This article was originally published by Square Circle, in response to three questions sent in by members of a professional group for working women. Since then, I’ve continued to see similar patterns in the way clients and friends talk about career transitions, and so I thought I would revamp the content for readers of my blog.
There are two striking similarities in the language people often use when looking to make a big transition. First, fundamentally they all begin with the same realization/question:
I know I want to make a big step in my career. Where should I start?
And second, they express the same underlying fear:
I know I’m not qualified for this next step.
Let me start by saying this: there’s no magic formula to land the right job for you. There are numerous factors that have to align before the right match is made. But there are two tools that can propel you in your search: (1) clarity on your goal: what you want, and why you want it, and (2) a strong commitment to that goal.
A first instinct when making a transition is usually to research online – gather all the information we can, visit job boards, start networking on LinkedIn, find relevant courses. Those are all important, but they are not always the best place to start. Rather than narrow your decision tree, they often broaden it, making it even harder to make progress.
Instead, the best place to start is inside yourself. Once you’ve taken the time to ask yourself hard questions and answer them thoughtfully, you’ll have both clarity and confidence to navigate your career transition.
What are your Must-Haves?
You’ve likely already spent some hours poring over the requirements lists on job postings, but what are your requirements? What values of yours must be served in your new job? (If you are not super clear on your values right now, here is a great tool that might help).
Career growth, financial stability and flexibility might be on your list. Now be more specific. What impact or experiences must you be having 5 years from now? What is your minimum salary requirement? What kind of lifestyle will let you thrive rather than simply survive? Visualize your dream scenario and find the courage to put it down on paper. No one else needs to see this! But you deserve to.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed and influenced by all of the information you collect from online resources, colleagues, friends, etc. Redirecting your attention within yourself allows you to filter through all that noise and get more clarity on what your next step is.
What’s on Your Inverse-Resume?
Transitioning careers is scary. It’s natural to focus on all that is going against you – your limited experience, the skills you don’t have, or that break you took to take care of family or try something new. Focusing our lens on our shortcomings leads us to neediness and desperation. We’re motivated to “just get any job” or “just get a foot in the door.” These broad statements do nothing to help us narrow our search. And they get in the way of our commitment to the must-haves we just listed.
So list them out – your inverse-resume. What are all the qualities you have going against you? What are all the reasons someone shouldn’t hire you? What are all the stories you’re telling yourself about why you are not qualified for the job? Write it out and tell it to yourself with excruciating detail. Recognizing our deepest fears is the first step to getting past them.
Because, here’s the thing: no one is telling that story but you. So it’s up to you to write an alternate version. For each of the disadvantages you have written down, think about an alternate narrative that is still true:
- You don’t have experience in X? Then tell me about your experience in Y & Z.
- You don’t have a certain set of skills? Then tell me about how you handled a past situation when you had to learn something for the first time.
- You didn’t work for 2 years? Tell me about the personal values you were serving in your time off, and how those values make you a great addition to any team.
You get the picture. From now on, let this new narrative drive you.
What’s on Your Interview Guide?
So now you know what your requirements are, and you know what advantages you have going for you. All that’s left is for you to decide what questions you have for your interviewers.
Yes, you heard me right. What questions are you going to ask?
When you walk into an interview anxious and desperate for a job, it immediately raises a red flag to the interviewer. Of course, any generic advice to be confident is much easier said than done. Instead, here’s a suggestion that’s more in reach: be curious. Start nurturing this mindset well before you begin the interview process, right from the online research and networking stage.
What thoughtful, open-ended questions can you ask to assess whether this role/company/program is a fit for your requirements and strengths? What information, not listed in the job description, will give you a clearer picture of what your day-to-day looks like in this role?
This mindset will help you both narrow down your online search, as well as put you in the driver’s seat for any networking conversations you set up in the future. Remember, it’s not just about you being the right fit for the position. The position needs to be the right fit for you too.
Your New Mindset
Transitions are not easy, but that doesn’t have to stop you from making the change you know you want. So spend time with yourself to get clarity on what you want, and then commit to your goal. Get cozy with your fears about what might stand in your way, then write a narrative that drives you forward not back. And level the playing field by deciding what questions you will ask and focus on mutual fit.
Managing your own mindset about the transition can turn what you view as a stress-inducing slog into an opportunity to learn more about yourself. If you’ve already recognized you need a change, then the hardest part is over. With your new mindset, you truly have the power to create the life you want.
