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Many boomers want to change careers for a variety of reasons: to reduce stress; to learn something new; to follow their passion; to find a change of pace or to stay ahead financially. But it’s easy to make mistakes and overlook factors that are critical to changing careers effectively.
So, when leaving the security of a steady job to transition to a new career, you’ll want to avoid the following five mistakes. That way, you’ll embark on your next voyage with grace and confidence.
You think you’ll love your new career path, but you won’t know for sure until you’ve immersed yourself in it. So, before interviewing for a new job in a new field, try to experience what it would be like.
Start by figuring out what spare time you have to dedicate to your trial run. You may need to get creative if the job would be an office position and you currently have one. In that case, find lunch hour times or take half-days to shadow others in positions for which you might apply.
If possible, test the waters online. For example, if you want to move into marketing and already have some marketable skills — like design or writing — create an account on Upwork, the online platform for freelancers.
You could also apply for short-term gigs or projects that let you flex your skills, gain experience and better understand what you might be doing on a daily basis.
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Switching careers, especially after 50, can be a big change financially, mentally and emotionally. You may need to move down on the totem pole, which can be challenging if you haven’t set your expectations properly. Set realistic goals.
The key is to be prepared to learn. Some of the work skills you’ve acquired already, such as communications and organization, will be critical to your success in your new field. Find ways to excel with the capabilities you have, while gaining new ones.
When switching careers, it’s easy to take the first opportunity you find because you’re worried you won’t be qualified for anything else. That mindset can stick you in a position you don’t want.
So, before making a switch, figure out what matters most to you. Do you want full-time or part-time work, or does that not matter? Are you open to travel? Do you need consistent work hours or remote work opportunities? Know what you need, and make it clear to potential employers. That way, you’ll be more likely to be happy with your new path.
This kind of advance planning saves you from wasting time pursuing the wrong jobs and lets you focus on positions you’d most want.
One tip: Don’t blurt out your work requirements in a first job interview. Instead, focus on your skills and the job’s fit. Once you’re sure the job is one you want and the employer is interested in you, then you can start talking about your preferences for your working hours and location.
It may be wise to acquire new skills before making a career switch. Otherwise, jumping in to a new field too quickly can set you back.
Instead of getting in over your head, setting yourself up for failure and stress, go slowly, carving out time for training on the side while you stay in your current position. This not only enhances your resumé but also provides you with valuable hands-on experience that will make you a better job candidate when you are ready to change careers.
Research the skills expected of candidates in the field you hope to enter. Then, seek training opportunities that will give you a leg up — and an inside look into the work required.
Search for online, self-paced courses that you can take at home. Also, consider in-person conferences, workshops and events that offer learning opportunities as well as networking.
You’re enthused about your new career, but it’s important to do a reality check. A career change can be risky, and doing it without a backup plan can leave you with no paycheck or job. That’s why you need a Plan B if the new job doesn’t pan out, the interviews don’t go well or you decide your intended path is not right for you.
You don’t need another job lined up for Plan B, though. Just set yourself up for success if things fall through. Here are a few ways to do that:
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In the last couple of weeks, I have written about some very somber topics. A study conducted by Third Way concluded that many college graduates earn the same as high school graduates, but are left heavily burdened by tuition debt of over $100,000. Wells Fargo projected that robots will displace 200,000 bank employees within the next 10 years. I have also covered General Electric—once the greatest example of American capitalism—freezing pensions and being accused of fraud. HSBC, the large global bank, announced 10,000 layoffs, in addition to the 60,000 jobs that have already been eliminated on Wall Street. The unbridled adoption of artificial intelligence may result in millions of job losses and require massive retraining for those impacted and U.S. income inequality is at its highest level in 50 years.
Read the paper, watch the news, go online to Twitter or Facebook and you’ll be assaulted by vitriol, anger and pessimism. It’s clear that many people are despondent over the current state of affairs in America. Although, on average, we live a lifestyle unimaginable to past generations, we feel that the good days are behind us. There is a palpable sense of doom and gloom.
If you look back at America’s history, this feeling of hopelessness and fear of the future is common. We’ve been through some difficult times and have always found a way to dig ourselves out, improve and move forward. Amazingly, every time a seismic shift, catastrophic-seeming event or frightening change occurs and seems like it would be the end of us, we’re able to figure out solutions and keep advancing.
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Currently, we are collectively dealing with the impact of rapid changes including globalization, technological advances and a different type of economy and job market. It feels to many that this is utter turmoil and chaos. It’s easy to get discouraged and feel overwhelmed. While that’s understandable, in this new, evolving economy and job market, you need to become mentally and emotionally strong. You must learn how to possess the ability to adapt, survive and thrive. There is no time for self pity. It’s a time for action.
Here is what you need to do to succeed in this newly changing world.
Forbes.com | October 9, 2019
When you’re interviewing for a new job, you probably want to know what it’s really like to work there. But most interview advice misses the mark when it comes to culture. How do you figure out the unspoken rules about company culture and communication before you take the job?
Unfortunately, you can’t simply ask directly. Companies often give lip service to values such as openness, honesty, integrity, and work-life balance, so it’s rare that your interviewer will come right out and contradict those.
A company’s culture is determined by what the organization actually respects, which can often vary from theory to practice. We’re all prone to self-deception.
To see the culture clearly, you’ll need to look past the words and focus on actions that show its respect for employees’ time, environment, thoughts, contributions, and effort.
When visiting a company, before you get to the actual talking part, do a visual interview. In 2019, the employee experience is a good indicator of how a company feels about its employees’ well-being.
When you visit the office, notice what are people wearing. Is the dress code t-shirt and shorts? Button-down and jeans? Are flip-flops optional? The spectrum of office formality to casualness provides your first clue as to how a company treats itself.
Take into account how much space, light, and quiet is each employee provided. If you find it crushing to work in a status-driven hierarchical environment where the corner office is the grand prize, pay attention accordingly. Or if the tumult of an open-floor plan feels like chaos instead of a productive workspace to you, choose wisely.
When they ask if you’d like a coffee or water, take them up on it, and get it yourself. This gives you an opportunity to visit the cafe or pantry. Notice whether it’s large and well-stocked, with a wide variety available or messy and tiny. Are they scrimping on supplies and offerings? Or is it a Google-esque cornucopia of snacks, drinks, and menu options? Great generals quip that “an army marches on its stomach.” Does your future employer agree?
Similarly, I’ve heard that a trip to the bathroom is the most revealing way to find out how a company feels about its employees. Because the bathroom is invisible to the outside world but something employees use every day, investments here show a conscious effort to improve the daily routine.
If the bathrooms are dingy, dimly lit, depressing dungeons that have not been painted since the 1970s, how discretionary is employee happiness to this company when nature calls? A clean, well-stocked, and well-maintained lavatory says the organization cares.
These visual cues give a glimpse into a company’s culture as it is actually practiced. You can’t read too much into them, of course, but they provide clues.
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Meeting practices, office communications, and the sanctity of days off are the biggest tip-offs to a company’s hidden culture. So after your visual interviews, ask questions face to face with your interviewers to reveal what the company values in these areas.
Some companies prefer inclusion and consensus while others value efficiency and rapid decision-making. You might ask, “Are meetings inclusive, with a dozen people or more, or limited to five or six decision-makers?” Big meetings mean no hurt feelings but no speed either. Smaller, sparser meetings mean streamlined agendas, but you might not always be included.
Asking them to discuss a time when negative employee feedback on a decision caused it to change at the company can be eye-opening. Some companies are hierarchical and simply don’t work that way, while others are immensely receptive to employee feedback. Neither’s right, but one may be more right for you.
You might also ask, “What is the rhythm to the work here? Is there a time of year when it’s all hands on deck and we’re pulling all-nighters, or is it pretty consistent throughout the year?” If your interviewer lets you know it’s all-nighters all year, that’s a different culture than a 9-5 office environment. You could continue with, “How about during the week or month? Is the work pretty evenly spread throughout the week or month or are there crunch days?” A performance-driven company will let you know it values outcomes over an easy schedule, and vice versa.
Company culture regarding emails and Slack are especially important in our always-online world. You might ask, “How do you handle the flood of emails and Slacks at your company? What works for you?” Some workplaces expect round-the-clock surveillance of your device and instant replies. Others are much more comfortable with “do not disturb” and waiting until the morning.
In all of these conversations, a pleasant, open, nonconfrontational tone is best, regardless of what works best for you. You’re there to learn about their culture, not judge it. Open eyes, open ears, and open-ended questions are the best way to find a company’s hidden culture before you start.
Author: Marc Cenedella is the founder of Ladders Inc. He has been writing on careers for 20 years at Ladders careers site, where you can sign up for his weekly newsletter.
FastCompany.com | October 9, 2019
Finding a new job is a little like a talent competition. Luckily, there are thousands of resources online to help job seekers answer the questions most businesses are likely to ask.
The problem arises when these canned responses get parroted by hundreds of potential employees. Eventually, an HR manager will tire of hearing the same main points repeated by the hundredth employee they are interviewing for the post.
What does a job seeker have to do to make sure that they stand out as unique while still hitting all the relevant points in the interview? To answer this question, we asked 10 contributors to Forbes Human Resources Council what job seekers ought to do to be unique in their interviews so that they stand out as memorable to the HR personnel who will conduct the assessment.
1. Be Authentic In Your Answers
I would tell job seekers to be authentic in your answers by giving real world examples that they have personally been involved in. Your involvement could have been that you were an observer, as well. You can practice for interview questions by reviewing past performance reviews, writing a list of your top accomplishments and/or sharing your professional development plans with the recruiter. – RaQuel Hopkins, DHI Telecom Group
2. Prepare To Interview The Interviewer
Oftentimes, when interviewing, candidates focus so much on whether they did good in the interview and if they will get the job. How about you prepare questions, so you can interview the interviewer? Do you really fit their culture and want to work there? By evaluating if they are a great fit to be your next employer, you will remember your worth and kick the script goodbye! – Tish McFadden, DoubleTree McLean Tysons & B. F. Saul Company Hospitality Group
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3. Walk The Talk
There are no magic words. Candidates seeking to distinguish themselves should only take interviews for jobs that genuinely intrigue them. As an interviewer, it’s easy to spot people who are just going through the motions. I notice those who’ve researched the company online, sought out current or recent employees for insights, and prepared questions that demonstrate their interest and insight. – Joyce Maroney, Kronos Incorporated
4. Be Honest
Any sophisticated interviewer can sense when a job seeker gives a canned response. The key is to deliver the answer clearly and honestly. Describe the situation clearly. Outline the tasks and the actions that you were responsible for individually. Quantify the results even if they were not what was expected or the goal you were trying to achieve. In either case — what were the lessons learned? – Stephen Lowisz, Qualigence International/Lowisz Consulting
5. Take Care Of Your Energy
What is contagious is the person’s energy and vibrancy in an interview. Are they passionate? Do they have a glow in their eyes when talking about something that they love? Do they have work ethic that I cannot teach? Do they have humility which shows character? Do I, as an interviewer, feel that I can learn from them? Will this person not only integrate in my culture, but be a positive influence as well? – Tasniem Titus, Dentsply Sirona
6. Don’t Over-Prepare
Don’t rehearse your entire interview. Share your background and a few bullet points of your accomplishments as a part of your opening statement. Then listen intently to the question that is being asked. Give specific and succinct responses about how you’d be an asset to the organization. Being more conversational instead of trying to remember a script will also help you stay calm. – Regina Romeo, CPS HR Consulting
7. Research And Connect The Dots
Research the company and get a good understanding of how they operate and the position you’re applying for so you can take advantage of every opportunity to answer their interview questions by connecting your past experience to the position you’re applying for. Connect the dots for them — yes, they can read your skills and accomplishments on your resume, but anyone can write a stellar resume. – Courtney Mudd, Influence & Co.
8. Use The STAR Method
Interviewers want to gauge how prepared candidates are, and how their responses frame their skills and past experience. A good way candidates can do this is to use the STAR method whenever possible, citing a specific Situation, Task, Action and Result from their past. This ensures a unique response and provides the interviewer with real-life examples of the candidate’s ability to deliver results. – John Feldmann, Insperity
9. Turn Off Your Inner Judgment
Turn off your inner judgment and be kind to yourself. Tell yourself that you don’t have to perform, but just focus on being. You can do no wrong. Then you can relax, and that calmness radiates. – Anne Iversen, TimeXtender
10. Build A Connection To Help The Conversation Flow
Listen to the questions, think on your feet and connect an answer to the interviewer, the company, previous interview topics or even something you read that day. This will help the interview flow like a conversation, build a connection with the interviewer and show your critical and creative thinking skills. Getting to know one another as people also sets the foundation for long-term success. – Vivian Maza, Ultimate Software
According to the LinkedIn blog, October is when the hiring season is in overdrive, and so it’s the best time of year to look for a new job. There are more available job postings on LinkedIn in October than any other month. What’s more, 89% of hiring managers tell us it takes less than four weeks to fill a role, so if you start your search now, you could be in a new position before Turkey day.
LinkedIn states that they have over 20 million jobs where employers are currently hiring. That’s a lot of jobs! Surely there is one job you’d love to have.
When I was encouraging my career counseling client today, Sameen, I told her that as a baby boomer returning to work, she’d find many opportunities are available. She hasn’t worked in several years but had returned to school to update her skills. She was an ideal applicant many employers would love as she been an accountant before she stopped working to care for elderly parents. She was shocked to hear that LinkedIn had over 20 million jobs available on its website. Indeed.com has even more than that on their website.
Here are some essential strategies to implement if you hope to take advantage of this hiring spree this October.
· Narrow you’re your job search. The LinkedIn search tool is designed to make your search easier and help you find the job that’s right for you. Use the search filters to narrow by job function, experience level, industry, or company; or even keywords like “remote work.” Be sure you check that you use the right words to search for your job. The more in line with how employers list the job, the better. So instead of searching the job “writer,” you might narrow it and search for “Content Writer” thus eliminating many technical writing jobs you aren’t interested in. Likewise, instead of “Sales Manager,” you include the level of experience to “Mid-Senior level” to narrow the job opportunities.
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· LOOK on MONDAY. LinkedIn says that the #1 day for hiring managers to post opportunities is Monday, so be on the lookout at the beginning of the week for new job postings. Professionals who are among the first 25 to apply to a role are 3x more likely to land the job, so being an early applicant gives you a clear advantage. That means clear your Monday evenings to applying for these jobs. They are brand new and have been posted that day, so you want to jump ahead of the crowd.
· Show off your skills. LinkedIn has just added a new way to demonstrate that you have vital technical skills. More than 85% of employers say that skills will be increasingly more critical for hiring talent in the future, and nearly 90% think vetting a candidate’s skills is crucial in the hiring process. To help you stand out to potential employers, validate your skills with the new LinkedIn Skill Assessments. You can test, verify, and highlight skills — ranging from Microsoft Excel to Adobe Photoshop to Python — giving you the chance to showcase what you know. LinkedIn awards you a badge, thus making you more discoverable by employers. In fact, early results show a 30% improvement in the likelihood of getting hired with a completed LinkedIn Skill Assessment.
· Have your Resume and Cover Letter ready. To be able to apply quickly, you need the tools all up-to-date. The resume needs to be results and accomplishment orientated. Stress how you have saved time or money, made the company money, added some process or system improvements, or created something new. If you have completed a new degree or certificate training emphasize that. You should be keeping your resume to 2 pages. Focus on the last 5-7 years since employers care most about your recent experience.
There has never been a better time than this October to job hunt –and land — your next position.
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I am a career counselor that helps clients land jobs. I offer Resume Writing, LinkedIn Profile Writing, and Interview Coaching services. I’ve appeared on Oprah, DrPh…
Preparing for interviews can be incredibly daunting, but getting the job you want can be a genuinely life-changing experience. Most of the time, you have less than an hour to convince people who don’t know you that you are the best fit for the job.
According to LinkedIn, the majority of job seekers say the interview phase is “moderately to extremely challenging” for two reasons: uncertainty and lack of confidence. Being well prepared will ensure that you’re polished and confident, maximizing your chances of landing your dream job. Here are six tips to prepare for your next job interview.
Related: Job Interview Preparation Checklist
Many job interviewers will ask the same or similar questions. Tell me about a time where your problem-solving skills were on display. Describe a time where you encountered interpersonal conflict in the workplace. You’ve heard them before. As an applicant, you can prepare answers for these standard questions well in advance by drawing from your past experiences. Take a stroll down memory lane, and come up with examples of when you demonstrated desirable workplace behaviors.
There’s plenty of online resources that list standard job interview questions, and these resources can educate you on how to approach your answers. For example, LinkedIn is launching a new tool where professional recruiters will walk people through what a strong response to any given question should look like. Technology won’t write your answer for you, but it will help you understand what’s really being asked and how to structure your response.
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Practicing your answers out loud, in front of a person or recorded on video is a must. Ask a colleague or friend who’s been on the other side of the interview table — whether an HR manager or otherwise — to let you practice your answers in front of them. The honest feedback you will receive will be invaluable. Oftentimes, the people you practice in front of will point out deficiencies in areas you wouldn’t notice on your own. Examples include:
Try video interviews with these friends and colleagues as well. Videos and in-person job interviews are fundamentally similar, and video can be more or less stressful depending on the context and personal preference. Videos are becoming increasingly common as a recruiting tool so all applicants must be ready for them.
Related: 7 Strategies to Stay Cool, Calm and Collected During a Job Interview
Just like the internet holds a wealth of information relating to standard interview questions, it also has information on company-specific hiring processes. Job applicants should conduct a thorough review of all information available to them to get an understanding of the company and how it recruits. For larger companies, there are often articles and infographics explaining their hiring practices, as well as Glassdoor reviews, comments on internet forums such as Reddit, and even the company website. Think of this information as a cheat sheet to understand the organization’s interview process and values. Be sure to incorporate this information into your interview answers.
Regardless of your prep and research, your interview performance will be dependant on how you are feeling that day. Going in relaxed and refreshed is the best thing you can do. You know yourself best, so use your personal relaxation strategies to clear your mind for the hour before your job interview. Whether it’s sitting in a café with tea, meditating or even stretching.
Sleep is an essential factor in your day-to-day performance, and it impacts job interviews just as much. If you’haven’t had enough sleep, your memory, problem-solving skills and judgment might be compromised.
If you’ve followed steps 1-4, confidence may be the last thing holding you back from acing the interview. Harvard Psychologist Amy Cuddy teaches that changing your body language can make you more confident. Poses like the Wonder Women or The Performer are two great ways to help you feel empowered when you enter the interview room. Before your meeting, find a private spot like a restroom stall, stairwell or elevator and strike a power pose for two full minutes to maximize the benefits.
Related: 3 Key Tips for Your Next Job Interview
At the end of every interview, you may be asked if you have any follow-up questions. To wow your interviewer, avoid compensation-related themes and prepare two or three questions that focus on the position and how it fits into the organizational strategy. This will give the interviewer the impression that you’re interested in learning about how you can contribute. These types of questions can include:
By following these steps to prepare for your interview, you will be able to be a polished, clear-headed, confident candidate. You’ll be able to put your knowledge on display without worry and maximize your chance of getting the position you want.
Entrepreneur.com | October 4, 2019
If you want to have a strong and supportive network, you need to follow up with people. You never want to be that person who only gets in touch when they need something. Furthermore, when you go to a big networking event, such as a professional conference, an effective way to maintain the momentum and distinguish yourself in the process is to follow up because too many people just don’t bother.
That said, exactly how to follow up is a stumbling block for many people. This reader captured the struggle best when she asked about following up with recruiters after an industry conference:
While I attended the convention and collected a lot of business cards from people at the job fair, I struggle with the content of the follow up email. Should I say something like, “Nice to meet you. here’s a soft copy of my resume, and please let me know if there are any Asia job openings?” Most of those recruiters were U.S. focused only. So many of the companies and I aren’t a good fit at all. Also, “let me know if there are any job openings” doesn’t sound proactive.
Here are five guidelines for continuing that professional connection and specific ideas for follow-up even when you think you have nothing to say:
1 – Do not make a request in your first follow-up
Sending a résumé unsolicited (i.e., when the recipient didn’t ask for it) is a request – to read it, to meet with you, to consider you for a job. Making a request for job search help is asking for too much too soon in a new professional relationship. Instead, make your first follow-up something that simply continues from where you left off. For example:
1. Say thank you for a particular insight the person shared
2. Send an article related to a specific trend or issue you discussed or you know the person is working on.
3. Make a referral if the person mentioned something they needed, such as a service vendor or candidates for an opening.
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2 – Tailor your follow-up to the other person
The examples above build on the most recent conversation, but you can also follow up based on what you now know about the other person. This shows that you were listening and that you are genuinely interested in them and not just what they can do for you. For example:
1. Make a recommendation about something the person mentioned as a personal interest (e.g., they love historical fiction and you highlight a book you read in this genre)
2. Say congratulations if the person’s company is mentioned in the news
3. Check in on how the person is doing after the conference, highlighting a session you attended together or something the keynote speaker suggested
3 – Make it easy for the other person to respond
Another benefit of the follow-up suggestions above is that they don’t require much, if any, effort for the other person. You recommend a good book or send an article, but you’re not asking for a report back on these. You offer a referral, but you don’t automatically cc the person you’re referring, in case the other person no longer has a need or doesn’t agree that your suggestion is a good match.
Focusing on the ease factor to the other person is why I don’t recommend inviting someone for coffee in an early follow-up. Asking for a meeting over coffee is a big ask, considering how much time a live meeting takes and how busy many people are. Do you have a lot of time for coffee breaks? How often do you see old friends, much less newer ones?
4 – Make it easy for the other person to help
When you do get to the stage where a connection has been established – i.e., you have gone back and forth with the other person at least a couple of times – then talk about your job search or business project will probably arise naturally. When that happens, be specific with any requests you decide to make so it’s easy for the other person to say Yes to helping you.
The reader was worried her request to “let me know if there are any job openings” was not proactive enough, and I agree it is lacking. Specify what type of job openings are of interest to you and a fit with your background. Ideally, have a specific job or companies that you’re researching and let the person brainstorm on similar type jobs or companies. Don’t expect the other person to develop ideas from scratch or to know what help you need.
5 – Remember that recruiters get pitched all the time
Good follow-up practices, like not asking for too much, tailoring your outreach and being specific, also apply to recruiters. Another consideration particular to recruiters is that because recruiters network constantly, they have seen poor follow-up more than most. As a result, they may be sensitive to it or impatient and write you off if you make a bad impression with your follow-up.
To stay in touch with recruiters, focus on helping them fill their jobs. For example:
1. Make referrals to potential candidates if you discussed specific jobs or types of jobs they hire for
2. Make referrals to potential clients if the recruiter is part of an agency that recruits for more than one firm, rather than in-house
3. Share information about their market – this includes updates on what you’re working on if you work in the same field
Recruiters are not experts in every market. Limit your interaction to the industries and roles they hire for. If a recruiter doesn’t serve your market (for example, this reader is based in Asia but met U.S. recruiters), ask if their firm covers other geographies or practices so you know whether or not to put that agency on your radar, but don’t expect the recruiter to make the introduction for you. Some recruiting agencies keep different geographies and practices separate.
You do have something to say – and it shouldn’t always be about your next move
If you really focus on developing the relationship, then your follow up will naturally focus on the other person, and you will find something to say. The other person will inspire ideas for how to move forward. In addition, if you are a busy professional, then you’re working on things and hearing news and developing insights, all of which are ripe for sharing.
Follow-up is not about getting something to help your next move. People you meet, even in a professional context, may become friends. They may become vendors or business partners. The best follow-up is open-ended and lets the connection unfold. Let yourself be surprised.
As a longtime recruiter and now career coach, I share career tips from the employer’s perspective. My specialty is career change — fitting since I am a multiple-time c…
Whatever the reason may be, you have started to feel lost, unsure and unenthusiastic about your career. Our frenemy, anxiety, is creeping into your body, and you are beginning to wonder if you should seek professional career help.
If you’re anything like I used to be, you may be telling yourself, “I can do this on my own! I am strong!” And you likely are, but there does come a time when it is in your best interest to save yourself some time and pain by hiring an expert for outside perspective in support of your future.
While some signals may feel obvious, it isn’t always clear when it is time to seek help in advancing your career. Here are seven signs it is time to invest in a career coach.
1. Your job angst is leaking into other parts of your life.
Perhaps you are bored at work or frustrated with your job. This irritability has started to affect how you perform the job, and your relationships have also begun to feel dark and clouded. You’d do something about it, but the problem is, you don’t know what other careers or paths you should pursue. The thought of leaving a miserable job, only to take another miserable job, scares you.
Most of the clients I work with say their dissatisfaction at work was one thing, but once it started to affect everything else in their life, they knew it was time to seek outside guidance and support.
You might be thinking, “This sounds like I need a therapist.” The difference between a psychologist and a coach is, a psychologist will focus on looking in the past to heal, while a coach will focus on the future and creating strategies to generate an external outcome.
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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?
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2. You lack a clear vision and don’t know what to do.
You don’t know what you don’t know about what’s out there for you. When I was feeling uncertain about my path forward and hired my first coach, I had a general idea of what I wanted, to start a business to help people, but I wasn’t clear on the specific details, nor did I know how to put them into action once I did. Thanks to my coach a decade ago, I was able to discover my calling and build a six figure company within one year.
You might be feeling like your entire world needs to change; perhaps it does. It also may simply need an outside perspective to help you course-correct just a little. More often than not, I have found that most people are only a few millimeters off track from the right career fit for them.
3. Your patterns do not support your goals.
You are clear about where you want to be, but you continue to make self-destructive decisions that keep you tied to your bad habits. This is where commitment comes into play, and if you’re being really honest with yourself: you feel like you may lack the true commitment (so far!) to really making your dreams a reality.
Your vision may feel so grand it becomes paralyzing, and you need help taking the small steps forward to reach the big goal.
I have had plenty of clients who come to me feeling overwhelmed. Overwhelm is usually a pattern or coping mechanism to protect yourself, so I tend to start with mindset. In the words of John Assaraf, “When you’re interested, you do what’s convenient; when you’re committed, you do whatever it takes.”
The feeling of overwhelm or lack of commitment may be a result of one’s fear of success, fear of failure or fear of the unknown. All of these fears require mindset shifts that most people can do, but they need support in the process. As a career coach, I help people clear blocks and reach the levels of personal commitment and growth they haven’t yet accessed.
4. You are job-hopping constantly.
Getting the job hunt itch too often is one of the more obvious signs you need help. When you build the inability to maintain employment in a certain position or start to job hop every eight to 12 months, it’s time you seek out support.
Perhaps this pattern is a result of losing your job due to poor work ethic or performance, or this pattern is a byproduct of constant dissatisfaction in the roles you do land. The ladder may just mean you’re looking to find your place at work. Whatever the case, this process of applying for new jobs, moving positions and ultimately leaving will start to take its toll on you— emotionally, physically and professionally.
If this pattern continues, it will start to be a red flag to hiring teams who view it as a sign of commitment phobia or low resilience, leaving when things get tough. In order to put a stop to this pattern, a career coach will be able to get to the root of the career dissatisfaction and help you create a career that fits your short, and long term needs.
5. You get interviews, but aren’t landing job offers.
You may have it all mapped out with a solid plan in action, which is great. But then why can’t you land the jobs you apply for? Because no one teaches you how to communicate in a job interview… It’s not something we learn in school.
You are in need of a self-audit on your interview and job hunting skills. This is a very common concern that many of my clients have come to me with, and luckily something that can be quickly resolved. I have found many people have nervous ticks or answer the standard interview questions in a way that doesn’t showcase their strengths. Learning how to answer some of the tough questions will put you at ease, and make the interview process far more successful.
Even when you hold a corporate job, you need to consider your professional brand. When you are on the job search, having a strong brand will support you in the process… and that starts with having a strong resume. A good career coach will be able to help you: craft a solid resume, write a cover letter that puts a career transition into a positive light, or craft an elevator pitch to use for networking.Hope is not a strategy, so get a plan into motion to land the job you love. You are worth it.
There’s nothing powerful about deliberating and analyzing! Get out there and step into your power so you can love the career you’re in. Don’t waste any more time saying “no” to your dreams.
IN MANY SPORTS, halftime is when the coach changes up the strategy and can redefine success for the rest of the game. Positions are adjusted and players are swapped. The team that takes the field or court in the second half often has a completely different approach to the game in terms of pace, priorities and tactics.
The age of 40 is a similar waypoint for when people reconsider their career and whether they are in the right position or even the right sport. Following seven steps will guide a job seeker through the unique journey of making a major career change at 40 and older.
Understand Yourself
Philosophical wisdom usually starts with an exhortation to know oneself. After all, if you don’t know yourself, who does? What motivates you? What are you good at? In what areas are you less skilled? Starting with a clear measure of who you are and where you fit in the world of work is critical to any job search but especially if you seek a change of function, industry or profession.
The good thing about being 40 is that you likely have about two decades of work experience and have both received feedback and contemplated your own successes and failures. Think about when you have felt the most competent. Was it when you “nailed” an oral presentation? Or was it when you closed a difficult sale, fixed a technical problem or when you helped a colleague with a social issue? Unlike a recent graduate who needs to speculate regarding her strengths and weaknesses, the 40-year-old should know them cold.
Like appraising a piece of art from a different vantage, it is important to look at one’s career from varying perspectives. Why did one assignment go well and another less so? If you can explain your value retrospectively with confidence, you have a much better chance of articulating the value prospectively into a new role or field.
The 40-something job seeker needs to work his or her plan even while remaining open to changing the self-awareness, goals and execution plan along the way
Determine Your Goal
Having decided on who you are, you must determine what you seek. Life and careers are full of tradeoffs. Are you willing to move? How much of a step back are you willing to endure to make a change? What do you really want to do? What function, industry, level and location do you seek?
The goal needs to be specific, measurable and actionable. “I want a better job” is not a helpful goal. “I want to make a move into sales management at a service-oriented company with revenue of more than $25 million on the West Coast of the U.S.” is clearer and more definable. The goal may change in focus and clarity throughout your career change journey, but the struggle for definition is at least half the battle.
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Articulate Your Why and Why You
If you know yourself and what you seek, how will you communicate to others in such a way that they can inform, help and direct you? A clear and concise elevator pitch is a key tool in learning how to present yourself and tell your story for opportunity. Tie the past to the future through the mechanism of your self-understanding and future goal.
“I have enjoyed good success as a salesperson and as a sales manager. When I think back on the first half of my career, I have noticed that my biggest impact was in the analytical support of my clients and teams. It turns out that I am very good at quantitative and qualitative analysis. It is the reason why I want to shift my career into a financial analyst role.”
Note the use of the personal narrative and career search goal as a bridge from the past to the future.
Assess Your Resources
Once your intellectual house is in order, you must turn to the practical aspects of executing your plan. Start with a candid assessment of your resources. These are your financial, social and intellectual capital. Financial resources include money and investments on hand, of course, but also an inventory of obligations. A single parent with limited means who is also supporting an elderly parent, for example, may not have the same risk tolerance as someone in different circumstances.
Social capital includes your contacts database but also your friends and family who can support or provide friction for your career change plan. Get the key people in your life on board with your plan by providing the same insight that you learned by articulating your “Why and Why You” statement.
Finally, take stock of your intellectual capital. Do you have the right degrees, certifications or licenses for the move? Not all fields require these designations, but you need a clear understanding of what might be required early in the process of making a career change.
Research and Network
Online and print research is a big part of executing a career change at any age but especially at 40 or older. Since you are selling wisdom and experience as a key part of your value offering, you must in fact be informed and knowledgeable. In addition to personal research, the best source of access to information, people and organizations is networking. Aggressive and focused networking is the most effective route to new opportunities. The good news is that these steps can be done before you leave your current position. Set a goal to meet two additional people each week for focused networking and be sure to offer assistance to others as you work toward your goal.
Take the Plunge – but Only After Reducing Your Risk
At a certain point, one must take the plunge. This does not mean hastily quitting a current job in order to dedicate oneself to a poorly conceived quixotic quest. It does mean breaking the cycle of procrastination that afflicts most people (when they are honest with themselves). A written plan with deadlines and goals will provide accountability and ensure that real progress is being made.
Rapidly Iterate and Repeat
Few startup companies stick with the same business model with which they launched. And so it is with a career switch job search. The six steps above are a process that may be repeated multiple times throughout a career. What you want and how you conceive your goal will likely change and adapt to real-world conditions and learning. For example, a social worker interested in getting into corporate sales might be surprised to learn that there are selling opportunities in the nonprofit world that may not require as radical an industry change as previously thought to gain access.
The 40-something job seeker needs to work his or her plan even while remaining open to changing the self-awareness, goals and execution plan along the way.
Career change is challenging at any age, but the 40-or-older job seeker has the advantage of greater resources, wisdom and insight than her younger colleague. Midlife career change is possible and likely when the candidate follows these seven steps and comes back after halftime ready to win.
Author: Peter A. Gudmundsson, Contributor
Peter A. Gudmundsson has written for U.S. News and World Report since 2015. He is the CEO of Th… READ MORE
USNews.com | July 26, 2019
