Timing is Everything.
Don’t wait until you’re fantasizing about lighting the place on fire (don’t act like you haven’t been there) to start thinking about your next move. By the same token, the first signs of frustration are not the time to jump ship. The key is to take notice. When you have those initial stirrings of discontent, pause to reflect on what is at their root. Is the honeymoon phase simply over? Has something changed from when you initially took on the role? Are you beginning to experience burnout? As you begin to surface the source of these uncomfortable vibes, you can begin to explore possible resolutions.
Many times, changes to your own work habits can resolve temporary unhappiness in a job. Other situations may warrant conversations with your supervisor to better understand your role, where the gaps may be, and where unrealized opportunities might exist. The grass is not always greener elsewhere and, oftentimes, working with a good supervisor or mentor to find a path in your existing organization is the smartest thing you can do for yourself. However, if it becomes clear a change is necessary, it’s time to get to work to put a transition plan in place.
Get to Know yourself.
There is no shortage of self-assessments these days. Take some. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know what makes you tick. Know what’s going to hold you back. There are several pretty standard assessments, including Meyers Briggs, DISC, and Enneagram. You can take a general version of all of these assessments for free here, although you will have to pay to get your full report and these aren’t the official versions. I would also highly recommend taking the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment, and even finding a certified Strengths Coach in your area to help you understand the results and apply them to achieve ongoing growth and development. I’m certainly no expert on any of these, although I’ve taken and am familiar with all of them, and have worked with a Strengths Coach and found it to be incredibly valuable. Although each assessment will capture different perspectives and aspects of your personality, I’ve found them to all be remarkably consistent and accurate. Regardless of the assessments you choose, armed with the information you’ll learn about yourself, you’ll be more prepared to start researching your next move.
Do your homework.
Research, research, research. Certainly, you’ve dreamed about what you would like to do next, but do you really know what that career is like? Have you talked with other people at various levels along that career path? Do you know what a typical day is like? Do you know what the entry salary or full earning potential is? Have you considered what your ideal work style and preference is? For example, I personally value autonomy and flexibility in my schedule above almost anything. However, the trade off with that type of schedule is a lot of evening and weekend hours. Someone else may prefer to just get their day in from 8 to 5 and have the rest of their lives to themselves. It is important to know these kinds of details about your preferences in your next career to ensure you don’t switch to another job only to find it just as dissatisfying as the first.
Even more critical is having a clear understanding of what you like and dislike about your current career path. Had I simply been unhappy in my law firm job and jumped to the next best thing, I could have easily landed in an in-house role and been even more unhappy. But with the proper self-reflection on what I did and did not enjoy about my current role, I was able to avoid an impulsive move and wait to make a more strategic one when the right opportunity came along.
Consult mentors.
Mentorship can come in all forms. In fact, the most impactful mentor relationships I’ve had throughout my career have been informal ones - trusted relationships that have simply grown over time. I can point to professors, former supervisors, colleagues and business leaders - all of whom have had an important role in the development and trajectory of my career. Personally, I always struggled to establish formal and structured mentor relationships; however, the natural ones, I lean on heavily. As I’ve matured in my career, I’ve also found a lot of value in reverse mentoring. Surround yourself with people who know you from a variety of experiences and ask them for their insight and perspective on the career shift you’re considering.
Transferrable skills #ftw.
If you’re truly transitioning from a completely different career, you’re likely going in with little to no experience. How will you communicate your transferrable skills? Forbes has a great article, “The 7 Transferrable Skills to Help you Change Careers,” that is a must-read. It’s a great place to start. But this work of identifying your best skills and communicating them to new industry is a challenging one, so be prepared to set aside the time and put the work into figuring out how to get the messaging right.
leverage your network.
There’s a precursor to this one. Before you can leverage your network, you have to spend time building a network. If you’re not sure how to do that, one of the first resources I would suggest is a favorite book of mine, Never Eat Alone (although I get this is kind of difficult in today’s quarantine environment 🙃). Networking is all about building authentic connections. If you hate networking, or if it feels slimy to you, focus on what you can give. The best networking results in connections where both parties benefit from the relationship.
After you’ve done all your due diligence - making sure this move is the right thing, getting to know yourself through personality assessments, researching your desired career path, consulting your closest mentors for insight - then, and only then, it’s time to go to your network. Use their time wisely! Reach out to people who are familiar with you and your work and who will have insight into the job market. Invite them to coffee or lunch and be prepared with questions for 30-60 minutes of conversation. The primary purpose of these meetings is not to ask for a job but, rather, to continue on your information gathering mission. Let them know what you’ve found during your self-discovery phase, what kind of career you’re considering, why you think it’s a good fit, and ask for their feedback. Ask what they know about opportunities in this area. Ask if there is anyone else they know that you should talk with to explore opportunities.
Be sure to always take your updated resume with you and be prepared to discuss your qualifications if the opportunity to discuss a specific position arises. While the primary purpose of these meetings is not to ask for a job, you likely will be meeting with a few individuals whose companies you would love to work for, and there is no harm in asking whether there are any existing opportunities that would be a good fit!
Stay open.
It is important to have a clear vision on what you want from this career shift. But it is equally important to stay open to possibilities. I had a very clear direction in my mind what type of position I was looking for when I made my most recent move, and I had some opportunities to take that type of position. The role I ultimately accepted, however, is a slight departure from that. But it’s better. It’s more entrepreneurial. It aligns me with fantastic leadership. There is more opportunity for learning and growth. All things I would have missed if I would have narrowly focused on the direction I had pre-determined in my own mind. Resist the temptation to get so locked in or fixated on achieving a certain position or title or next step that you miss the bigger picture. Set a vision for your career, know the end goals you’re aiming to achieve and be open to opportunities that will lead you there.
Show gratitude.
A truly successful career is never achieved alone. Everyone I know and admire who has accomplished great things professionally can point to so many others who have helped them along the way. And as I continue to strive toward success in my own career, I also can name so many individuals who have poured countless hours and endless energy into helping me. Always remember to express gratitude. Send hand written thank you notes. Refer business back to your mentors when you have the opportunity to do so. Look for opportunities to give back to your network just as they have given to you. And when the opportunity comes to pass on your lessons learned and to invest in someone else’s career, give freely of your time and energy to them.