I can describe what I was, but I won't know what I am until I'm in my next job. There are probably a lot of things I could do, but I don't even know what some of them are. How do I describe my objectives without either arbitrarily ruling out a lot of potential opportunities or being so broad that I appear to have no direction at all?
If you're a career shifter, the bad news is that there's no simple way to inventory all the roles and settings that might be a good fit for you; the playing field of human endeavor is simply too great. You could read through the Department of Labor's Directory of Occupational Titles, but be aware that it lists only those jobs that the government has seen fit to reduce to a terse description and a Standard Industrial Code. It's dull reading, but might be worth an hour or two of your time, if only to jump-start your thought processes.
The best ways to get a handle on what you might want to do in a career shift are: (1) talk to other people about what they do and (2) present them with a "menu" of your skills, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and temperament and ask them to brainstorm with you. You won't be expected or required to have a clear focus, particularly at the outset of your career transition efforts, or to have all the answers. Getting those answers is what networking is for. You will be expected to have engaged in some structured self-assessment.
As the networking process goes on and you meet a variety of people, learn what they do, and "try on" their work and life-style, either you'll find your interest whetted or you'll discover that what sounded like a neat way to earn a living isn't for you. For career shifters, much of networking amounts to what doctors call a "rule-out diagnosis": by exploring and discarding as many potential options as you can, you dramatically narrow the array of viable options.
Early-stage networking for career shifters is a 20-questions game with the world of work: you try to cut the playing field down to more manageable proportions by eliminating as many types of roles and settings as you can. This initial activity produces a greater sense of focus and an ability to provide an increasingly precise description of the type of role or setting that would best suit you. For a lot of networkers, particularly gregarious extroverts, this process of sampling other people's work lives can be fascinating.
Canvass the Universe When Changing Careers
Julie holds a PhD in American folklore, has displayed her sculpture in juried art shows, and is an expert on urban graffiti as an art form. She was dean of students at a prestigious art school, but became frustrated with administrative tasks and academic bureaucracy. When told that it was time to part ways, she decided to use her year's severance "to explore what's out there." The diversity of Julie's contacts was staggering. Over the next few months, she learned about zoo administration.
She checked out a foundation that was considering sending artists to paint the Amazon rainforest. The director of a renowned arboretum took a liking to her. A women's rights group found her accomplishments impressive. Julie found this career sampling invigorating for about six months, until her need to be productive resurfaced. Despite all her contacts, she still felt unfocused. Julie continued to network widely and finally found a fit. She now coordinates extension programs for a major university, including curriculum design, marketing, program evaluation and new-program development.
Networking meetings that involve career changers often loosen up quickly and become comfortable for both parties. The contact isn't expected to be a great expert on some industry; he's asked to talk about himself and his own experience, which most people enjoy doing.
Networking Guide for Career Changers
Have your contact answer these questions to discover more about the careers that are out there:
Tell Me about You
How did you get into this field? What made you decide that this was the kind of career for you to pursue? What training, special credentials, or experience were prerequisite to getting hired in your field or your position? What are your responsibilities and what do you actually do during a normal day of work? What functions or activities are included in your work? What are the greatest satisfactions you derive from this kind of work?
Is there anything you don't you like about this field or about your job? What's the typical career progression in this field? If there isn't one, where do you see your career going? What other career options will your present role allow? If you continue doing what you're doing now, what kinds of options will there be for you in the future? To what extent are gender, age, race or other factors relevant to advancement in this field?
Tell Me about the Industry
Are there certain geographic areas where work of this kind is more or less plentiful than in others? What are the basic prerequisites for gaining employment in this field? What's the current demand for people in this field?
How does this field tend to pay, compared with other sectors and kinds of jobs? What training or development do companies in this field generally provide? On what factors are performance evaluations based? What are the most desired skills, abilities and personal qualities in this field?
How receptive does this sector, industry or field tend to be to people who previously worked in other settings? What forces do you see affecting this field or your job in the foreseeable future? How will things such as new technology, government regulation, changing competition, changes in the way work is structured and changes in the workforce affect this field?
What are the most common problems or issues confronting people in this field and what are the best sources for learning more - through Journals, Periodicals, Conferences or Associations? Who are the best kinds of people to network with, to learn all I can about this field?
Where Might I Fit In?
Given your understanding of my skills and background, how good are my chances of making a successful transition into this field? What barriers would I have to overcome to make the transition? What entry-level opportunities are common in this field?
What, if any, new technical credentials do you think I'd need to move into this field? What are the most effective techniques for obtaining work in this field? Are there any particular companies or employers you feel would be good targets for my efforts?
How Much Structure?
If you can memorize all these networking questions, remember them under the pressure of a meeting with a stranger, and then, after the meeting, recall all the answers given, you're blessed with formidable mental powers. Many networkers, particularly after they have had a few meetings, find it sufficient to review the guide sheets before heading off to a meeting. They know that most information will come out in the give-and-take of friendly conversation.
If an important question is overlooked, call the person and say, "You know, I just realized that I forgot to ask you about XYZ." As long as you're not making a backhanded request for another hour of help this time on the phone you'll find most contacts cordial or even pleased at the follow-up. If you can't stand the notion that you might forget a question that would elicit some crucial gem of information, try outlining all your questions by theme on a 5 X 7 card, or bring an attractive binder with the questions clipped inside. Understand, however, that this technique will dampen the spontaneity of the conversation.
When faced with that much structure, many contacts will react with an "I'm being interviewed" mindset, sit straighter in their chairs, and begin choosing their words carefully. You may get more information, but you've diminished the rapport and personal warmth that are key to getting enthusiastic referrals to other contacts. Many people feel it's a major bit of rudeness for someone to begin taking down their every word the moment they start to speak, especially without first asking permission. If you must jot some points down, ask: "Do you mind if I take a few notes?" Write as little as you can.
A verbatim transcription makes you look as if you can't remember anything without learning aids or you may be holding the contact accountable for his every word. The room will chill quickly. Your writing will interrupt your eye contact and impede rapport, unless you're one of those people who can write while continuing to stare someone in the face, in which case you will look like a newspaper reporter and become even more intimidating.
Funny, We Were Here a Minute Ago
The Q&A portion of a networking meeting tends to meander and leap about a lot. Contacts will start a thought, then be reminded of another thought; suddenly, they'll interrupt themselves and your train of thought. Don't over control the meeting if this happens. ("Will you please finish that first thought?") You may have to gently lead your contact back from a mental walkabout: "I didn't know circus clowns used hypoallergenic makeup, Stan. That's really interesting. Let me inquire just a little further, if I might, about what you were saying a moment ago regarding product development in the cosmetics industry."
It's a Matter of Time
There's one exception to the maxim that the best networking meeting usually is the least structured networking meeting. That exception pertains to the issue of time. You've promised the contact that you won't abuse the agreed-on allocation of time. After the meeting has lasted perhaps 40 minutes, you should (no matter how the meeting is going) glance at your watch and make a minor show of concern about the elapsed time:
Oh, hey, I promised I wouldn't use up your whole morning and I want to be sensitive to the time. But there is one area in particular I'd like to explore before we close. Pause, and wait for a cue from the contact about how to proceed. If he says, "No problem, I am really enjoying this," and he buzzes his secretary and says, "Hold all calls 'til we're wrapped up here," then you have license to let the discussion continue where it will. It's now the contact's responsibility to signal when it's time to wrap things up.
If the contact says something like, "Oh, thank you, but I do have a luncheon engagement I need to make," that's your signal to move on to the next act and be conscious of the time from then on.
