How can mid-career professionals identify new career opportunities?

Working mainly with clients in mid-career I often find that they significantly underestimate their strengths and they overestimate their weaknesses. My suggestion is to always take more time to truly understand your strengths and to think past the strengths that go on your CV. This is crucial because those character strengths are also the same traits that, once into override, become the obstacles to moving forwards.

I pivoted my career from accountancy by identifying an opportunity which I was given 6 months to try out, & ended up staying in for 5 years at a big 4 professional services firms helping them run their practice Every role after this was new My tips would be: -understand what’s going on in the wider organisation -network with people outside your direct area -get yourself in front of other leaders -volunteer to be involved in work across the organisation Once you’re better known & have a better understanding of what else is happening in your organisation: - find opportunities that you’re interested in -suggest ideas,the benefit, show you can solve problems Don’t think linear Create opportunities Leaders are often open to ideas

It's never too late to reinvent yourself, and your network can be your greatest asset. Remember, your network is indeed your net worth. Keep your options open, embrace change, and chase those opportunities!

Absolutely, finding your authentic self . Midlife career changes, do not come with a expiration date stamp on career goals. With that being said...often times, individuals realize they have more to offer professionally. The best is yet to come.

The hardest and most important first step is impact. What is the kind of impact you want to make an why. It could be to create the best financial models that are robust for decision making. It could be to create marketing plans to enable a small business to grow. Then, build forward. Armed with that, networking and the job search is more effective.

We often get so entrenched in our jobs that we begin defining ourselves by our occupation first instead of who we are beyond the job. This is job embeddedness. We become myopic and only view ourselves through the lens of our current occupation. Begin thinking of yourself as an entity independent of your job. This removes the blinders and one sees a myriad of possibilities and options to pursue.

Exploring options should be welcomed with curiosity and creativity, rather than just an outcome based agenda. When we are stuck, our brain needs new stimuli in order to rebalance its ability to see opportunities. Explore your options but ensure you get to enjoy the process.

Post SWOT , one should consider the possibilities open and it is a good time to talk to someone like a mentor , coach , peer , alumni or someone who is the domain you aspire for to ensure that one evaluates with a open mind and not with self limiting beliefs. Nothing should come in the way of creating your next career portfolio. I have been a Banker , an HR Consultant , a TA Leader , an entreprenuer and a two time founder. Nothing can stop you . If not NOW then WHEN?

Even if you start out with the idea to find new career opportunities, exploring your options should always include: a) can I help in making my current job more engaging (what can I do, what can my manager do, what can team members do, what can HR do etc)? b) can I rotate tasks and jobs within my current team to get more variety? c) can I find another job and team within my current organization that I know so much better than largely unknown new organizations. There is too much advice to change your job and organization more often as this is a general trend. We should change jobs and organizations more right instead of more often. Changing organizations more often will result in you learning the hard way about all those unknown downsides.

Join societies, associations or organizations that challenges your thoughts. Stay open to different ideas and if you find yourself shutting an idea down - dig into that! You should definitely pay attention to those ideas you want to immediately shut down. Whatever piques your interest, follow-up on that! Don't wait until you "find the time" - carve out the time for self-development. Realize the interest and development you invest in yourself will impact and better the current organization you're at. Be comfortable with exploring other role/career options. Regularly self-evaluate to ensure you're growing towards your own goals and vision.

I use EQ-i online assessments for leadership or workforce development. This enables individuals to gain insight of their full EQ spectrum with a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach. They are then supported through an initial 1:1 feedback session, followed by structured coaching sessions directly working on their EQ results, enabling them to work on themselves by filling the gaps they may have to boost and balance their skill mix. This initiative complemented with further developmental initiatives like secondments, job-shadowing, volunteering or direct career coaching, to enable them to gain the maximum breadth and depth of this experience and upskill. This will give them further opportunities to make the ultimate move/progression.

As someone who has diversified on their career journey I've found it extremely beneficial volunteering on a part-time basis in the new role or desired progression of choice , evenfor a short period , before making the leap of change. I've also joined networking groups and working groups associated with where I desired to progress to . Networking has lead me to opportunity's I would not have heard of traditionally.

I guess the most 3 important factors are: - Lifestyle - Growth - Finances If you are satisfied with finances maybe you will look for a better life style in the same role. If you are not satisfied with finances, you will look into growth opportunities where it could add more value in the market, in this way you will improve your finances. Some people have a bigger ambition, like becoming a CEO or starting a business, they might sacrifice the lifestyle for a while. Opportunities could be available in your current company or other companies, you need to build up a great network, then you will have more choices. So it is totally dependant on the situation and personal preferences.

I encourage my mentees to a Gallup Strength Finder to evaluate their Strengths objectively as a starting point or any other assesment tool they prefer before doing a SWOT. A mid life career change needs planning and also support to ensure one's self limiting beliefs do not come in the way of optimal choices. I also strongly suggest to have a buffer of at least a year's expenses saved away before taking the jump.Ideal case is when you do it in parallel with your existing career path, if feasible or alternatively have a saving pool before jumping in headway .

Reflection: Make a list of goals or accomplishments you want to accomplish and regularly check-in with yourself to assess your progress. Treat your professional development as you would a regularly meeting with your manager. Prepare, carve out the time and follow through. Seek out feedback from others you trust (i.e., mentor, manager, peer, etc.) regarding their perspective of your mental health, organizational fit and professional growth.

Pay attention to your mind. Constantly re-enforce your mind with new information that supports your new path. A part of the journey will probably include huge amounts of fear, doubt and anxiety; you have to navigate through these things to get to the other side. Your patterns of thinking, limiting beliefs and comfort zone may be your biggest obstacles in your transition. Cultivate self awareness so that you are able see it when you are self sabotaging.

Planning is a natural fit when you are preparing a transition. Setting SMART goals, plans and techniques are important, but hiring a career coach at this point can help you more efficiently combine the research with the actions and get you to your desired outcome faster and with less stress. Job searching can be lonely and a coach helps with the feeling of being alone along with keeping you on track and feeling confident.

Create that 30-60-90-day plan. As you talk to interviewers during the hiring process, find out what is important to creating success in the new role and craft a plan to address those needs.

Mid career Transitions need to be planned and more strategic as you know what you want and have taken support of mentors, peers, alumni , support network, accountability partners to build a strategy and SMART Goals.You have experience and know yourself better by the time you are making a mid career change which is more aligned to your career plans.

Preparing your transition involves creating a roadmap for your career change. Start by identifying the skills and experiences you need to acquire to enter your target field, set SMART goals, & create an action plan such as landing a job in your new field within six months. Network (internal/external), build a portfolio, or gain experience through secondment/ shadowing/part-time. Finally, hold yourself accountable by sharing your goals and progress with a friend or mentor and regularly checking in to track your progress. With persistence and dedication, you can successfully transition into a new career and achieve your long-term professional aspirations.

Most professionals overuse 'Coffee Chats' to build a brand, network and get job referrals 1 year ago, I made a triple career pivot without a single coffee chat My advice? Forget 'coffee chats'; Set up 'ideations'! Organic, mutually beneficial ideation is more potent than ANY networking tactic. Remember networking is a 2-way street, so make it worth their while! Coffee chats say: Can you take 30 mins from your packed schedule to listen to 'me' talk about 'my' career and then refer 'me' to 'my' dream job? Ideation says: I'd love to take time to ideate on your industry; get you thinking beyond the monotony of your day job and energise your grey matter with my unique perspective! Now, this ones all about them! Catch my drift?

With a SWOT Analysis , SMART goals and a startegic approach you have already won half the battle .Now the next step is to sell yourself and build a personal brand to stand out with the help of storytelling to ensure you are visible and approachable.I strongly recommend working on your linkedIn profile with a two pronged approach of building connections and publishing great content consistently.Endure you have added ransferable skills from your past work experiences to the current midlife career change you are undertaking..

I find that creating a personal brand and online presence can significantly enhance your visibility, such as keeping an updated LinkedIn profile with engaging content and connections relevant to your target industry. You may also want to consider leveraging platforms like Twitter or industry-specific forums to share your insights and engage with thought influencers. In addition, building a portfolio to showcase your passion, achievements, projects, and skills can also provide evidence of your capabilities. Remember, the goal is to communicate not just your qualifications, but your unique story and the value you bring to your potential team.

This is perhaps the most important aspect. It means standing out from the crowd. This doesn't happen overnight but is a result of consistent efforts over a period of time. You will need to post (articles, videos, etc) regularly. The posts should showcase your knowledge/ expertise in your domain. Posts/ articles should highlight your problem-solving abilities, achievements, lesser known facts, etc. It is important that you post regularly. Do not forget to interact with posts of your competitors.

Be able to state your strengths succinctly and with confidence. One of the tools I have my clients use is the Strength Finders assessment to identify and understand their Top 5 Strengths. Not only does this build confidence in your value, but it also helps a potential employer quickly understand what you bring to the role you are interviewing for.

Starting with the end in mind - first and foremost, protect your mental health. Real change is unsettling, isolating and sometimes self-defeating. Get an accountability, team or better yet a tribe you can hang with who is in the same stage you are and fighting the same battles (mostly self). And then get on with it. Individuals with 15+ years of experience know enough about what they love and hate without too much additional discovery and debate, instead it's about being uber selfish and beginning to get real about what you want for the next 20. Put your pitch for what you think is next for you in front of 5 CLOSE friends and colleagues and then get ready for the truth. Only post that, is it time to map the final plan.

For any mid career change aspirant , who has created a SWOT analysis , has SMART goals and has a strategic approach the road to success is through creating a Network and build relationships with decision makers , influencers in the target organization. I believe the approaches that work are Coffee Chats, building a good LinkedIn Network and outreach campaigns.

In my experience, the best opportunities for mid-career professionals most times are not advertised. Seeking opportunities demands to look under the waterline. I recommend having a good networking. Seeding is the key! Attend industry events, but be prepared to introduce yourself and engage with other persons. Being a mentor or a coach or finding one for you could help in finding new insights and opportunities. Sharing your willingness to move to a different challenge with close contacts may give you the chance to be referred to companies and recruiters. Finally, creating a relevant project or portfolio for your job position/industry will make your profile more discoverable and desirable.

Think about the curious career conversations you can have. Often people put a lot of pressure on themselves to find a job and they miss out the curiosity and exploration stage. Find business or individuals that align with your purpose and values. Think about what you would like to learn from them and reach out with a specific question. People can be incredibly generous with their time, particularly when it is about sharing their stories and experiences. These curious career conversations can spark new ideas and possibilities and may even lead to opportunities you didn't even know existed!

The higher you climb in your career, the more opportunities come to you. To boost this, showcase your unique value and let your network know you're open to new roles. Relying on one connection might not yield results, but by the 10th or 100th conversation, chances increase. Treat it as a numbers game: with persistence and the right strategy, success is inevitable. Best of luck!

Transitioning or identifying new opportunities can take time. Stay open to possibilities, and be prepared for a journey of discovery and learning.

It’s not just about seeking opportunities, it’s also about being open to opportunities, even when they don’t seem obvious. You’ll very rarely have the perfect role fall into your lap, but there maybe aspects of a role you can develop.

Boredom often comes when you feel like your environment is uninspiring, repetitive and redundant. Create an exciting environment for yourself by exploring more; engage in various activities outside your comfort zone, engage with more people especially outside of your current career path, up-skill yourself by taking some short courses, reading books or attending seminars and webinars. The more you expand what you are exposed to, the more options you have, and subsequently the more opportunities knock on your door.

Focus on your transferable skills. When I made the transition from high school teacher to sales, I took an inventory of the skills I used as a teacher and mapped them over to sales roles I was exploring. Communication, relationship building, creating relevance, understanding your audience, organization, planning…all of this things were a match for my potential roles. From there, l worked on how to communicate those skills on my resume and in interviews.

For any mid career change aspirant , who has created a SWOT analysis , has SMART goals and has a strategic approach the road to success is through creating a Network and build relationships with decision makers , influencers in the target organization. I believe the approaches that work are Coffee Chats, building a good LinkedIn Network and outreach campaigns. I have created career portfolios in differentindustries, different geographies across the globe. If you keep the above plan in mind , you can do it! Note to self is to not get nto comparisons with peers and keep self limiting thoughts at bay ! All the best in your mid career journey !