career changer mindset, strategy, branding and execution: getting your ducks in a row
DESCRIPTION
Making a career change is anything but child’s play. The soul searching involved with making a decision to change one’s livelihood is complicated by the challenges of learning new skills, going back to school, and being reconciled to accepting what’s often a lower salary to get started in a different profession. But the tools and means to make a new you have never been more readily at hand. An embarrassment of riches are available for the career changer who knows how to look.In this talk, Todd Nilson will present the potential and pitfalls of managing your job search as a career changer. This will not be a session about how to write a resume but will be a presentation-and-discussion format seminar that will address the underlying concerns of taking on a new career path along with the tools and techniques that can bring you to the attention of a new employer or help you to reposition yourself as the entrepreneur you always dreamed of becoming.In this presentation, you will learn:• How to get mentally prepared for a career change: three essential mindsets• Ways to better understand the careerscape you’re entering• Designing a transition plan that works which defines your goals and the people who will help you to achieve them• How to stay on target during the searchTRANSCRIPT
Getting your ducks in a row...
Career Changer Mindset, Branding and Execution
by Todd Nilson
A Paradox (Pair-a-ducks?)
Better career options available Challenge of learning new skills Learn a new industry Need to return to school Pay cut to get started Fear, uncertainty and doubt Job search has changed
Feeling overwhelmed yet? (While it can seem like a daunting task to prepare yourself for a career change, it is possible to break it down into manageable steps.)
OBSERVATION & ORIENTATION Have you heard of Col. John Boyd? Think O-‐O-‐D-‐A Loops for the job search...
Observe
Orient
Decide
Act
“Forty-‐second Boyd” had a standing bet that, from a position of disadvantage, he could defeat any opposing pilot in fewer than 40 seconds. He is the originator of the O-‐O-‐D-‐A loop which became the underpinning of modern fighter aircraft combat. (Source: Wikipedia)
Getting mentally prepared
3 Essential
Mindsets
1. Attitude enables agility
Agility Decision to change (career)
Decision to be social
Examine motivation
Release negativity Validate,
enhance skills
Open to discovery, challenge
Accept failures = learning
Agility means readiness to act quickly
(A fixed attitude is the enemy)
Fixed vs Agile Mindsets
Fixed • Ability is static, like your height • Goals make us look good • Challenge is to be avoided • Effort is for the untalented • Paralyzed by challenge
Agile • Ability can grow, like a muscle • Goals enable learning • Challenge is to be embraced • Effort is the path to mastery • Meets challenge with resilience
Source: Linda Rising lindarising.org
Agile Manifesto (for the job search)
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools An active job search over sending resumes & cover letters
Collaboration over negotiation Responding to change over (slavishly) following a plan
Adapted from http://agilemanifesto.net/
2. Change habits with small wins
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
In The Power of Habit, Duhigg talks about how making a small change to one’s habits can cascade into many positive changes over time.
3. Get Organized Get out from behind the 8-‐ball • Understand your targets • Formulate your message • Determine an approach • Measure efforts • Revise as needed
Understand the Careerscape • All related job titles • Online search agents • Understand requested
skills for new career • Information interviews • Industry chatter for target
career • Internship opportunities • Less obvious points of
entry to new career – Staffing firms – Professional groups – Friends and neighbors
Define your target audience
You have the qualifications he’s got stored in his head
Your personal qualities (and aggressive interest) intrigue him
Hungry to hire talent
Speaks your language (and you speak his)
DECIDE How will you enter the job market? What will your approach be?
Prepare your personal brand message
• Know your assets – Highlight new skills – Relate old skills to new
job requirements
• Elevator speech • Look the part • Supporting documents • Your online self
What are your building blocks?
is for Affable is for Brilliant
is for Confident
Great story demonstrating
affability
Great story demonstrating
brilliance
Great story demonstrating confidence
Building the brand
Your foundational qualities
Résumé, LinkedIn profile, communications
What you convey face-‐to-‐face
MAKE ACTION HAPPEN! (AT LAST) Execution is the fun part when you’ve got a plan.
Stay on target
The job search is a full-‐time job itself. It requires discipline to stick to the plan. But sticking to the plan will yield benefits. Stay on target!
Forge ahead and adapt to the curves No plan survives contact with the enemy. The same may be said of the job search. Expect delays and detours.
SUMMING UP Now that you have seen how the O-‐O-‐D-‐A Loop works, start cycling!
Take Aways • For the foreseeable future, career management necessitates
personal brand management
• Social media is a visible, practical way to establish and maintain a personal brand
• Social media personal branding only works in conjunction with your other career management efforts
• Start with stories that define and exemplify what you stand for professionally, then build messages and choose channels for delivery
• Measure your efforts critically and adapt
