Career Transitions

Managing a career transition in a turbulent and uncertain job market can be overwhelming. Fredrik Malmsten, Chartered Occupational Psychologist at Alumni outlines how approaching the transition with a clear understanding of your personal values and utilising effective strategies, you can successfully navigate this process and find a career that aligns with your values and aspirations, and during the process grow and develop as a person.

Feel the Fear

The 2022 Work Trend Index[1] from Microsoft, showed that 43 per cent of all employees are considering a change of job this year and the desire is even more prevalent in the younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z) with more than half planning a change. Many of these changes will be into a similar role, but many will also involve a completely new sector, industry, or direction.

A career transition at any time can be daunting, and there is nothing wrong with experiencing a certain amount of fear. It only signifies that you do consider it a life-altering decision and are carefully measuring all the pros and cons related to it. So, don’t let your inhibitions prevent you from successfully pivoting your career.

Uncover your values

Identifying and prioritising your personal values are an important step in any career move. Personal values are the core principles and beliefs that guide your decisions and actions in life. Some common values include integrity, family, community, personal growth, and financial stability. Consider what is most important to you in your work-life, such as a sense of purpose, work-life balance, or making a positive impact on the community. Once you have a clear understanding of your specific values and what they mean to you when they are fulfilled, you can then use them as a foundation for your job search and decision-making process.

Identify your skillset

When people imagine changing careers, what really frightens them is the idea of starting again from scratch. But switching careers naturally implies that you already have an enormous amount of transferable skills that you can highlight in your CV.

Therefore, a key aspect to consider in a career transition is your transferable skillset. Take an honest assessment of your skills and identify which ones are transferable to other industries or roles. It is also important to consider your passion and interests. Think about what you enjoy doing, what drives you and what is energising in your work. This will help you identify potential job opportunities and industries that align with your skills, interests and passions.

Many platforms such as LinkedIn, offer tools to help you with this process.

Transition goals

Once your skillset and values are identified, it is important to set realistic and achievable goals for the transition. This can include short-term and long-term goals and should take into consideration any current constraints or limitations, such as financial or family responsibilities. It is important to keep in mind that a career transition does not happen overnight, and a step-by-step approach may be more realistic.

Do your Research

With this in place, next thing to do is to start researching and exploring different career options that align with your values. This can include researching companies, job roles and responsibilities, and identifying potential networking opportunities, using online resources, such as LinkedIn. Network with professionals in your desired field, and reach out to recruiters and coaches like us at Alumni for guidance and coaching to help you build a strong resume, cover letter and interviewing skills to increase the chances of landing the right job.

Remain Open

It is statistically difficult to discern career transitions from job moves to a similar role, however, according to the US Department of Labour, the average person will change careers 5-7 times in their working life and there is definitely a likelihood of one of these being a complete transformational employment change. One of the most important things during a career transition is to be open to new opportunities and consider different industries, roles, and locations. Sometimes, the perfect job may not be in the industry or position you expect and being open-minded can help you discover new opportunities that really align with your values.

Alumni

Finding the right job is not only about the salary or the job title but also about finding a job that aligns with your values and aspirations and most importantly – your passion. By identifying and prioritising your values, researching and exploring different career options, and being open to new opportunities, you can successfully navigate this process and find a career that aligns with your values, aspirations and enthusiasm, and it can truly be an opportunity for growth and personal fulfilment. You may be able to achieve this through self-assessment, but remember you also have the option to seek professional career guidance with professionals like us.

References

[1] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/