More Clarity On Changing Careers
In my March 6 post, I discussed Career Tips For Changing Industries. Well, I have new information. I talked with two gentlemen this week who are thinking about changing careers or at least taking a different direction. Rob, a fellow alumnus, reached out to me because we had met and he has follows my blog. He lives in Dallas and has built a career in banking, working with clients in the Petroleum Industry. He knows that Atlanta isn’t strong in that sector, but it is home. He wants to relocate to Atlanta and find another career path compatible with his skills and experience. Michael recently moved to Atlanta. He has had a career in finance and accounting and account management with big-name brands. He is currently an account executive providing outsourced logistics services. He's been with his current employer for about eight years but doesn't see further upside potential, hence the interest new opportunities.
I had a brief conversation with Rob early in the week to understand his goals. Rob said that he had not done much networking, nor had he not paid much attention to his resume as his job changes had been secured through people he had worked with before. He is not looking for a career coach and does not think he needs professional help with his resume. In fact, as I came to learn, his resume does need a lot of work. We discussed some preliminary thoughts and agreed to have a follow on conversation after I had a chance to review his resume.
After a review of his resume, I sent him a copy of The Executive Resume Cheat Sheet. I knew it would be revealing. He reviewed that document before our second conversation. He acknowledged the work ahead of him in that regard, so our next call was brief. I reinforced key points about effective resumes and added a few additional observations. I suggested that he think about career options to explore while he worked on his resume. I also suggested that he purchase my modestly priced book “Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal.” I know, it is a shameless plug, but he could really benefit from the wisdom offered in that book. It is safe to say that Rob is at the front end of this process. I believe that his primary goal is less about changing careers than moving back to Atlanta. That desire is driving the question about his career.
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I met Michael Friday evening. My networking partner, Faith, invited him to our event. While sharing a bottle of wine, Michael told me about his background. He provided an excellent overview of his career and his thoughts about moving in a different direction. Michael’s goal is to advance his situation by building on his experience and accomplishments. He is not location focused, as Atlanta offers a lot of opportunity in his field. I offered some ideas for his consideration, and we agreed to further the conversation.
Both of these professionals must be careful to protect their current employment as they seek out new opportunities. Rob’s situation is complicated by his motivation to relocate. It is possible but unlikely that he will find an Atlanta-based employer willing to subsidize his relocation. Michael’s situation is less problematic as he is interested in the search for a different opportunity within his industry segment. Both of these gentlemen are at the beginning of the process to change their career direction. They need do a more complete analysis to validate and clarify their goals and then craft an appropriate plan.
If you are serious about changing the direction of your career, be clear about your goals. Make sure to analyze your situation thoroughly so as to better understand your options. Without this clarity, your networking effort will yield little.
Jim Weber
