How Embracing Change Can Power Your Job Search

Something that prepared me to cover the rollercoaster that is the world of work is my background in journalism. Every day is different from the last. Challenges pop up at a moment's notice. Of course, the industry's volatility also keeps you on your toes.

A person who brings that background and more to her incredible coverage of business and its intersection with life is Joanne Lipman . She is out with a new book — Next! The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work — drawing on her experiences and those of many others.

Lipman has the definition of an impressive career: CNBC contributor, Yale University lecturer, former editor-in-chief of USA Today, founding editor-in-chief of Condé Nast Portfolio, former deputy managing editor at the Wall Street Journal and bestselling author of That's What She Said. Her resume goes on but Lipman clearly understands how to navigate a successful career and lead others.

Next! is especially relevant to anyone who is looking to reinvent themselves through a job search or career change. Lipman uses what she's learned through her reporting to provide a roadmap to anyone on the cusp of something new, helping them to harness change instead of fear it.

I had a chance to talk with Lipman to learn a bit about some of the takeaways she learned during her reporting that can be applied to job seeking, career pivots and more.

Trust Your (Informed) Gut

Lipman's book kicks off with an examination of a question you'll undoubtedly encounter in your career. Specifically, is it time to jump? The jump could be from one career to another. The jump could be saying 'yes' to a job offer. Essentially, it's answering a question that's looming over you.

Many people approach these answers by doing endless amounts of research. The problem is that you'll eventually need to make a decision. Lipman says trusting your gut is key, but the difference is knowledge. People who make successful gut decisions tune out the noise and use the sum of their experiences and knowledge to make their choices, Lipman writes in her book.

For example, Lipman — as a journalist — has a vast knowledge of what people need to know at any given time. During the pandemic, she realized they needed a guide for change. Her gut led to the book.

"I had one of those moments where I woke up in the middle of the night, I'm like, 'I don't understand where the world is going,'" she said. "There's no guidebook to show us the way. There's no roadmap; we need a roadmap. That was the impetus."

Similarly, doing the hard work as a job seeker or career pivoter — such as knowing what salary you need, what perks are important to you, and what role would fulfill you — will enable you to more easily trust your gut when the time comes to make a choice.

Lean on Your Failures

The word "failure" is loaded for a lot of us. Society etches into our cores that we don't want to fail or — even worse —?be considered failures. Unfortunately, we can often feel like this during a job search or at low points in our careers.

While there may be times when we need to take a different approach to something, Lipman cited research from Northwestern University's Dashun Wang, saying it's usually better to retool it based on what you learned from a failure.?

"What he found is that too often what we tend to do is fail at something, throw up our hands, and storm off," she said. "Maybe we start all over again. He said that successful failures are iterative. So that means you do something and you fail, but — rather than starting from scratch again — you iterate. You're always iterating."

For job seekers, you can apply this to unsuccessful attempts to get informational interviews or get to a final round of conversations with employers. Look at where the process seems to go wrong and change that pivot point to get to a better outcome.

Find a Companion

We often talk about finding a support network to help with your job search since it can be a lonely process. Lipman gets more specific in her book by suggesting people find an "expert companion."

"It could be a professional but it could also just be a friend or someone who knows you to help reflect back to you what your strengths are; what your skills are; and what you know," she said. "They can see you objectively. I feel like we all need that… Very often, if you ask somebody who knows you well, 'what am I really good at?' They will tell you something that you have no idea about because it's something that's really innate to you."

You're Already on Your Way

Another relevant piece for job seekers that Lipman uncovered is that you're likely already on your way to reinvention without even knowing it.

Her book breaks down the steps to what's next as Search, Struggle, Stop and Solution (in that order). What gave her a lot of optimism is that the people she spoke with didn't realize they were already nearly through the first step — search — before taking deliberate action to make a move.

"One of the big myths that I hope Next! will help explode is this idea that you have to know exactly where you're going," she said.

Understanding that you don't have to know exactly where you're going is probably comforting to a lot of job seekers. While you need to be taking steps to move forward, it's OK if the destination isn't 100% clear yet.

You can find out more about Joanne Lipman by clicking here to view her LinkedIn profile. You can also find her new book by clicking here.

Networking is the cornerstone of a successful job search and career. Unfortunately, most people run and hide at the mere mention of the word… NETWORKING! Fortunately, Elise Powers, who is the founder of Eleview Consulting, joined me for the latest episode of his #GetHired podcast. In addition to being a big proponent of networking, Elise has largely used it to propel her successful career and business forward. You can read a transcript of the discussion and listen to the conversation by clicking here.

Elise also joined my LinkedIn News colleague Brandi Fowler on Monday to answer LinkedIn members' questions about networking. You can catch a replay by clicking here.

COMING UP: Your confidence will likely take a hit during your job search. If not, spoiler alert, it'll probably happen at some point in your career. The key is to focus on building and maintaining your confidence so you can successfully navigate whatever ups and downs come your way. Selena Rezvani (she/her) , who is a sought-after speaker and coach, will join me on the next episode of my #GetHired podcast to talk about her upcoming book — Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself. She'll share practical tips you can use to build and maintain your confidence during your job search. Follow my podcast wherever you like to listen, including Apple Podcasts, so you don't miss the episode.?

Selena will then join Brandi on Monday, March 27, at noon ET on #GetHired Live to answer your questions about building and maintaining your confidence during your job search. You can RSVP for that live conversation by clicking here or the accompanying image.

• Are resumes going extinct? (By Todd Dybas) Job seekers know the drill: Polish your resume, make it succinct and tailor it toward the job description. This process applied a generation ago and applies now — or does it? Marketing executive Arianna O'Dell argues resumes are rusting. "Some of the most outstanding people on paper have turned out to be the worst hires," she writes in Fast Company. Much of O'Dell's point involves hard versus soft skills. The former can be taught. The latter can be invaluable. O'Dell says human skills like creativity and leadership cannot be discerned from static paper, which will contribute to the resume's demise. Here's what people are saying about it.
• How do you succeed at a new job? (By Jennifer Ryan) Your first weeks in a new job can be stressful, with the potential to have a huge impact on how things go long-term. Begin your preparation one week before your start date, advises career strategist Orsi Urban. Research the market, competitors, best practices – anything that will help deepen your knowledge of the company. Test run whatever you need for the job, from software to your commute. Meet with your manager, confirm your schedule and try to avoid a clash with any major changes in your personal life. Once you start, introduce yourself to your colleagues and ask questions. Then, as the weeks turn into months, build effective relationships, focus on learning and aim to score some wins early on. Click here to see what people are saying about it.
• Has flex work sparked the "fun economy?" (By Jake Perez) The rise of remote work has also given rise to what The New York Times calls the "afternoon fun economy." Professionals with flexible work arrangements are extending their workdays — or working unusual hours — in order to squeeze in workouts, hair salon visits, golf games and other leisure activities during traditional work hours. Stanford economics professor Nick Bloom says this phenomenon might be stealthily shoring up the economic rebound from COVID. Still, it's important to note that remote work doesn't work for everyone: Evidence-based research on its mental and physical effects found mixed results. Click here to learn more.?

We talk a lot in this newsletter about what to say during interviews, but it's also important to listen during those conversations. What you learn from interviews — whether informational or at potential employers — can inform your next steps, such as whether to accept a job or choose a new field. This LinkedIn Learning course offers a deep dive into effective listening techniques. You can watch the course below or by clicking here.