A step-by-step plan for making a career switch in a tough job market
Hello 'stepping stone' job!
This is a tough job market. Despite confusing and conflicting economic indicators, if you are a job-seeker, you are seeing firsthand that there is a large pool of qualified candidates for every job.
Maybe you are trying to restart your career after a break or you've been working but you're trying to parlay your experience into a different field.
Returning to work and making a career pivot are each hard to do on their own.
Trying to do both in an uncertain job market is a major uphill battle.
What might the solution be?
Here’s a plan to consider, broken down step-by-step:
Make a list of the job titles you would ideally love to have - these are the "Plan A" jobs.
Then make a list of the job titles you could get today based on your current experience and skill set - these are the "Plan B" jobs. These jobs are called ‘stepping stone’ jobs, jobs that are a stepping stone to get you closer to the Plan A job.
Get the Plan B job you think you can get today. (As a job seeker, your goal is to get a job - obviously!.)
Then do an analysis of the difference between the skills needed for the Plan A jobs and what you have on your CV right now.
Identify the gaps in your experience and skill set. Come up with 10 ways you could fill those gaps: Take a course, get a certification, volunteer to get the experience, find a mentor in the field, etc.
Work at the Plan B job - tell yourself you will be there for 1 year. This is probably long enough to ride out this job market and will give you current experience on your CV.
While you are working, set aside time (a few hours every weekend) to work on filling your gaps between you and the Plan A job.
After a year’s time, you are no longer trying to re-enter the workforce. You are a working professional. And you now have more of the requirements needed for the Plan A job. You have also likely expanded your professional network which means you'll have more people in a position to support and advocate for you.
There is no quick fix
This isn't a plan that gets you in your ideal job in a heartbeat. It's a plan that takes the long view, that acknowledges the realities of today's job market, and that gives you the chance to re-skill for the job you really want.
Your last chance to join What’s Next?
Bookings for the next cohort of my What’s Next? career change programme close on Friday. Here is what previous participants have shared about their experience.
If you would like to join in with this round and benefit from all this juicy-ness, make sure you sign up soon. Kick-off is 13 February. Here are all the details.
Cheering you on!
Melanie x