5 steps to set you up for success in your new career search
In London, up to 42% of people aren't fulfilled at work (according to research by YouGov). Knowing where to start when thinking about a career change or career transition can leave you feeling overwhelmed, perplexed and helpless! Deliberating over what else you can do with your existing skills and expertise. Questioning what the first steps are to begin this journey. Wondering what career is the best fit for you so you can wake up excited for work.
When thinking about leaving your job and all the above, there are some useful things to consider that will help you take those next steps towards a fulfilling, purposeful career. These include:
Reflecting on your core values,
Looking at what really drives and motivates you,
Understanding your transferable experience,
Considering your non-negotiables,
And finally, learning why mapping out the longer path is important to reduce overwhelm and increase clarity.
These are the initial steps to take when deciding a career change in 2021.
The first thing to do is to take stock of where you are right now. Think about what your strengths are, what experience you have, and what you like and dislike about your current role (you might find the dislikes the easiest so you can start there). Be specific and create a list over a few weeks so you can see on a more granular level what you do and don’t enjoy. This will help you decipher and break down what you at least do and don’t like doing.
Consider your non-negotiables & logistics
Get clear on your non-negotiables in your career. Your non-negotiables are, unsurprisingly, the things you will not negotiate on and are not prepared to compromise on. These will change with time as your values and needs differ at each stage of a career. Non-negotiables may be things such as a certain salary, the location, the status level, accountability and responsibility.
Some common non-negotiables
Salary: What is the range you can or want to live off?
Travel: Are you prepared to move? Do you want to work remotely?
Hours: What hours do you want to work? Do you want a 9-5, or shift work? Do you need particular hours due to other responsibilities?
If you need to complete some extra training or gain some qualifications, how long will this take and how expensive might this be?
Think about your values:
Your core values (also called personal values) are intrinsic to who you are, they are your fundamental driving force. An example of some values are…
In my Change Career with Clarity & Courage 1:1 Coaching Programme we delve more deeply into core values.
Write your top 3 – 5 values down and when you have these, look at them against your current job. If you aren’t in work think about these against previous roles you have been in. You can see which ones were met or not.
For example, if you're on a good salary, and one of your values is money (because you have certain outgoings or a specific lifestyle), then your value is being met. Another example is that if your core value is growth and you don't have regular development in your role you might find a niggle or a lack of drive and motivation that appears in other areas of your job.
There are no right or wrong values.
Consider Personality and Strengths tests
Personality and strengths tests can be a great foundation for understanding what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing. Personality tests such as DISC profiles, Myers Briggs and Insights personality profiles are a great place to start to understand yourself. These are a key part of any career change work I do with my clients. I say consider because some personality tests cost and work better when discussed with a licensed professional to help you understand them and use them to make practical and pragmatic decisions. There are multiple free strengths tests that you can access online which may be a good place to start.
Update your CV & LinkedIn!
Use your LinkedIn to network with people. Build your personal brand on LinkedIn and re-write your resume/CV. Include both your soft and hard skills. Click here to read more on how to build your CV.
Download my free guide if you want to learn more on how to change careers without overwhelming fear.
Source: Yougov. https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2015/08/12/british-jobs-meaningless
Sarah is a Career Change Coach. She helps women breakthrough and pivot in their career. Whether you're not networking, developing your own work or side hustle! Stop feeling like you don’t know where to start and reach out!
Sarah has a Masters in Psychology and is both accredited by and a member of the British Psychological Society. She has experience working with the military and corporate sector in recovery, transition, leadership, and mentoring.