Contemplating a Job Change? Where Do You Start?

Last week I had the opportunity to speak with two friends who are planning their next career move.  Both are excellent leaders in their fields.  One has led her company through a successful trade sale and is evaluating her option of working for the new owner or moving on.  Another was affected by an organizational restructure and looking for a job.

As I listened to them, I reflected upon my personal experience five years ago when I made my career switch. I believe the process I went through is still relevant today.

Pause to (Re)Discover Yourself

Many executives facing the possibility of leaving their current jobs are in a hurry to find their next job. In their mind, they have a mortgage to service, family to support, luxuries in life they cannot do without.  If you are in this situation, bear in mind that rushing to prepare a hundred application letters for your next job without seriously considering what you really want can only frustrate you during the job hunt. Employers today are flushed with good candidates for many job openings. They are therefore not just looking for people whose skills and experience fit the bill. If you know well enough what you are looking for in your next career and undertake the necessary preparation before your job search, you are more likely to stand out during the recruitment process.

Therefore, take a pause and give some thoughts on what inspires you, what kind of profession is aligned with your interests and values, and what you are willing to give up in order to take up that profession.   

My career switch five years back was ignited by a strong desire to "do something that helps people in a personal way". This desire got me into a self discovery process.  Along the way, I came across an excellent book by Bob Bufford called Half Time : Moving from Success to Significance .  It talks about splitting our "game" of life into two halves - the first being one in which we are always on the move - accumulating deals and achievements without giving ourselves time to consider their importance and relevance. Then comes “half time" when we truly reflect on our "first half " and consider what we can do in our "second half" to make a significant contribution to self and others. Bob calls this " moving from success to significance".

During my " half time”, I discovered that my passion is in helping people rejuvenate their lives and make the best of their abilities. The best roles for me would then be those that allow me to bring my commercial and management experience to a business that helps people develop themselves.  To this end, I chose the education sector for the next phase of my career.

As you go through this discovery process, it is important to review your other needs - how much finance you have to sustain you and your loved ones through your job hunt, how much time you are willing to dedicate to picking up new skills that comes with the job.  Having a holistic understanding of your aspirations and needs will allow you to come to a well considered decision on whether to pursue a role that inspires you but is less financially rewarding, or delay it to a later stage when you are more ready.

After a thorough review of my needs and multiple discussions with family members and friends, I was prepared to spend a fair amount of time acquiring knowledge of the education sector.  I was also prepared to receive a lower remuneration for the job I like.  As it turned out, I received an offer from an education company whose mission is to " help people make progress in their lives through learning". In retrospect, one of the reasons I got the job was because my hiring manger was impressed with the passion and commitment I demonstrated during the interview. This would not have happened without the research and thought I have given to the role and industry beforehand.

Build your Skills 

Once you have figured out your aspirations and needs, the next thing to do is to build the necessary skills towards your desired career.  Whether you plan to progress to a more senior role, or move into a different role or industry, there will be a skills gap which you need to address. Few companies nowadays are willing to hire a mid-career executive and train him or her to meet job requirements. You therefore need to proactively acquire the skills needed for the new role.

Today we are not short of opportunities to learn. There is a plethora of training programs, both face-to-face and online, that can help us acquire skills in almost every profession. Lynda.com, for instance, has a series of  learning paths that allow individuals planning to move into certain jobs to learn online and have their new skills certified. What we do need is a mindset for continuous learning and improvement.

* Read my other article on The Power of Just in Time Learning

Establish your Network

If you have been working for a while, you would have established a network of industry colleagues whom you can turn to for support. But what if you are (like me) interested in a role outside your current profession or industry ? I would suggest you try joining associations or professional groups in your new area of interest. Interacting with fellow members of these groups will allow you to develop a better understanding of the new sector, clarify your plans, and increase your commitment to the transition.

LinkedIn is a great platform for reaching out to people in specific sectors you are interested in. While you are at it, remember to not just be on the receiving end of information and advice, but also provide advice and support in return. This will help build trust for you amongst your online collaborators and improve your credibility with your new peers.

The Best is Yet to Be

Exploring a new career path can be a scary experience, as you are stepping out of your comfort zone.  At the same time, it can be an extremely fulfilling effort.  Not only does it allow you to discover your real interests and abilities, it also helps rejuvenate your passion in life, and make you a life long learner. 

I have never looked back since the day I started on my new career path. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to oversee an education program for children from one of the poorest provinces in China.  Seeing the faces of children light up as they progressed in their learning affirmed to me that my decision was the right one.

In a couple of weeks, I will be moving on to another exciting role that allows me to fulfill my aspirations at scale.  With the experience of taking my first leap five years ago, I know I will enjoy the new journey!