W2-employees and 1099ers alike must realize that there is no corporate safe harbor; job security is a legend of the past mostly publicized by my father’s generation AKA the * 40/40 Club..
The term “Career Change” is also mostly mythological and not at all practical for most domesticated financially responsible executives. What do you tell a 45 year old CPA with two kids in college, 5 years in to her third home refi who says she will do anything but accounting? The likes of these fairytale transitions make for good sales dialogue for career counselors and marketing firms, but are typically far from reality.
Curt, you are absolutely right when you say change/transition happens over time. We the people each and everybody on the face of the planet, who presently trades hours of his life for a paycheck, must adapt an entrepreneurial mind-set..That’s right! You must always be in “selling/reinventing yourself” mode! Just as a large corporation is always diversifying its product and market demographic, you too must always be looking at least five years ahead of your counter peers. The job stability mind-set is lethal to your long-term career successes.
The minute you land your next position, update your resume, and begin transformation. If you want to remain successful and happy in your work, you must adapt my mantra; if you are not in transition you are in denial. One of the most successful and product remodeling/transformations I have ever witnessed was accomplished by the Toyota Corporation. They started with an ordinary Camary, added some gold trim, leather, changed the name to Lexus and doubled the price! You must realize you too are a commodity and must continuously be cognizant of who may be in need of your product and how to reinvent and constantly position and promote yourself for the future. As you said Curt, this doesn’t happen overnight! Career Change is an instilled mindset that must be ever present if you expect to continue to successfully climb the “cliff face” of success.
My best advice: If you are absolutely in love with your job and company, get the heck out of there now!
*40/40 Club…An employee who works for the same company for 40 hours a week for 40 years and retires with a $40 gold watch.
John Seraichyk -- Browning Associatesof CT1:33PM December 13, 2008
Hi Dawn and Waffles. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Dawn, you're right. At some point you do have to take the plunge. The question is what that plunge looks like.
Often we tend to think in terms of the flip of a switch when it comes to change. But from what I've seen over the years, that's not typically how it works with our careers. Most of the successful career changes I see unfold over time (though to those on the outside, some may look like a sudden leap).
That plunge can be more of a slow-motion plunge with actions like the ones you mention.
Waffles, you're spot-on about the importance of understanding why you want to change. I think we often think in black and white, which can lead us to over-correct (i.e., I'm unhappy in my current situation, so obviously a full career change is the answer).
If what's really wrong is that your boss is a jerk, but you actually do love the work you're doing, the steps to "solve" the situation will be substantially different than if your path is completely out of alignment with what makes you tick.
Curt Rosengrenof WA3:00PM November 08, 2008
I agree with both of you. There is no better time than right now for someone to start taking action or the necessary steps toward a new career. However, I would argue that the very FIRST step should be for someone to thoughtfully reflect on why he or she believes a career change is necessary.
As someone who made a career change and has since assisted thousands of professionals with their own career transitions, I have found that, too often, people are simply dissatisfied with their current job or situation. For example, my company (The Barrett Group, http://www.careerchange.com) has worked with many attorneys who swear they never want to practice law again. However, once we help them land their “dream career,” it turns out the new position still requires their law degree and background. They find themselves hip deep in legal issues on a daily basis just as they were before, but the difference is they love every minute of it.
Therefore, I caution everyone to first distinguish whether their feelings are a result of job dissatisfaction versus career dissatisfaction. Your first move should be reflection and appraisal, not a resignation letter, especially in this job market.
Waffles Natuschof RI2:23PM November 07, 2008
Great post! I'm in total agreement that career change isn't something that will just come to you when the time is right. You have to go out and do it. Or at least start taking the necessary steps to achieve your goals. I blog about how to get started on your career change at collegesurfing.com/blog a lot, and a vast majority of the career changers I've spoken with over the years say they just had to take the plunge. Whether that is taking some classes in your new field of interest, making some friends/contacts in the new industry by attending networking events or connecting online, or start cutting down your spending and socking away some savings in your current job so you can afford to quit and enter your new field in the near future.
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John Seraichyk -- Browning Associates of CT 1:33PM December 13, 2008
Curt Rosengren of WA 3:00PM November 08, 2008
Waffles Natusch of RI 2:23PM November 07, 2008
Dawn Papandrea of NY 12:58PM November 06, 2008