Advice from 5 Working Women Who Made a Career Leap
This summer, I’ve been poring over my doctoral dissertation — “How Professional Women Learned to Recreate Their Careers and Find Personal Fulfillment” — as I painstakingly work on my book proposal. (More to come on that but for now, I’ll just say: the writing process is not for the faint of heart!) In doing so, I’ve been struck once again by the advice these women shared in their interviews, all of whom made successful career changes.
As we enjoy the slumber of summer days, great ideas often come in waves: from the comfort of your beach towel, this is an opportune time to reflect on what you want and how you can make moves through the end of the year. Here are five insights to consider, wherever you are in your current career journey.
Envision Your Vision
Tulah’s* approach was very clear, much like her vision: she wanted the opportunity to work in an entirely different sector. She had spent most of her working life in corporate and was looking to wade into the wonders of the nonprofit world.
Tulah set about listing all the elements she was looking for in this career shift: what skills she most liked to use, and more importantly, the types of environments where she had thrived professionally. After identifying them, she began listing industries she was interested in exploring and any assumptions she had about working in each sector. She then tapped into her network for leads in the industries she was curious about; speaking to individuals helped her gain unvarnished insights.
Her takeaway was the value of connecting with people directly and getting honest perspectives, so that she could have a more realistic view of her horizon. Knowledge is power.
Wade in the Water
For anyone at a career crossroads, a good starting point is to take the literal plunge and dive into your dilemma at hand. You have decisions to make – which typically come hand-in-hand with fear, because it means you’re going to have to explore new avenues and ultimately make changes. Research shows that fear and self-doubt are the primary blockers to success, and changing jobs ranks high on the stress test.
Julietta*, who successfully took on a C-Suite role in a new company, shared that she worked through her fears of change by taking a deep dive into them. What’s really behind the fear? Swimming around this question is quite powerful.
Watch the Sunrise
Patience is the secret ingredient, and oftentimes we just need to wait things out – Yumi* assured me this was the key to her success.
If you already have your next move in place and are sitting impatiently, waiting for changes to kickstart, now might be a good time to think about the experience of watching the sunrise. There is nothing more magical: a sunrise holds promise, reveals itself in all hues of gold, and serves as a reminder of a new day.
We live in a world of instant gratification, but any career move takes time – often several months – so give yourself grace while you make the move to your final destination.
Build Your Sand Castle
This is the one that I think requires the most work. In the throes of a career crossroads, we tend to splash over all that we have accomplished over the course of our lives – especially achievements that don’t always fit neatly into a performance review. This is a reminder that achievements are gifts of all shapes and sizes, and taking the time to identify and revisit them is a boost to embrace. Akua* was adamant that revisiting her accomplishments was a key element in nailing her interviews.
Swim in Your Lane
Paula* was very straightforward and her approach to a career shift was simple. At the end of the day, change is personal: people have different personalities and needs, and will make transitions in different ways. Think about how you prepare for a holiday: do you carefully pack your luggage, or throw everything in your carry on and hope for the best upon arrival?
There is no right or wrong way to navigate a career crossroads. It’s ultimately going to be your race at your pace.
*Names have been changed for anonymity.
