Career change is an emotional event. Whether you’re quitting your job or being let go, cleaning out your desk can be painfully reminiscent of a breakup scene. After all, you invest time, effort, and yes, heart, into your job – just as you’d invest yourself in a serious relationship. When a job ends, it’s common to feel hurt, discouraged, even lost.
Fortunately, change can be a good thing. A career change can be as thrilling and empowering as a first date. In both cases, forward momentum starts with the right outlook. And the right outlook can be derived from basic business logic, coupled with some modified advice from the relationship gurus.
- Order the Most Expensive Thing on the Menu
You deserve to be appreciated. It’s as simple as that. And you’ll never be fully appreciated if you don’t have a healthy sense of self-worth. Most people don’t realize how much they do for an employer unless it comes time to train their replacement. Start taking inventory now. Map out exactly what you do in a given work day. List your accomplishments and initiatives. Take stock of congratulatory emails and other formal recognition. These things not only validate your past contributions, they also speak to your potential. Whether you’re applying for similar work, or investigating a whole new field, always keep that potential at the forefront of your mental register.
- Don’t Settle for Mr. Right Now
If you’ve been doing a job for 10 or 15 years, it probably seems easier to stick with it, than to try something new. And if you’re genuinely good at what you do, that plan might make the most sense. On the other hand, complacency is not such a terrific strategy. Over time, we fall into patterns. We forget to differentiate between the way things are, and the way we’d actually like them to be. Too many of us settle for jobs that don’t challenge our skills or exercise our talents. In tolerating a so-so job, we might even grow slack in our work ethic. We focus on getting through the day, instead of making a real contribution to our employer. If this sounds familiar, seize the opportunity to rediscover your enthusiasm. Take a class. Join a professional organization. Attend an industry event. You’re only as limited as your own ambitions.
- Avoid the Rebound Relationship
On the first Monday when your alarm goes off and you don’t have an office to go to, your initial reaction might be panic. Now what? Take a deep breath and make an organized plan. Go on as many interviews as you can – it’s always good practice. But don’t commit prematurely! Prepare yourself for the reality that a job hunt may last six months or more. To that end, try to negotiate a substantial severance package. Don’t be shy about accessing unemployment. The alarmist in you might consider subpar job offers by reasoning that “something is better than nothing.” But remember rules 1 and 2. Quell the urge to settle. Long term happiness requires long term strategy, which leads us to…
- Why Buy the Cow?
Let’s say you’re thinking of quitting your job to become a dairy farmer, a bed and breakfast proprietor, an English teacher. More often than not, these dreams can be realized. Still, major career change is bound to carry a certain amount of risk and opportunity cost. Career changers need to be sure they’re asking all the necessary questions. Do I have the skills I need to succeed in this field? If not, can I acquire them in a reasonable amount of time? Do I have the support I need – financially and personally – to start a new enterprise? Do I really know what’s involved? Read up on the industry you’re considering, and talk to people with experience in that line of work. You’ll learn things that will help solidify your decision, one way or the other.
- It’s Not You; It’s NP
As in net profit. And it’s more important than you realize. When applying for jobs, we tend to hyper-focus on our shortcomings, forgetting that prospective employers aren’t looking to scrutinize us as individuals. Employers really want to know how we can impact their bottom line. Keeping this in mind, learn to sell yourself as a measurable asset, with a measurable track record. Familiarize yourself with the goals of target companies, and practice delivering concise proposals of how you’d contribute. Career changers often bring the advantage of transitive skill sets, plus the unique value proposition of knowledge from an outside field. Cross sell your old specialties to hiring committees. You’ll stand out in a good way.
- There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea (Really!)
“There are no good jobs available” is a cynical phrase (much like, “there are no good men available.”) Don’t become a defeatist. Sure, we’re months deep in a global recession. And sure, we’re all accustomed to hearing that jobs are disappearing. But the picture is not entirely bleak – particularly for career changers who are willing to explore new options. Career change doesn’t have to be a complete departure from your previous experience. A willingness to explore tangent avenues can yield fresh possibilities too.
- No One is From Mars, No One is From Venus
There are no planetary divides when it comes to networking. You don’t need to be a grade-A schmoozer, or extend the perfect handshake. Just get out of your house, and start meeting with people. Career dialogue is like dress rehearsal for future interviews. It also plants seeds of prospect. Explain why you’re out of work and what you’re hoping to do. Ask what other people are doing. Conventional networking might include cocktail parties and flesh-pressing, while old school networking is as simple as grabbing coffee with your Uncle Stan or the ladies from the PTA. In other words: let people know you’re looking. Let everyone know. Job sites are saturated with applications. Knowing someone who knows someone is still the best way to get your foot in the door.
- You Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor might well have been singing about career change when she recorded “I Will Survive.” The song can easily be repurposed into a career changer’s mantra. It’s sassy, and it strikes the right chord. Of course there will be days when you’ll feel overwhelmed. You might occasionally need a good cry or a pepperoni pizza. But positive thinking generates positive energy. A firm belief in your own resilience is all you really need to get back out there.
Elizabeth O'Neill is earning an MFA in Creative Writing. She is a contributing writer at eLearners.com and GradSchools.com.
8 comment(s)
TudiSpurgin On Sunday, August 23 2009
Thank you for all the suggestions. They are all very well thought out. The tough part is getting the mind set to pick yourself back up after being let go. Hard road to get confidence back and not to show confidence in yourself is the kiss of death in any market. Will try to see the good in all this change. Thank you for the suggestions.
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Hard road to get confidence back and not to show confidence in yourself is the kiss of death in any market. Will try to see the good in all this change. Thank you for the suggestions.
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Contact religious and spiritual groups that align with your belief system. In some cases, the position of spiritual motivator may not exist, and the organization will need to create it in order to hire you. Demonstrate to the organization how your work as a spiritual motivator will create value. Thanks.
Regards,
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Contact religious and spiritual groups that align with your belief system. In some cases, the position of spiritual motivator may not exist, and the organization will need to create it in order to hire you. Demonstrate to the organization how your work as a spiritual motivator will create value. Thanks.
Regards,
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