✈ Is it time for you to switch career lanes?
Why right now might be the perfect time and what NOT to do during the process.
According to a Harris survey for the University of Phoenix in Arizona, almost 80% of workers in their 20s agreed on wanting to change careers. Most working adults claimed they had career plans when they were younger, yet 73% did not end up in the field of their dreams.
Taking that huge step of moving lanes, though, is not for those who want to quit. Quite the opposite, it is for those who are ready to begin where the environment will serve them more.
The career switch checklist
In an episode of TED’s original video series “The Way We Work”, entrepreneur Chieh Huang lays out the signs that you might be in need of a career change. On the other side of the coin, he also states things that should NOT be the reason for you to go and turn your life around with a career switch, like short-term pain of not getting along with your boss or colleagues.
If you’re on the verge of taking that leap of faith, go through the following list of questions before you determine your next career move:
Do you feel that your current job is no longer serving you learning opportunities?
Is your gut keeping you awake every night, telling you that there is a more suitable place out there for you?
Do you have a resourceful professional network, or are you at least actively working on it?
Have you figured out your finances? Tip: a 6-12 months of personal runway is ideal.
Chieh also adds a few important notes to keep in mind while you’re going through the process of a career switch:
Do’s:
Learn to side hustle, as it will ease you into a new set of responsibilities and introduce you to learning new skills.
Remember what you’ve learned, as most of the time they will still be applicable at your new job.
Don’ts:
Burn bridges. Refer back to the point that networking is key, no matter if you’ve succeeded the career switch.
Freak out. Remind yourself that chances are, your ‘intimidating’ new colleagues are not out there to get you, they most probably would love for you to succeed as your success IS their success.
Watch the intriguing 4-minute video here.
Switching during a pandemic
In the times of crisis, people are most likely to take a strong stand on one thing or the other. With career moves, it’s whether to continue working hard where you are to maintain your job at best, or to completely swerve to another lane. Dawn Graham, a senior contributor at Forbes, stands for the latter as she believes that during a pandemic:
You’re already experiencing disruption: People dislike changes, especially the ambiguity and discomfort. In a global crisis, changes are happening regardless.
The world is changing rapidly: The changes that have been happening worldwide in the past year are most likely irreversible. What has been working for your career in the last several years, might not work for the next.
You have time: Most offices have moved their activities online, allowing employees to have less time to commute and more time to learn new skills.
Gaps are explainable: Gaps in your resume will look normal, especially to sympathetic interviewers considering the context.
Agility is king: Adaptability is key, and accompanied with resilience and creativity, it will make diving in headfirst much more worthwhile.
If not now, then when? Be courageous enough to walk away from the reputation, salary, lifestyle, and identity you’ve built.
Watch the full breakdown on Forbes’ YouTube channel here.
The 3 stages of a career change
In her podcast titled “The Holistic Career Change”, certified life coach and career strategist Vilma Usaite goes deep into the nitty-gritty of changing your career, including the 3 stages every hopeful .. will have to face:
Identify: Before going headfirst, first explore yourself and the market to find alignment. Keep in mind that you could make switch in role (functional), industry, or both. This stage is where you need to outline 2-3 possible switches.
Test Drive: Start collecting feedback and data to fuel your career move, while you’re still in your current job. Creativity and resourcefulness are needed to probe mentors or career change ambassadors and make sure you’re familiar with the pros and cons of each possible switch.
Transition: Do not hold any deadlines or timelines. A career switch could be gradual where you slowly start a side hustle, or could be a stepping-stone switch—same role, different industry. At this stage, know that you are not a typical candidate, hence it is advised to tap into your network or do volunteer work.
Listen to the 20-min casual podcast here.
See you next week for more personal growth and productivity tips!