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Career change

Career cul de sac or crossroads?

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Career Ladder cartoon

How’s your career?

Making time to reflect on your career and take a step back can be hard in a busy world.

It is important to do this, because even in uncertain times, you need to create a career strategy and plan. It is a bit like having a horizon towards which you sail, but you might have to tack sideways to reach your destination. You might encounter a storm or two on the way, or head into port for a while to service the boat or do some training for the new digital equipment. Or you might decide to adjust your compass, change your career horizon, and head in a different direction altogether.

Here are some self-reflective questions to reflect on your career.

  • What have I achieved this year to be proud of?
  • What has worked less well this year and what have I learnt?
  • What needs to change to be fit for purpose for a prosperous and satisfying future career?
  • How much do I really understand my employer/client needs and priorities and how can I understand them better?
  • What is resistance to change costing me?
  • What’s working well and what’s working less well?
  • Where can I improve efficiency and be more productive?
  • How motivated and engaged about my career am I feeling?
  • What training do I need to be fit for purpose with the changing work market?
  • What goals do I want to achieve next?
  • What’s stopping my career fulfillment and what can I do about it?
  • What are my values and to what extent is my career aligned with them?
  • What’s my career plan and who or what can help me to make it happen?

For insights about the changing world of work, why not follow us on Twitter:@talentliberator

Wishing you success and career fulfillment. Let us know how we can help you on your journey.

 

Comfortable or uncomfortable career change?

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Path through green grass

Career change is a big change affecting lots of things and often people get stuck for different reasons. Change and clarity about the change need to be created at a number of levels and ‘stuckness’ for a short or longer time can occur at any of these; vision; identity; values; beliefs; capabilities; behaviours; environment.

Vision: The future vision you have for your second career is often very different from your first career or the vision your parents/guardians had for you. Many people fell into their career, or received no/poor advice, so may not have had a vision at all. Creating a vision – the horizon towards which you are always moving towards is crucial, especially through challenging uncertain times and knockbacks.

Identity: Identity – ‘who am I’ in the world of work and society is crucial to how we feel. Having a place in the world and feeling connected is an inherent part of being human. Life is full of job titles and ‘what do you do?’ questions when you meet people in a social or business context.  “I am a senior manager” or “I am a doctor’ or “I am a lawyer” for example can be difficult to let go of unless you have thought through the new you and feeling comfortable and congruent with what you say when asked “What do you do?”

Values:  What is important to you is an inherent part of the desire for career change – your values. Poor career fulfilment is caused by people’s values not being honoured by their work. If you love innovation, but your boss or employer loves tradition, this is a mismatch and causes dissatisfaction. Making decisions consciously and intuitively about your career or job options around your values is essential. Values also affect what type of employment or self-employment is right for you.

Beliefs: ‘I must work 9-5’ or ‘I need to strive and get to the top of my profession’ or ‘it is impossible to earn a living doing what I love’ are often beliefs that cause people to be stuck. Often the beliefs we have about work are not even ours, but ones that we pick up from society, the media or parents e.g. ‘self-employment is risky’ or ‘a secure job with a career path is essential.’

Capabilities: Everyone is talented in their own unique way but many people find it hard to identify their capabilities and skills and see where else they are useful. If you cannot see where you are moving to, it will be unlikely that you will step off into what can feel like a void or abyss!

Behaviours: Proactivity and self-belief make a huge difference to making a career change, career success and career adaptability. Doing nothing is the easiest behaviour to choose but then nothing changes. Making a decision causes stress and anxiety, magnified in uncertain times and it is human nature to avoid stress and fear. Acknowledging these and keeping on moving forward makes uncomfortable change feel more comfortable.

Environment: The environment in which we thrive can be really important for career fulfilment; being out of the office, or having music on in the background rather than silence. Not being clear what environment energises and nourishes you can cause an impasse.

At any point in a career transition, you can get stuck at one or more of these levels. To create a successful career change, you need to think through all these areas; vision; identity; values; beliefs; capabilities; behaviours; environment.  This is something that it can be hard to do yourself, as you are too close to yourself.

Where are you stuck? What advice/experience can you share to help people to move forwards? A career coach helps you to become unstuck, like a plumber helps you unblock a drain so things flow free again.

For more insights and tips, follow us on Twitter: @talentliberator

PS Did you know we do career coaching gift vouchers? They make a great thoughtful and practical birthday, Christmas or leaving present.

 

As clear as mud?

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My clients inspire me so much and a coaching session this week inspired me to write this blog, as this blog’s theme is a common one to arise.

A new career involves a lot of new and, for many, challenging aspects:

  • Learning the language of a new market
  • Having to market yourself
  • Creating a different network
  • Asking for help, advice and introductions

This can be overwhelming and daunting; you can only know what and who you know. So why are career choices so overwhelming?

  • Where to look?
  • Who to ask?
  • What to ask?
  • When and how to tackle?
  • How to find the time?
  • Which to choose?

When people feel overwhelmed and daunted, the easiest thing to do is nothing because of lack of time and avoiding stress.

So what is the best way to tackle finding out about potential careers which suit your experience and skills?

I remember in the early days of my business, over 14 years’ ago, I used to put ‘call contacts’ on my ‘to do’ list. However, I seemed to never get around to doing it.

I worked out that there were various reasons why I wasn’t phoning my contacts;

  • I would rather write an article or blog
  • I felt like I had too many so didn’t know where to start
  • I wasn’t clear about who to phone or why
  • I was worried about disturbing and annoying busy people at work
  • I like peace in my office so was projecting my preference onto them
  • I am better at phoning my contacts to help other people than for my own benefit

Having established this, I felt a bit clearer, but what next?

I spent some time focusing on what my objectives were i.e. my purpose for phoning my contacts:

  • To see how they were
  • To keep top of mind
  • To get an update on their needs
  • To arrange to meet
  • To share what I had been doing
  • To find out specific information e.g. when their financial year was, who was responsible for a specific area

Once I had broken down the task, it felt like the mud was starting to clear a bit.

For people who are considering a different career or to set up a business, getting really specific and explicit can reduce the overwhelm so the brakes are taken off taking action.

A list of questions are a good starting point and asking just one of each person can feel more comfortable:

Questions to start exploring with might be:

  • Who are the experts in this field?
  • What are relevant networks?
  • What web sites should I look at that have useful information?
  • What is their advice from their own experience?
  • Who do they know who they can introduce me to?

Analysing and breaking down what can feel like a huge undertaking into small, simple, clear bite size questions and tasks can make it feel do-able rather than impossible.

Getting some insights and information gives a sense of progress and reward and helps the mud start to clear as well as creating motivation and energy to take more action.

For more tips and useful information to help you liberate your talent, follow us on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/talentliberator

Are you a silly sausage?

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I had a bit of a panic this week.

You know those times when you have a fast worried inner rant with yourself?

I had gone to an excellent talk about career change where the presenter had shared about the process of career change and how people become stuck, going round and round in circles.  Oh no, I thought to myself! No-one will actually pay for support if they know how to do it themselves and they can buy a book, download a free e book from the web or get help from a friend/relative.

There are a lot more competitors on the market now, which is the same for many people, so it is harder to create awareness. I was doubting my own uniqueness, something which I tell my clients not to do. Doh!

Yes, you silly sausage, there is lots of free stuff out there, but it cannot do what a good career coach brings to the process.

Below are general things that any career coach brings:

  • Time in the diary in a busy world to focus on creating change
  • A witness of the client’s expression of the desire to change
  • A step by process which helps make it happen
  • Sharing the blocks to progress which often clients cannot see as they are too close to their situation
  • Skill at listening, questioning and reflecting back key themes
  • Exercises to create awareness and clarity
  • Objectivity which someone close cannot give, because they have their own agenda and fears
  • Introduction to new contacts
  • Help marketing yourself

The presenter at the talk shared the key blocks to successful career change:

  1. Ping ponging away from avoidance of fear and anxiety about change and making a mistake and towards the desire for something compelling and back again
  2. Short term focus
  3. Linear thinking
  4. Choice overload of ideas creating overwhelm and inaction

Can you relate to these?

I felt so much better then.  Rachel, you silly sausage, remember this next time you have a panic:

  1. Courage to embrace uncertainty –  how many people take 6 months out unpaid to look at market trends to ensure their business is on track, develop skill in a new area  from a standing start (talent management) and read as many research reports as you do?
  2. Long term focus – how many people buy a house with a bus stop in their 40’s thinking ahead to when they are in their 80’s and may not have a car?
  3. Non-linear mind – how many people have your energising connecting mind, that is unique in its ability to spot insights, make connections and come up with ideas that people simply cannot see themselves? (21 in a session is my record so far)
  4. Focus – how many people have a laser focus and tools to work through and narrow down options as much as you do?

Oh yes. Fair point. And don’t forget about your 900+ quality connections on LinkedIn and huge toolbox of tools and tips. Oh yes, Forgot about that. Panic over.

So don’t doubt yourself. You are unique. Competition is increasing but you can develop your skills to build your competitive advantage and make your career change happen successfully, even in a downturn.

For more useful tips, follow us on Twitter @talentliberator

Armbands or rubber ring?

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I was reflecting on what stops people from jumping ship, i.e. changing career. Here are the 11 most common ones from working with many different people:

  1. Lack of confidence/self-belief
  2. Not aware of what skills and qualities they possess
  3. Don’t understand how social media is useful
  4. Perceived insecurity of making a change
  5. Lack a network
  6. Don’t know where/how to find out about different careers
  7. Dislike networking
  8. Other people’s fears e.g. loss of status
  9. Reluctance to ask for help
  10. Worry about being rejected
  11. Dislike of change

What would you add? What would you recommend to help people tackle them?

20 career change tips from people who have

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Career change can feel daunting at the best of times, let alone in a downturn. What better way to get tips than from people who have already changed career. Here are 20 tips from people who have successfully made a career change.

  1. Use your network to get a warm introduction to the decision maker
  2. Anything is possible if you desire it enough but it takes planning and realistic expectations
  3. Make time to do research and understand a new career and sector
  4. Think about what you really want and if it is to do work you are passionate about or just have another job
  5. Evaluate your short, medium and long term financial commitments
  6. Evaluate your current finances for ‘survivability’
  7. Think about what you would do in a ‘worst case’ situation
  8. Don’t put yourself in ‘a box’ – open your eyes to new opportunities
  9. Believe in yourself and stay determined
  10. Research new career choices so you understand barriers to entry, competition and future career prospects
  11. Check whether you are likely to face the same challenges and frustrations in your new career as your old career, so ‘jumping from the frying pan into the fire’
  12. Unless you have money saved up and you can afford to take time off, don’t leave your job with nothing to go to until you have thought everything through
  13. Be clear if you are running away from or towards something
  14. Analyse your current position and why you want to leave it
  15. Know your strengths and weaknesses and what type of environment, work schedule and activities you like to do
  16. Think about what would make you happy, give you meaning and purpose and make you jump out of bed every day
  17. Remember that career change is a process
  18. Keep an open mind to what the future will hold and what unexpected opportunities may present themselves
  19. Make sure your desire to change your career is not projection of frustration in another area of your life e.g. personal relationship
  20. If you can, go indirectly to the decision maker and bypass HR who can have a ‘ruling out’ mentality, especially as they are overwhelmed by hundreds of CVs

With a busy job/life, all these things can be a lot to take in/make time for, especially as you are so close to yourself. That is why working with a career coach and strategist can help you to make it happen and give you support and practical advice in a safe setting and objective and confidential way. It is bit like having an event or wedding planner help you. They support you to create a great and positive result.

 

Back to work blues?

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Kids go back to school next week and August is over.  I find that people spend time reflecting on holiday and come back to work in September inspired to make a change. It is easy to get swept up in the busyness of everyday work and forget to follow through on your resolve.

There is nothing wrong with staying doing what you have been doing. Or is there? 55% of people want to make a career change but only 5% do at the moment. What are the consequences of staying in the wrong job? Here are 11 from our research:

  1. You feel stressed and out of sorts
  2. You feel unfulfilled and that you are not realising your potential
  3. You send a bad advert to your kids about making work happiness and fulfilment a priority
  4. You feel empty
  5. You get depressed
  6. You fill the gap by shopping, eating/drinking too much
  7. You grump at your partner/family
  8. You resent those who are happy at work
  9. You beat yourself up for staying in the wrong career that isn’t you
  10. You dread Monday mornings and it gets worse every week
  11. You are so tired by Friday that you don’t enjoy the weekend

So stay or go? Feeling energised in your work makes a HUGE difference to your life, all areas of it. Taking the first step can be the hardest, but if you don’t take it, nothing changes.

What have you got to lose by exploring options? Don’t be down and out.

Get in touch – we would love to hear from you:

Copywriter to rocket scientist?

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A change in career can be a step or a leap. I was pondering how dramatic the career changes of my clients have been. They have been really varied – here are 3.

From design management to explore cheese holidays in France:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1106787631322.html

From advertising to charity:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1106786590378.html

From market research to face workouts:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1108092201346.html

What is the most radical change in career you have heard about? Do share it.

If you are pondering a change in career, our bulletins are full of insights and tips:

Previous bulletins:

http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

Opt in to receive future bulletins:

http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1102862873131&p=oi

We especially LOVE helping people change career who do not fit in a box, who need to reposition themselves and who know they want something different but don’t know what.

Follow us on Twitter: talentliberator

What Will You Do When You Grow Up?

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Train Driver? Ski instructor?

One of our clients has landed their dream job!

Like many people, they fell into their career by accident. Most people never do anything about it.

Career change is not always radical. Finding a new boss or company that matches your values can make a BIG difference.

This sign quoting Steve Jobs sums it up. Isn’t life too short?

Is your career constipated? Read this:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1104344499290.html

How passionate are you about your career? Read this:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1103660821089.html

To receive future Energise bulletins, click on this link:

http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1102862873131&p=oi

For work and career trends and quotes to inspire you, follow us on Twitter @talentliberator

What work trends will affect your future?

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Hello – how are you?

Blimey, modern life is full-on! Everything is changing so fast and it will get faster.

We have been reading lots of research about career success, employability, future skills and careers and the changing world of work so we can add even more value to our clients through these changing times.  This blog shares some of these insights.

Here are 12 significant trends people need to be aware of and take action about

  1. More specialised mastery needed – serial mastery
  2. Connectivity, collaboration and networks central
  3. World is increasingly virtual
  4. Increasingly complex working and business environment
  5. Accelerated change
  6. Continuously growing competition and fragmentation
  7. Skills have a shorter shelf life
  8. Peace, quiet and reflection time under threat
  9. Growth in innovation and creativity and solutions from diverse networks
  10. Working for companies more flexible and looser
  11. Need to create a trusted brand – make it authentic, create reputation and manage it
  12. Evolving positioning key – ‘morph and slide’

Source – Lynda Grafton “The Shift – the future of work is already here.”

We love trends and hope you found this potted summary useful.

How will these trends affect you?

What actions can you take now to stay one step ahead?

Portfolio careers is one trend on the up – read our career guide for The Telegraph – click here:

http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/article/3899124/what-is-portfolio-working-and-why-is-it-growing-/

Download our free skills report:

http://careerstrategies.co.uk/changingcareersreport/