Career Advice
Monday, May 6th, 2013
What is Career Transition?
Career Transition is more often than not forced on individuals through the process of redundancy rather than making a conscious decision to make a change of career. No matter the reason, changing career should be seen positively because it can be a new beginning not only career wise but in life style as well.
How many of us actually sit down and plan our career? Many of us dream of what we would like to do but are uncertain about how we should go about it.
“Many people quit looking for a career once they find a job! However, if you find a career which you love, you will never have to work a day in your life”
Career transition is stimulating, challenging and rewarding, but it is also a journey. Arriving at the first goal is the starting point to another.
Public to Private Sector
“Career Transition” is a phrase that many people in the public sector will not have needed to use during their careers to date.
However over the next few years it will be a commonly used and understood by many as a description of a what they will be doing, whether that is due to voluntary or compulsory redundancy or driven by career ambition to change.
Career Transition to us at TCMO is an over arching process of moving jobs or careers from one clear area to another.
It’s a time of pitfalls and frustration, soul searching and challenges but for most, that plan well and are open minded, this leads to genuine and realistic results.
If, as the economic signals are telling us, the public sector continues to shrink and the private sector grows there will be a huge shift and need for career transition from one to the other.
The isn’t going to be an isolated activity and career transition should now be at the heart of all Change / HR / Organisational Development professionals agendas within the public sector. TCMO are Career Transition experts and can be used as facilitators, providers and advisors as individuals and teams map out their approach.
Career Transition from the Public to the Private isn’t something that should be left to the future, start planning know, take good advice and embrace it ….it may soon be a necessity.
How will professional career support help me?
People could handle their Career transitions themselves but unless carefully planned, it can be a very unsettling process. That is why an investment in your career is worth considering. Focus and planning are essential for a successful career transition along with perseverance. The road to successful transition is dotted with many tempting parking places, but with the support of companies such as TCMO, the door to opportunity will soon come along.
The key however, is the professional support which provides you with the confidence and motivation to go all the way. “Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated; you can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps” (David Lloyd George).
For career change to be successful firstly you need to look at your current working self i.e what you can do, how you do it, how it affects others and how you achieve your goals
Once you have worked this through think which of these areas are a ‘selling point’ to private sectors employers?
Compare your current role / job titles to private sector roles – what’s missing? You may find nothing; all you need is some quick professional advice and guidance in the right direction.
From experience the transition is tricky but very often successful, private sector employers now look for that ‘commercial’ edge in all their current or future employees.
Having the ‘commercial’ edge is something that historically has been badly presumed lacking in the public sector.
However, very simple to overcome, being confident in your professional abilities, knowing your transferring skills and being well researched is often all that’s needed. Getting professional Career advice is key to success.
Where do I find it and what do I look out for?
The definition of Outplacement is “The provision of assistance to laid off employees in finding new employment, either as a benefit provided by the employer directly or through a specialist source”
It may be found as well by searching for Career transition services.
Sounds simple enough, but shop around before selecting a provider and always make sure that the outplacement company follows a recognised Code of Practice such as that of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
So, what can you expect from an outplacement company? First of all, they should take you through a career assessment to identify your transferable skills with a view to exploring opportunities out with your current sector. Having done this, and with you in full agreement, attention should be given to creating a CV and covering letter which have an “impact”. The main purpose of the CV is to open the interview door, so this is a vital part of the service being provided. This also includes any other “marketing materials” which may be required.
Their Career consultants should be qualified and experienced.
Interview technique training is essential, especially for those who have not participated in an interview externally for quite some time. Mock interviews and video recorded interviews are all useful tools in preparing for the real thing. You only get one chance with the interview so preparation should be meticulous. “Fail to prepare – prepare to fail”
Job search campaigns need to be planned effectively. Use the “rifle and target opportunities” rather than using the “shotgun to blast everything in sight” A competent consultant will have a network of contacts and should be able to refer you to someone who may be able to identify suitable opportunities.
Networking is vital in any job search campaign. Beware of those outplacement companies who give little or no credence to this topic. The hidden job market or unadvertised job market emanates from networking.
Managing change which usually, but not always, leads to redundancy which in turn leads to outplacement, all very sensitive issues. It is also a time when personal emotions run high and the danger of the employee rejecting the offer of outplacement because of their anger at being laid off. Always accept the offer!
A reputable outplacement company, such as The Career Management Organisation Ltd, will provide solutions focused on the needs of the most affected, working sensitively to achieve a smooth transition into their next role.
Finally, a word of advice for those being laid off but not being offered support by an outplacement company. Approach your HR Dept and ask for career transition coaching. It can be part of a redundancy package or compromise agreement. The benefit to the company is in the public relations which it generates showing them as a caring employer. If the cost is invoiced to the company, they can recover the VAT something you as an individual can not do. Reputable outplacement companies, such as TCMO, will explore these options with you and if necessary approach HR on your behalf, which is another indication of the professional ethics associated with and indeed required when making your choice of outplacement companies.
Monday, May 6th, 2013
It’s often been said that one of the most effective ways of grabbing someone’s attention is to ask for their advice; essentially, it appeals to their ego: “Mm, you need my advice, eh? Why of course, I’d be delighted to help.” And the topics upon which we’re prepared to admit that we do, actually, need the advice are endless: How do I make a good soufflé? Which tie do you think I should wear? What book would you recommend for my 12 year-old? What would you say is the best way to drive to Skye from Edinburgh? These are ordinary, everyday topics and we wouldn’t think twice about asking for someone’s help or guidance, simply because we want to perform these basic tasks to the best of our ability.
However when tasks become more complicated, possibly even life-changing, we’re unlikely to rely totally on friends or family. We go to the professionals. Indeed most major decisions in our lives are usually taken with the benefit of professional advice of some sort, and we start at an early age; even the most intellectually gifted child will need the advice and guidance of a qualified teacher in order to gain an education. But when it comes to anything in life with which we’re ill-equipped to deal or face head on, we’ll turn to others who we know can help: “I thought the wiring in the house may have been a bit dodgy, so I asked an electrician for his advice…” The electrics in a house are both essential and potentially hazardous, so it makes absolute sense to consult a professional on the subject. Doesn’t it?
Of course it’s the same with any form of financial advice, when we may well turn to an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) who is, we trust, best placed to advise us on how to invest our money. Even a self-employed sole trader will, almost certainly, require a qualified accountant to keep their business and tax affairs in order; and very few people would attempt to handle any legal transactions without the help and guidance of a lawyer. These are practical and basic requirements that we all take for granted, and we’re even prepared to pay for the advice on offer. So why is it, when our career is probably one of the most important and influential aspects of our lives, are we so reluctant to seek professional career advice? Possibly because we’re unaware of its existence!
Career Advice – How can it help me?
The first time we’re presented with careers advice is at school when well-meaning but, essentially, ill-equipped teachers will probably cover the subject by offering myriad ‘safe options’ whilst being unable to establish the true ambitions of the individual concerned. (That said, advising a 16 year-old on a career path is rarely going to be straightforward.) Careers advice for adults, on the other hand, is a totally different concept which, not surprisingly, can offer a great deal more.
There can be any number of reasons why we might seek career advice, and not only as a result of a significant change of circumstance – e.g. redundancy. And just as we would be unlikely to seek (far less act upon) advice from a friend or family member on a legal matter, or how to complete our business tax return, so we might seek out a careers advice service in order to help us by, for example: examining whether our lifetime ambitions are being met; establishing what are the options for enhancing our career prospects and finding our true ‘niche’; guiding us through a tricky negotiation for promotion; investigating the possibilities of moving to another sector entirely; relocating – possibly even abroad. All of this might come under the heading of ‘career change advice’. And it’s in this area that most people seem unaware of the help available to them, not from well-meaning teachers (or even just as well-meaning friends and family who will can be hugely supportive but, sadly, rarely practical), but from professional career managers who will offer personal, focused, one-to-one counselling – which can often be surprising in its effectiveness.
But, as we said, the majority will tend to seek advice only when they feel forced to do so by circumstances outwith their control, such as redundancy, when they might now be looking desperately for help in finding ‘another job’. And whereas a professional careers advisor will certainly help with tasks such as: re-writing a CV; producing an effective cover letter; identifying opportunities; helping with interviews and salary negotiation – to name a few – to those seeking the advice this will nonetheless have been a reactive, rather than a pro-active, exercise. A lifeline.
But careers advice can do so much more!
So what now?
For most of us, a career will last between 40 and 45 years (and possibly longer as the State pension age increases!). People these days will, on average, change jobs between 6 and 8 times during that period – often more than this. The days of a ‘Job for Life’ – when we started as an apprentice and retired from the same firm with a gold watch – have long gone and the dynamic is now totally different. Many of us will not only change jobs, we’ll change sectors as we go through our careers; but rarely do we stop to take professional advice along the way.
Does it not, then, make absolute sense to at least take 30 minutes out of our 45 years and go to meet a professional career advice company, such as TCMO, if only to discuss our careers, our ambitions – and to be shown how we might achieve them?
We would have nothing to lose, and possibly a whole new career to gain….!
Monday, May 6th, 2013
Looking to change career? Looking for Career Ideas? Career Transition is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, many people quit looking for a career when they find a job! You could possibly start making a career change yourself but unless it is carefully planned, it can be an unsettling process. As an example, where do you start? How do you plan career changes? The key word here is “plan” because without careful planning, you could end up in a job that does not provide the enjoyment, stimulation and challenge that professional career management support can offer. How many of us actually sit down and plan our career ? Looking for a career change goes hand in hand with career change advice and that can be obtained by approaching a reputable career management company such as The Career Management Organisation Ltd (TCMO).
Where do you start? Many of us dream of the ideal career whilst others make it happen. Career success is a journey, not a destination, so careful planning comes in right at the front end. Career change ideas may not always be practicable, so take the advice offered by the leading career management companies. TCMO will offer two, in some cases three, free consultations at the front end before you even consider taking up the offer of their services. Career management is all about people and not the glossy brochures, technology or plush offices. You must have belief and trust in the people you retain to deliver on what will become “an investment in your career”.
So, what should happen during these free consultations? Career change ideas should be discussed but at the same time realism must come into play as some career aspirations may just be beyond the skills and capabilities of the individual. Career advice should be realistic, achievable and affordable. Affordability is important and must be discussed as there is no point in setting out on a journey to career success if the funds are not available to complete the journey
Once you have had your initial consultation(s), a proposal should be provided to you detailing precisely what is being offered including the total cost. At this stage, it is absolutely vital that the proposal matches your needs and career aspirations. Take time to consider before giving the go ahead. The whole career change advice should be completely transparent but it should also stimulate and challenge you from day one. The content and planning should travel through career assessment, diagnosis and focus thus identifying the routes to market. CVs, covering letters, marketing materials and social media should all fall into place. Like TCMO, your service provider should act as career managers, coaches, mentors, trainers with the ability to adapt and overcome the challenges encountered along your career path.
Career Change should be viewed as a “new beginning”. It can however, be what you want it to be. A new lifestyle or a path to prosperity; a means of stimulation and enjoyment or a means of achieving your full potential.
Friday, February 1st, 2013
Career Coaching is for people who make a conscious decision to take ownership of their own career. Most of us will aspire to achieve success in our career, but how many will actually plan and map out precisely how this success will be achieved. In doing so, how do you define success? Is it in achieving the most senior position and all the trappings that goes with it or is it more to do with enjoyment and work life balance?
In reality, each of us will have our own vision of where we would like to be career wise but only a minority will plan to ensure a successful career and that is where Career Coaching comes into play. As an aspiring business leader, you should picture yourself standing at a crossroads, possibly wondering how you got there in the first place. You may be a long way from the start and may think that you had been aware of the direction you have been travelling in. If so, the next step should be easy because the future direction is now yours to decide but all of a sudden you realise that the choice is staggering. Each choice could be the right one to make but much depends on your ambitions. Because of who you are and how far you have come, you find the view is breathtaking, exhilarating and a little scary, but where do you go from here?
To answer that question you must first of all have some guiding principles. These principles will guide you on that journey. You must realise that learning and personal growth is a journey, not a destination and to succeed, you need to enjoy it and have fun along the way. Performance is your ultimate responsibility. Anything less than commitment to excellence is a waste of effort. This is where Career Coaching comes into its own. A competent career coach will ensure that you have an achievable career vision complemented with guiding principles to ensure that you stick to the pathway to success.
The Career Management Organisation Ltd (TCMO) is at the forefront of Career Coaching. They take nothing for granted and above all, they beware the curse of assumption. No amount of genius can overcome a preoccupation with detail. TCMO act as mentors, counsellors, trainers and career coaches but above all as a creative, innovative support mechanism on your career journey to success. They treat you as an individual, devoting as much time and resources as is necessary for you to enjoy that onward journey to career success. The last three years have been dominated by people leaving businesses through redundancy and not by those looking to progress their career. This will change in 2013 as “survivors” seek to gain promotion in leaner teams and businesses. Those who engage the services of a Career Coach will reap the benefit through careful planning and on-going support such as that provided by TCMO, one of the UK’s most innovative career management and outplacement services companies.
Thursday, November 8th, 2012
Where someone has found themselves unemployed for a long period of time, career coaching can provide great support to overcome the particular issue which is preventing them getting back into employment. Whether it is career coaching, outplacement or career transition that is the label for the support, the individual needs to recognise their specific situation in order to move forward.
For some people this can be that they are in an unemployed ‘comfort zone’ and spend their time doing useful things, but not addressing their career or job search issues. Others may become passive and disillusioned, finding it difficult to motivate themselves to get out there into the job market. In addition, they may not have a good reason for their period of unemployment to offer to potential employers, so find it more difficult to get interviews because of the gap in their CV. Some may be applying for jobs (the right or wrong ones) and being hit by constant rejection.
The effective career coach will discuss this with them; identify suitable actions and explanations to enable them to attack the job market with renewed confidence. This may mean changing their behaviours and, encouraging them to adopt a more positive attitude, especially in their ‘public’ face. Setting up an action plan, with clear timings for job search v leisure and other activities will provide better self-discipline for career activities such as responding to adverts, building relationships with recruiters, developing network contacts etc.
Thursday, November 1st, 2012
Are you currently facing job burnout?, has the job outlook in your field worsened or do you feel your skills and expertise are not being fully utilised? If the answer is yes to any of these points, maybe it is time to consider a career change.
So, let’s have a look at some of the signals that will tell you that you are ready to change careers;
You find your work boring; Your work is not holding the interest it once had and you miss the challenges you previously faced. You may have taken this career as far as you can go and it could be time to find an alternative that will inspire you.
Your work has become too stressful; You no longer enjoy going to work every day and the stress has become too much to handle, even changing employers hasn’t helped.
The job outlook in your field has worsened; Some careers are shrinking fast and opportunities are no longer plentiful. Start considering your next career move as soon as you discover there may be problems ahead.
Your efforts are going un-noticed; You have been proactive to ensure things are going well however your efforts are never recognised or appreciated. Have you considered you may be in the wrong field and it may be time to move on.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Attempting to change careers without a plan. Having a detailed strategy or plan is essential to your success, without one you may end up adrift and end up taking the first job that comes along
Don’t confuse hating your current job with hating your current career. Take time to review whether it is the job, employer or the career
Don’t change your career based on the success of others or a career in demand. It needs to be right for you so take careful consideration and make sure you do the research before jumping into it
Advice and Tips for Successful Career Change
Career change requires you to know where you want to go and what you need to do to get there.
The most important factor in considering career change is to undertake a self assessment check, study your talents, skills and consider what motivates you. Learning about yourself helps you figure out what career to pursue.
Research whether you need additional training, education or certifications and speak to people already working within your chosen field to gain firsthand knowledge
Know what the needs are and identify the value you could bring to your chosen career , developing out your unique selling proposition
So what are your own reasons for considering a career change? Does any of the above sound familiar? Talking to a career coach can help you make sense of your situation….. etc.
