Building Your Runway to a Successful Career Transition

Picture your career as an aircraft on a runway. Just as a plane needs a sturdy runway for takeoff, your transition from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to civilian life requires a solid foundation – a support system. The longer and stronger your runway, the smoother your career liftoff becomes.

Navigating the Transition: Networking vs. Real Connections

Networking might feel like uncharted territory, especially if you’re from the structured world of the ADF. In the military, your career path is often predetermined, where networking seems to come naturally with postings and deployments. However, as you approach the civilian landscape, the rules change and networking is all up to you. You might have acquaintances ‘on the outside’, but meaningful connections tailored to your desired career aren't always guaranteed. You might have a friend or family member who is operating in the mining industry. Consider for a moment you’re a heavy diesel fitter, and you’ve got a job opportunity in mining through a friend of the family. While the job might promise financial rewards, the lifestyle challenges can be surprisingly similar to Defence with plenty of time away from family in often isolated locations. Sometimes the first career opportunity that comes your way sounds like a good jump, but when you take a step back and think of the bigger picture, these types of career moves may be more detrimental long term. Thats why it’s important to make the time in advance of your career transition to build relationships with real people in industries that you’ve done some research in so that you’re aware of both the pros and cons.

This is where authentic relationships come into play. Authentic connections, built on shared values and experiences, are part of the equation to a successful transition. You’ll find that civilian industries have their own unique lingo and nuances, and genuine connections will help to bridge that gap. Having authentic relationships with people in industries that you truly see yourself working in long term will often yield a much more fulfilling career for both you and your family. So the key message here is to begin researching industries that you truly see yourself in long term, and find the people within those industries that you resonate with. Look for mutual interests in those industries, find common ground, and build relationships with people that you resonate with.

Crafting Your Support System: Your Runway

Now thinking beyond mere networking, I’d like to encourage you to start shifting your focus to creating a robust support system. Think of it as the runway that you’ll repeatedly leverage in your career journey. It’s more than just having friends or connections; it's about forming a system that supports your unique transition challenges. This could include surrounding yourself with people who’ve walked the path that you want to take, or working with people with experience in supporting those on this journey. It doesn’t have to be a formal thing, but something that will complement your journey. It could also mean adopting new techniques and ideas, to help you overcome challenges along the way.

This is where having a growth mindset comes into play. This mindset, often discussed in the context of personal development, is about believing in your capacity to learn and develop skills. Embracing a growth mindset means you’re open to challenges and setbacks because they're seen as opportunities for learning. How does this relate to your support system? Well, imagine trying a new sport or hobby. Initially, it might be challenging, and you might not be good at it. But with consistent effort, practice, and a belief in your capacity to improve, you find yourself progressing. The same applies to your transition. By adopting a growth mindset, you're more likely to see hurdles as learning experiences, ultimately strengthening your journey.

In my personal experience, I’ve found that taking on a new sport has thrown me into a growth mindset. It’s a situation where I had to be open to learning new things, taking on feedback from experts, and adapting my approach to improve. This approach to learning filtered into other aspects of my life, and then I was able to apply the same principles to my career transition.

Expanding Your Horizons: Blue Ocean Strategies

Have you ever heard of the Blue Ocean Strategy? Coined by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. It’s about venturing into unexplored territories rather than competing in oversaturated markets. Applying this philosophy to your career transition will help you to open doors that you didn’t know existed. This will involve collaborating, bringing your unique value, and uncovering fresh opportunities instead of struggling in a crowded job market. You’ll find that taking this approach will enable you to transform your passions into your next career step and explore entirely new fields.

Having read the Blue Ocean Strategy myself, I found that it assisted in my mindset immensely. At the time I was pursuing a Master's Degree in Aviation (Human Factors), despite having limited prior exposure to the Human Factors specialisation. The idea to reach out to my University lecturer who had started a new business ended up opening doors that I never knew existed. Deciding to follow my passion and interests ended up being the best decision I had made in my career.

Remember, your unconventional background holds significant value. Tailor your experiences to suit your new environment, similar to a navigator steering through unfamiliar skies.

Embrace a Growth Mindset Through New Experiences

Adopting a growth mindset is key to a successful career transition. Embrace the idea that you can develop and learn, even in areas you're not familiar with. Exploring new sports and hobbies is an excellent way to grow this mindset. Starting a new sport like Jiu Jitsu, you're faced with the unknown. But as you learn and progress, your confidence and adaptability also grow. This mindset will filter into your career journey, making you more open to learning, adapting, and thriving long term.

Your Flight Plan: Key Takeaways

• Genuine Connections: Prioritise building authentic relationships over surface-level networking. This will go a long way when it comes to achieving a career transition into an industry that you truly see yourself in.
• Support System & Mindset: Go beyond mere networking to build a system that works for you and fosters growth in areas you want to get better in. Engage in new sports, hobbies or activities to foster a growth mindset for yourself.
• Blue Ocean Strategy: Embrace innovation and collaboration to explore fresh career avenues. You’ll be amazed by the endless possibilities and doors that will open.
• Leverage Unconventionality: Your unique military background adds a distinct perspective. Remember that you have value to add, and people will value your outsider perspectives.

In essence, your career flight demands both a sturdy runway and the right angle of attack. Your support system and genuine connections establish the foundation for a successful takeoff. As you navigate through your flight plan, remember that you're not alone – you're part of a community of like-minded individuals charting the same course. Remember to pay it forward to others who’re on the same journey - help others, add value, and you will be amazed with what follows.

Reference: Kim, W. C., & Mauborgne, R. (2005). Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant. Harvard Business Review Press.

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