The events of the past nearly two years reset our expectations of work. Employees are looking for the “right fit,” and if they can’t find it where they are, they’re changing course.
With recent record numbers of people leaving their jobs or sitting on the sidelines, the underlying question is, “Where to next?” How can job searchers chart a path forward that aligns with their new priorities?
Making career decisions can feel intimidating, but blending process with levity can guide your efforts. Think about your career as a bingo card. Keeping your ultimate goal in mind, develop a list of a dozen traits a hiring manager might seek. Which ones do you have? Which do you still need?
As you look for positions, take assignments, and accumulate learnings, you are essentially checking off squares, preparing for your dream job. This process can be helpful if you’re choosing among opportunities or if you are unsure about making a change. Take stock of your card: Are there holes you should be filling? This practice helps you identify what you really want and think holistically about your individual strengths, despite any limitations imposed by your current industry or role.
Spending the early part of my career in human resources, I realized that many of the skills I used every day were the same skills leaders of all kinds needed to be effective. This realization propelled me to transition from HR to operations. For me, that career pivot paid big dividends and helped me realize that recognizing and capitalizing on transferable skills are critical to successful career journeys. I’ve leveraged several other practices that have ultimately helped fuel my growth and success:
Bring what you love with you. Think about past jobs and the elements you enjoyed most. Crunching numbers, writing, mentoring, meeting with customers—any one of these tasks could become the focus of your search. Employing the same skills in new ways can help you bridge to a new industry, company, or functional area. Anchoring the new experience in skills familiar to you can help you make the jump in a new direction.
Show up to learn. Prepare for a career change by finding new things to learn in your existing position, even if they fall outside your lane. In HR, I spent time observing the “real work.” I rode along with salespeople. I observed how customers and employees used our technology. If there was an opportunity to work on a cross-functional team, curiosity had me raise my hand. This made my daily work more rewarding, and in turn, people saw me as someone with more to offer.
Embrace diverse perspectives to grow your career and be an effective leader. If you’re in search of a fresh opportunity, look beyond traditional sources. Be intentional about surrounding yourself with others who look at the world differently. Diversity of thought leads to better outcomes, helps uncover areas of opportunity, and does wonders for your career network.
Prepare for potential failure. Even after your research and planning, you might find yourself heading back in the direction you came. There’s no shame in admitting a new opportunity wasn’t the right fit. You will have left the experience richer for it, even if you didn’t hit the ball out of the park. Don’t let what’s scary on the surface prevent you from realizing your depths.
When it comes down to it, you’re the champion of your own story. While career transitions might seem intimidating, your confidence, drive, and hard work can help you adapt and grow into the next phase of your journey.
Laura Brown is the president of ADP Major Account Services and ADP Canada.
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