Pivoting in Your Career: Take These Steps Before Making a Leap
Making a transition in your career? These tips help you make a smooth transition into your next opportunity.
If you have ever worked in a industry or role that no longer aligns with your personal goals or values, it may be time to transition to a new role. This realization does not come easy and many factors should be taken into account before switching a job or career. Using these tips can make that choice a bit more clearer for you.
What are your strengths?
Assessing your strengths are incredibly important to identifying your strongest skillset. You can simply make a list of all of the strengths you have or widen the net and expand this question to your friend or trusted coworkers. This could actually surprise you on what you think may be your strength vs. what may actually be your strengths. This exercise could also be an eye opener and an opportunity to brush up on skills you may need for your career path.
What are your passions?
This sounds like the easiest question to answer. Simply ask yourself, “what makes you feel alive?” This could be anything, even outside of work. Whatever may be on the list, are things that give you energy or even your “why”. This is very important to understand your motivation and also find purpose in your work.
Identify Why You Don’t Like your Current Role
Any recruiter, HR person or hiring manager is going to ask about your previous role. Before we get to the interview, this is a question you should ask yourself. Maybe it is your workload, the culture of the company or maybe you are being micromanaged, there is no wrong answer, but learning how to frame it in interviews is important. This is also a good identifier of tasks you like and tasks you do not enjoy, this is helpful in the search for a new role.
What are Your Personal Goals and How Do Your Career Goals Match Up?
This is the fun part. Assess your career goals and line them up with your personal goals. Do they match up? Are they incredibly imablanced? Try this tip: Envision your life in 3 years - what does your life look like? You may not have a perfect picture, but this will give you a general idea of where the direction you want to go in. Review these goals and make sure your career goals align. For instance, maybe you see yourself traveling, so you want to choose a career that will allow you to do so.
Audit Your Time Management Skills
Time management skills can make or break your success. You can have the most talent in the room, but if you are not efficient and use your time wisely, it can negatively impact your performance at the job and in life. In roles where deadlines are tight and follow through is highly valued, time management is the key to your success. To get better at this, try blocking your time and tracking where you tend to waste time - you will be surprised to see where your time is actually going.
Assess your finances
Before making any switch in your career, run the numbers first. Review your banking transactions, subscriptions and other things that are tied to your money, so you can ensure this is a good choice financially. If you don’t have an emergency fund, now is the perfect time to start stacking up for any future inconveniences. How much money do you need to make in order to pay your bills? These are very important questions to ask yourself so your bills are not impacted.
Check Your Mental Health
Of all of the things listed, this is the most important. There is a high likelihood that the reason you want to change industries is due to mental health. If that is the case, congrats on making this decision. Your mental health means more than anything. Before making the step to another industry, check where your mental capacity is: can you handle a fast paced job? Do you find purpose in the work you are doing? Burnout among these notes tie into your mental health and could be a barrier in any role you are in.
When it comes to taking a pivot in your career, it is a very hard decision to make. These notes are are great markers to help you along that process.
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Conquering the Stages of Burnout
We work incredibly hard in our careers. We give time and dedication to our work and we love it, but sometimes the job does not love us back.
You know that feeling of impending doom and your heart racing while being exhausted, but you're freakishly awake? Yep, that's burnout.
Earlier in 2021, Forbes reported findings from a survey done by Development Dimensions International Inc. that found that nearly 60% of leaders reported they feel “used up” at the end of the workday, which is a major indicator of burnout.
Its no secret that burnout happens to be one of the main reasons why people leave jobs. You never think its going to happen when you first start a new role because things are so cheery and then you realized what you signed up for…
According to theburnoutqueen.com, There are 5 stages of burnout and trust me, you will feel the impact of every single one of them. The only way to navigate your way through burnout is to be armed with tools and resources for every stage.
Here are the stages:
The Honeymoon Phase
Onset of Stress
Chronic Stress
Burnout
Taking Action
Stage: Honeymoon
How to Conquer It: Keep everything in check
In the beginning, everything is new and shiny, you’re learning new things and so excited about your role, much like a relationship, this is the honeymoon stage. The only way to conquer this stage is to keep everything in perspective. Why did you take this job? Make a list of goals to achieve in your first 90 days.
PRO TIP: Use the SMART method to create your 90 day goals. Make sure they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
Stage: Onset of Stress
How to Conquer It: Find an Outlet
This is the stage when the stress starts to hit and you start to lack focus. To conquer this stage make sure you are practicing self-care and find an outlet to channel your stress. Get back to the basics - drink your water, stay active, but also remember to do something you love.
Stage: Chronic Stress
How to Conquer It: Take a Vacation
If there was ever a time to use your vacation time, this is it. This stage is when you start to second guess your role, the company, sometimes your whole career. Do not go down this rabbit whole. You need to step away to refocus the big picture. Your job could very well be a toxic environment, but you need to gain perspective. Preferably with a cocktail...AND on a beach far, far away…
Stage: Burnout
How to Conquer It: Create a Life Outside of Work
Burnout is one of the worst feelings in the world. The very thing that once invigorated you now because something you loathe. So again, you need perspective. You need something that inspires you outside of the office that can keep you going. Family, friends and the life you create for yourself matters more than any job.
Stage: Taking Action
How to Conquer It: Tap into Your Resources
When you find yourself in a deep depression and sad more often than not, it is time to get help. If you find yourself lost and falling into depression due to burnout, I implore you to look into these options:
Get a therapist - Personally, I think a therapist is a great thing with or without burnout, but that is another conversation for a different day..
Look into your company’s EAP Program - if offered, this company offers great resources to navigate tough times at work
New Job - it may be that your are in a toxic workplace, a change of environment might be just what you need.
Career Change - If you’ve exhausted your love for your current industry, think about what other careers might bring you fulfillment.
Final Word:
We work incredibly hard in our careers. We give time and deviation to our work and we love it, but sometimes the job does not love us back. Just like any relationship, Tap back into your reason and your purpose. In fact, your job may have led you to your purpose, but when it becomes toxic, DO NOT be afraid to take a step back and take care of you.
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5 Planners You Need to get Organized in 2021
This year we are coming in hot. I mean, if we can handle a pandemic with grace, we are going to OWN our careers, finances and personal affairs. The only way we can prepare for what is to come for the rest of 2021 is to plan and allow for room for change - we want our planners to hold that same energy.
Ok, so there was really no need for a planner in 2020. It seems like we were hit from every angle- socially, financially, economically and physically. We are now towards the end of Quarter 1 of 2021 and it is time to check in.
This year we are coming in hot. I mean, if we can handle a pandemic with grace, we are going to OWN our careers, finances and personal affairs. The only way we can prepare for what is to come for the rest of 2021 is to plan and allow for room for change - we want our planners to hold that same energy.
I am a girl that has a 9-5, side-hustle and working on other goals so I want a planner that I can use for every area in my life that is aesthetically pleasing and motivates me throughout the week. Every year I vow to tighten up my finances, stay consistent in my side-hustle and be accountable with fitness.
Since I know how much of a struggle it is to find a valuable planner each year, I took the luxury to list a few of my favorites and other planners that would add value to our goals.
I am on the search for planners by small businesses, so please send along any suggestions!
Day Designer
Photo Credit: daydesigner.com
This will always be one of my favorites! Their planners are so versatile and you can implement a system in your daily plan that works for you. This one is so worth it if you value daily and weekly goal setting.
Commit30
Photo Credit: https:commit30.com
This planner is a game changer. They offer so many different versions and for every goal that you may have. They offer planners for fitness, joy, and goal setting. They also have digital planners that have printable options for fitness, food, shopping and money. If you need versatility, this one is for you.
Leaders in Heels
Photo: leadersinheels.com
Their Phenomenal Woman Planner is for the woman with big dreams. If you have goals and projects to accomplish this planner helps you organize your thoughts and put your plan into action.
Ivory Paper Co.
Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/ivorypaperco/
They offer detailed planners for monthly, weekly and a budget planner. This site is a go to for customized stationary and even apparel.
The Happy Planner
Photo Credit: https://thehappyplanner.com/
The Happy Planner is one of the OG planner that give you tons of options, it is hard not to be organized when you have one of these on your side.