#17: The 3 Steps To Embark On A New Career Path
When you feel stuck in your current job and you look for a more fulfilling career, it’s difficult to make a career change, especially as a mid-career professional. You’ve established a streak of skills and experience tailored to the current industry you’re in and it can seem scary to pivot your career direction in a new path.
The pandemic has also forced so many people across all sectors to redefine their career trajectories. Many have been furloughed; some are looking for careers that are driven more by purpose. Whatever your reasons, making a career change doesn’t have to be a painful process. And you don’t have to start all over again.
This is great news, right?
While much of my work is about helping people unlock their big “P” purpose and discern meaningful ways to live it, today’s episode is taking a more narrow approach. Today...we’re diving deeply into making a career change. Assuming that you’ve already decided on making a change, here are 3 steps you can take as a mid-career professional who’s transitioning from your career slump to your career jump.
1. Ask yourself what kind of career transition you want.
Okay, I get it...I get it. This one seems obvious. But the nuance matters. Here are five questions you can ask yourself to determine what kind of career change you need and the next steps to take:
Are you fundamentally satisfied with your current career and you’re looking for a new challenge in the same field? Chances are you only need to climb a higher level in the career ladder in the same industry, where your experience and knowledge are complementary.
Are you convinced that there’s a lack of opportunities for career progression where you are currently employed? The answer might be a new job in a new organization, where they can provide better career opportunities and break the glass ceiling for you.
Does your departure have to do with ineffective leadership in your current organization? Some managers and superiors that display poor leadership are usually one of the key reasons why professionals lose satisfaction with their work.
Due to the pandemic, have your priorities changed? Are you more focused on meeting the needs and wants of your family than your personal career goals? What you might need is flexibility in your job. So many employees have been on a work-from-home arrangement and flexible hours, especially in the wake of the new normal. And they want more of it when the world opens back up.
Have your personal values affected your career goals and that’s why you want to find a more meaningful career? Even 10 years down the line, mid-career professionals may want to reinvent themselves entirely. A shift from a corporate cog job to a different, more purposeful career can be one of the reasons why career change is inevitable. And this is one I’m so honored to help people pursue.
With these five questions, you can evaluate whether you need a total career change or you just need a new job. If you need help in clarifying your answers and priority, then ask your friends and family, or consult a coach like me, for additional insights.
2. Map out an action plan for your career change.
Once you’ve determined the kind of career or job change you want, identify your ideal end goal through a career plan. Planning is where considerations and responsibilities are factored in. This is to ensure that your goal and steps are as realistic as possible.
You’ll want your plan to contain the basic elements of S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely) Goals...both for the outcomes you wish to achieve and the behaviors that’ll get you there. Once you’ve laid out your plan properly, you would be able to break it down into a specific set of tasks to accomplish your goals.
Other steps in your plan are to:
Spend time understanding the specific industry and organizations you want to get into. Exploring this will give you an idea of the qualities they look for in talent and how they hire so you can have a sense of your natural fit.
Assess your current skills and experience, but remember your values. If there’s an apparent skill gap, look to fill that if it resonates with your values. For example, if you’re required to have a specific experience, strategically choose to engage in a volunteer program or training so you can build the skill and credibility.
Create and commit to a timeline with the defined to-do list for your career change. Account the time you need to get to the other side. This gives you the opportunity to track your progress and how soon you can achieve the goal. In the meantime, follow the sector’s updates and ask yourself if the plan still excites you.
Mirror the language of the industry. In your plan, you need to make sure that your resume or CV has been updated and arranged in a way that the employer can understand immediately the value you can bring to them. Especially if you’re changing industries — say you want to apply for a job in the global development sector, new terminologies need to be your best friends. Reframe your experience to match job descriptions and focus on your transferable skills.
3. Find a mentor or someone who can guide you through the change.
Because career change can be difficult, most professionals would rather stay where they are even if the thought of changing a role or trying out a new industry is there. A mentor can help you transition and decide more effectively. It’s so crucial that you have one, especially if you’ve decided to enter a new industry as this is when your target mentors are outside of your immediate network.
If you’re looking to join the social impact sector, for example, look for a mentor who is in the industry and in the position you aspire to be in. They’re knowledgeable about the industry and often have useful professional associations. Aside from the information you can get from them, they can introduce you to the right people as well — and, who knows, help you land your next contract.
Here are a few tips to find a mentor for your career change:
Start with a list of who you look up to and whose values you most align with. List out at least 10 people and dig deeper with your research into their background and work. The more you explore, the more likely you are to find what kind of mentee you are as well.
Attend webinars or online conferences hosted by related organizations or industry associations. Insightful leaders speak at these events. They provide valuable information and they can be your potential mentors. If you are allowed to ask, prepare your compelling question to be one that they can resonate with. Make sure to thank them for their answer. At the end of the event, let them know that you value what they shared but would like to know more about their work. Continue to engage and express your thoughts about mentorship afterward.
Know your boundaries. Mentors are sages who can provide career advice and thus career guidance. Understand as well that these are busy professionals, and there is a chance that they won’t respond right away or at all. If it’s the latter, move on to the next on your list.
Decide when your engagement ends. Based on your goals, you decide how long mentorship would last. It’s advisable to keep engagement on a short-term basis~4 to 6 months or stay connected if appropriate.
It’s better to have several mentors instead of just one. Different people provide different ideas. When you have various mentors to ask and get advice from, you can see from different perspectives thus helping you grow and make better decisions in your career.
Connect with potential mentors on LinkedIn as it’s a fairly obvious avenue where professionals are. Reach out to them directly through a connection request and thank them if they have approved. Ask them a well-thought question and roughly 9 in 10 of them will respond back to you.
Career change can seem like an overwhelming process, especially if you don’t know where or how to start. Managing it will require patience but with a good plan--with very tactical steps like I’ve shared today--you’ll accelerate it faster than you think. Add in focus and consistent effort, and you’ll surely create a more fulfilling career soon.
If you’re considering turning your mid-career slump into your mid-career jump, check out my free guide featuring 6 Steps to Career Clarity in Midlife at meghankrause.com/careerclarity.
If you’re ready for a career change--whether you already know what you want to do or you’re still kicking the can down the road--help is here. I’ve got a program to help you make it happen. Just head over to meghankrause.com to get started.
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