As the new year approaches, many of us reflect on what was, with a goal of determining what we wish to adapt and accomplish in the next calendar year. The great thing about 2019 is that it’s a blank slate in which we get to plot our future.
If you aim to make a career transition in the new year, there’s no time like the present to start gearing up for it. The first step is to evaluate if you’re ready for a new career. There are often physical signs: you are not as engaged in your present role as you once were. Your energy level at work is low. You live for weekends and vacations.
Then there’s professional criteria to consider:
- Are you challenged in your present role?
- Are making a difference – for your team? For your company? For society?
- Is your company is invested in you?
- Are you growing? What examples of professional growth can you provide for the past year?
Before you opt to jump ship, though, take some time to assess what’s going on. Is your lack of engagement about work, or something in your personal life? It’s important to do an honest assessment of what’s causing your unrest. While a new job can trigger your motivation and ignite your passions, it cannot transform your life if there are other obstacles. Sometimes shifts in our personal lives are all we need to jumpstart a slump; other times, career changes are the key to getting back on track.
Timing is a key factor when considering a career transition, too. Yes, you may have promised yourself that 2019 was the year you would make a career move, but forget what the calendar says. Remember that career shifts require a lot of time and energy – both during the search process and in terms of acclimating to a new role. Are you ready to devote the proper time and energy to conducting research, sending out job applications, networking, phone interviews, in person interviews, and then transitioning to a new commute, a new office, a new team, a new boss?
If all routes lead to a new career, then it’s time to embark on your career search. Consider the following questions to get started.
Do you love the industry that you’re in? If so, then your career search is about finding a new organization or a new role within your industry.
- What type of organization appeals to you: small versus big (be sure to define each – small may be 5 people or 20 people depending on your view); local versus national; private versus public.
- Is a new geography an option? If so, map out the locations that you wish to consider and take a look at websites like PayScale to gauge the affordability factor and what salary level you will need to earn in a new location.
- Do you wish to manage a team or be an individual contributor? For those of you who aspire to manage a team, it’s worth researching what management entails and the skills you will need to succeed.
- What cultural environment do you seek? Is an office setting right for you, or do you prefer a remote opportunity? Do you prefer a collaborative environment or one in which you function independently? Does an entrepreneurial atmosphere appeal to you, or a more structured environment?
If you do not love the industry you are in, then you may be up for a career conversion. If this is the case, then you will want to research other industries and determine organizations, roles, necessary experience, salary, and culture.
- Are you in search of a career/industry more aligned to your passions and beliefs? If so, map out organizations that may be a fit. What about them appeals to you?
- What do you hope to achieve by transitioning to a new industry? Do you envision this as a permanent transition or a temporary shift as you determine what’s next?
- Again, consider what type of organization appeals to you? Small versus big; local versus national; private versus public.
- Is a new geography an option? If so, what’s possible? Again, you will want to refer to PayScale so that you can do a realistic assessment of salaries for relevant roles in other states.
Whether you intend to shift industries or organizations/roles, it’s important to determine what excites you about the possibility of a new opportunity:
- Leadership /people management?
- More/new challenges?
- Pay increase?
- Mission alignment?
- Culture?
- Or just a change?
There are no right or wrong answers. Reflection and insight are key to help you define what your next opportunity looks and feels like. It’s critical to map out what you seek – writing it out is a great way to do that – in order to assess new opportunities and know when you’ve found the right next company and position for you. It’s also helpful to keep an open mind, as sometimes we come upon opportunities that we weren’t looking for which end up being the right next career move.
Next, it’s time to assess your experience and skills, which play a key role in determining which jobs may be right for you. Aim to know what skills and experiences you bring with you, and what you may need to learn for specific opportunities. Writing out your answers is a great way to prepare for interviews.
- Experience is what you have gained from your prior roles. Competencies are the skills needed for career success; they enable professionals to make meaningful contributions. They include effective communication, the ability to build effective teams, the ability to drive results, accountability, strategic mindset, interpersonal savvy, resilience, customer service, etc. Which competencies do you have demonstrated experience in?
- Consider your soft skills. These are what differentiate you from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technology that continues to replace people in the work place. Your soft skills are typically irreplaceable and what help to keep humanity alive at work. Some key soft skills that employers seek are writing and oral communication, leadership (people and project), time management, strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, critical and creative thinking, and collaboration. Which soft skills are you well versed in to date?
- What challenges have you overcome? How have these helped you to grow as a professional?
- What complex situations have you navigated? How did you work through them?
- Where do you still have room for growth, and how do you plan to gain that experience/learning?
- What differentiates you from others? It could be your experience, your passion, your energy level, your knowledge, or all of the above. Practice articulating your answer.
Remember a career change is a journey, and one that you will likely embark on a few times throughout your professional life. Each time you arrive at your next chapter, your goal is to learn, grow, give 110%, and see the chapter through to completion, as long as your work environment is safe, positive, and conducive to growth. You should not think about moving on from a role until you put in at least 3-4 years, as that’s how long it typically takes to acclimate, implement change, and see your changes through. If a job opportunity seems like it may be fun for a year or two, you may want to reconsider. While it’s nice to be on the move and climb the career ladder, growth tends to occur over time, and short stays may not afford the time to see strategic plans, challenges, and new products and possibilities through to conclusion.
While the transition to a new year is a great time to consider a career shift, keep in mind that it’s not so much about the calendar year as it is about your personal and professional development. Where are you at, where do you wish to go, and how will you get there? That’s what you should keep in mind each time you debate the next step in your career. And most of all, have fun exploring your career possibilities. What we devote our days to should be fulfilling, meaningful, and enrich our lives as well as others.