Your client shifts career goals unexpectedly. How do you navigate this change in the planning process?

Quando meu mentorado apresenta mudan?a repentina no objetivo de carreira, o primeiro passo é promover um ambiente de acolhimento, praticar muita escuta ativa e aos poucos ir compreendendo os motivos da mudan?a. Ajudá-lo a identificar e elencar os motivos e consequentemente o porquê de trás da decis?o.

It's fairly frequent that a client has a realization that takes them on a different path than they originally planned. This newfound insight is a great sign, and it's exciting. The most important thing in the beginning is to link the new direction to their values and have them visualize what this new life will look like. Whether you call it manifestation or imagination, this part of the process helps crystallize the vision and drive excitement for action.

Every change needs to be understood both by the client themselves and you as the career coach. It's important that you ask the right questions to understand what level of support and what stage of that support you need to start helping that client. Every pivot means a lesson from the client side and understand what lesson that client has learnt helps one better support the client. Sometimes the changes are because they spoke to someone, but did not fully understand what that change is and why that change, it is not up to you as the coach to tell them they are wrong, but to show them how best to find their own true answer.

Conduct a Skills Inventory: List all your current skills, including both hard and soft skills. This gives you a clear view of your strengths and areas for development. Match Skills to New Goals: Compare your skills against the requirements of your new career goals. Identify any gaps that need to be addressed through learning or experience. Seek Feedback: Get input from mentors, colleagues, or career coaches to ensure your self-assessment is accurate. Their perspective can highlight strengths or areas you might have overlooked.

It is very important that the education and learning has moved in the direction of the new goal- it should not be just a wish to work independent for example. The skills are needed and cannot be learned in just one course. There are exceptions though: when people are highly creative and talented they may attract chances very quickly and learn quickly as well. For people outside this may look as being lucky , while it is pure talent. Then the career-change will have a drive and the motivation to learn all the needed skills is even higher.... while attracting new chances on the way.

I did this for a client today. This client is transitioning from field blue color worker to engineer. Here’s what I did. To be sure I’m doing the gap assessment properly, I got on the phone with engineering recruiters. I explained my client’s background and goals. As the hiring managers, it’s helpful to hear from them directly, specifically the skills and experience they need to see in order to consider my client’s application. This will be a 2-4 year transition, avoiding “going back to college” so my client is happy with this plan. Pivots aren’t always easy but I enjoy being the boots on the ground for my clients to help them build a roadmap based on real market needs so they can secure that dream job faster, taking their careers further!

Sometimes what may seem like a significant shift in career goal may not be such a big shift afterall. Firstly aim to understand what are the common points, how important these are, then what are the differences and how they can be addressed. Most importantly, understand the client's commitment to shift career goals. This is what will sustain them through the transition process.

Evaluate the client’s transferable skills and experience that align with the new career path. This helps in setting a foundation for achievable goals. Divide the primary goal into smaller, manageable tasks that can be completed in stages. This makes progress visible and builds momentum. Set deadlines for each milestone to keep the process on track. Make sure these deadlines are realistic and account for any learning curves or adjustments. Schedule regular reviews to assess progress and make necessary adjustments. This ensures goals remain relevant and achievable. Encourage the client to seek feedback from mentors or industry peers. This provides external perspectives and helps refine goals further.

After understanding the new career direction, work with your client to set realistic and achievable goals. Break the larger objective into smaller, manageable milestones. This approach helps maintain motivation and provides a clear roadmap for progress. Ensure that these new goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART), which will greatly assist in tracking success and making necessary adjustments along the way.

Outline the key steps needed to achieve the new career goals. This might include further education, skill development, or networking with industry professionals. Identify how current skills and experiences can be applied to the new goals. Create strategies that build on these strengths to minimize gaps. Determine which actions are most critical to achieving success and prioritize them. This ensures focus on high-impact activities. Identify the resources needed, such as time, finances, or connections. Create a plan to acquire and allocate these resources efficiently. Be prepared to adjust strategies as you gather more information and encounter unforeseen challenges.

With goals in place, you can work with your client to develop strategies that will help them achieve these goals. This might include creating a targeted job search plan, identifying networking opportunities within the new industry, or building a personal brand that reflects their new career direction. Additionally, if your client needs to acquire new skills, you can help them identify relevant courses, workshops, or certifications. The strategy should also include a plan for managing any challenges or setbacks that might arise during the transition.

To encourage resilience during a career goal shift, focus on actionable steps: Build a Support System: Surround yourself with mentors, peers, or coaches who can provide guidance and motivation. Regular check-ins can help maintain momentum. Emphasize Growth Mindset: Shift the focus from setbacks to learning opportunities. View challenges as stepping stones rather than obstacles. Practice Self-Compassion: Recognize the emotional impact of change and practice self-compassion. Celebrate small victories to boost morale and stay motivated. Visualize Success: Regularly visualize achieving the new goals to reinforce commitment and resilience.

Seize the opportunity for understanding. If the client has shifted goals, their thinking has too. Go gently and curiously and explore the shift. Have they had an epiphany and see more clearly what they want? Or are they pivoting because it’s too hard or scary? Help them understand their new goals in the same way the first ones were arrived at from a place of strength and confidence so that their journey forward has a strong, resilient foundation forward.

Fine! It's their career not mine - better to make a decision to change than go along a path that isn't right. Of course, we need to explore where the sudden change has come from - is it a knee jerk reaction to a negative experience and we simply need to reframe and remind the journey there on. If it's not a knee jerk, the we go back to the beginning to establish if this new direction is better aligned to their truth and desired outcome.