What's Your Plan?

The current job landscape is difficult.  It requires us to be strategic in our approach While this can, at times, be frustrating, it doesn’t have to be.  The shifting winds definitely fuel uncertainty, but they also offer new choices and new ways of planning a career.

Surprisingly, many talented professionals don’t have a plan and have launched their careers with a “wait and see where this takes me” approach.  That’s fine and can a be a way to get started when you aren’t sure yet what you want to do. 

Some have launched in a direction that no longer feels like a fit and would like to pivot to something new or broaden their horizons. Others have been forced to look elsewhere due to layoffs and industry shifts caused by new technology,

If you have been feeling stuck or lacking clarity about your future, it might be a good time to revisit or formulate your career plan.  This starts with being able to articulate where you want to go. 

Most of the clients I work with start that process with a resume.  But a resume usually serves as a block.  Why?  Because it is a document that talks about where you have been.  It needs texture and context to tell a story about how those bullet connect and are propelling you forward.  Even the best resume can leave hiring managers wondering what your value proposition is and… why you? and why now? Depending on your career goals, you can take several approaches to move forward.

1.    Build Momentum in Your Current Role

Not everyone needs a new job.  Sometimes your next chapter is right in front of you.  If you would like to prepare for a promotion or become recognized as a leader in your organization, you need a strong narrative to make your case.  This starts with telling a story that demonstrates your progression, the problems you solve and the impact you create. 

Let others see your potential before you ask to move forward.

2.    Change to a New Direction

Perhaps you have discovered some things about your job you really weren’t cut out to do.  Or maybe you are just ready to do something different.

While a big shift might seem intimidating, there are likely numerous skills that you have developed that can be transferred to something completely different.  Expertise with communication, analysis, relationship building, and/or problem solving can all be repurposed and carry you forward to places you haven’t yet considered.

The trick is identifying the throughline or common themes in your experiences that connect the dots and demonstrate how your story can take you to a completely new environment.

3.    Build a Portfolio Career If you can let go of a title and begin to tell your story from the core of your value proposition, you create opportunities that can complement each other, while still allowing you to branch out. Many professionals are discovering they can do multiple jobs at once, creating several revenue streams while strengthening their muscles in different ways.  For example,

• a corporate attorney can pivot to being a board leader and consultant to entrepreneurs. 

• a high school teacher can be an instructional designer and corporate trainer for up-skilling professionals.   

• a writer can teach media literacy and ethics, and become a podcast host, and a creative freelancer.

These narratives answer the question, “what problem do you solve and how many ways can you do that?” 

When you use your career narrative as the foundation for your strategy, it will shape your LinkedIn profile, sharpen your resume, drive your networking conversations and interviews. 

Most importantly, it will invite opportunities to find you!