Michelle Perchuk is a talent acquisition and recruiting expert, a career and business progression coach and founder of MTV Coaching.
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Finding a new job is daunting and changing careers entirely can be so intimidating, it’s hard to know where to start, especially for busy executives who are yearning for new opportunities but are already overwhelmed with existing commitments. Many people know they want a change but don’t have a clear goal in mind, so they end up wasting lots of time and energy without ever getting the results they want.
To define — and stay focused on — a clear career goal, look no further than outside your window for inspiration on how to gracefully transition careers. Winter, spring, summer and autumn each play distinct and beautiful roles in the passage of time. Just as the seasons change, with each season setting the stage for the next, following a clear pattern through your career transition keeps the process manageable and natural, and gets you closer to your goal.
Winter: Bundle up and hunker down.
When you start feeling like it’s time for a career change, don’t rush into it and don’t panic. Instead, treat this time like winter. Take a breath, grab a warm drink, settle in and get cozy. Now is the time to plan, strategize and research your next steps. Set aside dedicated time for self-discovery. You can also work with a career coach to help determine the best way to shape your skills and passions into a rewarding career. Bury yourself in research about this new career path (do it from a blanket fort if you have to!), and then design your game plan: What do you need to do to make this switch? Who do you need to meet? What additional skills should you be working on?
Spring: Plant your seeds.
After planning and preparing in your cocoon all (metaphorical) winter long, it’s time to start planting the seeds that will blossom into career opportunities. Not all of the seeds will blossom the way you want them to and that’s OK! Trust in the plan you’ve developed and sow often. Become active in your university’s alumni organization. Get involved with networking. Don’t forget to do some spring cleaning and dust off the cobwebs on your résumé and professional website. Take the time to freshen up those documents so they represent the best version of yourself and are expertly tailored to the opportunities you’re interested in. Remember, without a strategy, a résumé is just a piece of paper. Most importantly? Keep your eyes open for unexpected blooms of opportunity.
Summer: Get outside.
Just like real summer, this summer season is all about action. Put yourself out there and start applying to the positions you’ve been researching. Keep networking and checking in on those seeds you planted during the spring — remember to follow up! When it’s time, get ready to dive headfirst into your interviews, watching your opportunities and your confidence grow with each one. Don’t forget: This should be an exciting time. Make sure it’s fun for you.
Autumn: It's harvest time.
After planning, planting and nurturing your career switch, now is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Accept new opportunities and the new roles you’ve been working toward. Watch how you’ve grown in the process, and take a moment to reflect on what you’ve learned about yourself. Remember to take a moment to express gratitude for your own efforts, as well as for the friends, family and professional connections who have helped you along the way.
Pretty soon, it’ll be winter again, where you can hunker down, focus and immerse yourself in your new role, setting new goals and deciding on clear strategies for how to achieve them so that your career progression can be as just as beautiful and rewarding as you want it to be.
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