Career Coaching: Helping to Make a Career Change
You’re not alone in feeling the call for change
The past year has been a time of reflection. Even before the pandemic, many knew they were unsatisfied with their job and wanted to do something different. But it’s easy to continue doing the same thing when one day keeps rolling into the next. COVID paused life and gave everyone a chance to focus.
These days, the job market is brisk in most industries. But even in a good economy, making a career transition – into a different role or a different industry – is difficult.
It takes careful planning and work to do it right.
When embarking on a career change, some people jump right ahead. They think they know exactly what they want to do next. After imagining themselves in this new role, they get their heart set on it. Then they spend time and money pursuing it, only to discover at some point down the road that there’s a problem – the compensation isn’t better, the industry is based in a different part of the country, or they have to take a more junior role in order to make the move.
It’s very disappointing.
How to set yourself up for success, not frustration
Rather than waste time and money hoping it will work out (as they say, hope is not a strategy), it’s worth the investment to hire a Career Coach. A good Career Coach takes the guesswork out of the process, ensures people avoid the pitfalls and provides the support they need all along the way.
Here are some of the most important considerations and actions when making a career transition.
1 — Understand what it is that you’re looking for and why you want it
A critical first step in changing careers is being able to clearly articulate what is missing from your current career and what you are looking for. What really matters is different for everyone.
Some of the major factors include:
Salary/Compensation
Work/life balance
Passion/Interest in Industry
Job stability/outsourcing
Culture/values
Growing/declining area
Personal growth/challenge
Geography/relocation
In-person/remote
2 — Identify and evaluate potential roles
Once you can clearly articulate what you want from a new career, it is useful to learn about different industries and roles that might fulfill your needs. Understandably, this can be very intimidating. With so many industries and roles out there, it’s like having to find a needle in a haystack. Many people wish they could just show someone their resume and ask for advice on what to do next. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Instead, the learning process usually involves a combination of reading on your own and talking to people. But if it’s done strategically and efficiently, you won’t spin your wheels. You will identify real possibilities.
3 — Figure out what you need
After you identify potential careers, zero in on an actual role. Understand the responsibilities and qualifications. Then compare your background. Doing this kind of side-by-side analysis will highlight what you might be missing. Some things might be specific skills or education. Others might be more subtle.
Specific and concrete: Computer software programs, project management, managing people, public speaking, academic degrees are just some examples.
Soft and Intangible: Other aspects of a new career are more indefinable but are no less important. They might include new jargon/language, new culture, new relationships.
Often, when people start to realize what they need to change careers, they start to back away. It’s completely natural. But this is the time to embrace the fear and build confidence. People should accept that their background will never completely match. It doesn’t need to. The objective should be to understand what they really need vs. what they really don’t. Being laser focused on what’s most important is key.
4 — Fill in the gaps
There are different ways to acquire what you need. But be smart and efficient. Your time and money are valuable. For example, if a certain job in your newly desired career requires education, determine what level is really needed. If a few courses or a certificate is enough, there is no need to go down the long and expensive road of getting a Masters or a PhD. If all you need is to show that you have worked on one project, try to get that experience at your current job.
Common ways to fill in the gaps include:
Educational Degrees
Certificates
Coursework
On-the-job experience
Informational Interviews
Job Shadowing
Volunteering
Hobbies
Part-time Jobs
5 — Evaluate your positioning/branding
As you fill in the gaps, start repositioning yourself for the career you want. In order to market yourself, evolve your professional brand. For example, updating your resume and LinkedIn profile are essential parts of a refresh. Continue networking by telling people what you want and highlighting the parts of your background that tie into the role. The more others can see you as a match, the better. This part is as much an art as it is a science. Knowing When and How to convey information is very important. Preparation and execution are key.
5 — Next step: Time to strategically job search
Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s time to find listings and embark on the part everyone loves: interview. The good news is that interview doesn’t have to be scary! Planning and preparation can give you the confidence you need to effectively demonstrate your worth.
Check out our blog post “Career Coach: How to Successfully Job Search” for tips on the next steps.
Feeling overwhelmed?
Know you don’t have time for trial and error?
Making a Career Transition isn’t easy. It can be a long road with many steps along the way. But getting to the other side is worth the investment for your happiness, career, and long-term goals. Often times people stall out in their search due to time constraints, work stress, and feelings of inadequacy. The best way to navigate this? Hire someone who specializes in getting people hired.
A Career Coach can make all the difference by:
Removing the guesswork
Avoiding the common mistakes
Ensuring preparation
Helping embrace the fear
Building confidence
Keeping people on track
Maximizing the opportunity
In other words, a good Career Coach shouldn’t just give advice and walk away. Instead, a Career Coach should clearly explain what needs to be done and show people how to do it. People make career transitions all the time. So ask yourself, “Why not me?”
