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Six Steps To Follow When Making A Career Change

Howard Rosen; healthIT innovator, inventor, engagement strategist, film/TV producer, storyteller, Founder (LifeWIRE Corp)

After earning a Master of Business Administration, working as a film and TV producer for 20 years and then entering and working in the HealthIT space for the past 15 years, I've had what many might consider an eclectic career full of transitions. It’s been interesting for me to watch the “Great Resignation” over the past few months, during which 4.5 million people quit their jobs in November alone.

So, what is going on? In the New York Times article “Quitting Your Job Never Looked So Fun,” writer John Herrman noted, "Workers across social media are enjoying the vicarious thrill of chewing out a terrible boss. Some are even doing it." There are a great number of reasons workers could be choosing to leave their jobs right now. From my perspective, it is likely that the seeds were planted long before, and the pandemic finally pushed or pulled workers the past few months.

Regardless of why someone might have chosen to quit, once the decision has been made, then what? There are no set rules for when, how or even why you should undergo a career transition. As noted, the impetus to do so could have been spontaneous. There are no rules on how long it should take, nor are there rules on how many times you should change your career (though I suspect no matter how good you are, some HR managers might have their own number in mind when reading a resume with a myriad of changes).

The actual idea for a career transition can come from watching something on TV, reading a book or even fantasizing about what your “dream” career would be. For some, switching careers might be an easy process, but for many others, it can be rather daunting. There will be times you doubt your decision and yourself, and people around you might even question your choice. (But hopefully, you do have a support system.) With entrepreneurship and when building a company, your vision needs to be clear. A career transition is no different. Your vision of where you see yourself going in your career needs to be clear as well so you can work toward your goal.

Of course, a career transition might not make sense for everyone. Advice often given to those considering a transition is a variation of the proverbial "bird in hand" expression, which is often used to say you should hold onto what you have, rather than risk losing it while trying for something "better." However, if you are still driven to change your career, there are questions you should ask yourself.

The first question you need to consider is, "When is a good time?" Perhaps this is the toughest of them all, as you might want to make the change immediately after an incident at your current job, but the timing might not be quite right. Without thinking through the process, there is no way to really know when you can actually make the transition or why you want to in the first place. Keeping the following steps in mind could help you with that process of timing and understanding.

1. Categorize your transferable skills. Assess skills you have and what you see as being valuable to your new career.

2. Fill in the gaps in your skillset. Recognize the skill gaps you have, and look to find ways to gain those needed skills.

3. Gain experience that demonstrates your new skills. Once you have overcome your skills gaps, look to find opportunities where you can gain experience and showcase those skills. This experience could come from work or from outside of work, such as through volunteering.

4. Build a transition plan. Create a plan of action that defines the steps you need to follow to transition into your new career, such as job opportunities, target employers, initial and potential income, how you will survive during the transition, etc. (This is where support from loved ones is important.)

5. Prioritize networking. This can’t be stressed enough. When transitioning to a new career, you will need to find mentors and champions who will provide insight and open doors.

6. Be prepared to tell your story. Having done all of the above, keep in mind that you will likely be questioned endlessly by HR managers and others as to how and why you changed careers, so make sure you can provide your answer on what led to the change in a succinct and engaging way.

Yes, a career transition is about vision and what is best for you. But it is also about those around you and those close to you, as they will also be affected. Your reasoning for making a change can be tangible or rather esoteric, but it needs to be planned and executed in a manageable and measurable way in order to be a success.


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