REMEMBER: You're conducting RESEARCH, not asking for a job.
The secret to successfully changing careers.
The other day, someone asked me about the secret to successfully changing careers.
Here's what I told them:
Things NOT to do:
Sending your CV as if they were Christmas cards.
Searching for your passion.
7 Steps that WILL yield results:
1️⃣ Know your value.
Identify your strengths (2-3 things that make you better than 70% of people), and your purpose (what problems do you want to solve with your work?)
2️⃣ Define 2-3 alternatives that interest/intrigue you.
Choose based on your current interests because they will change over time. Don't waste energy trying to define your passion in advance. Your passion will develop over time when 1) you work on things that matter to you, and 2) apply your strengths in the process.
With this in mind, think of yourself as a startup. What "beta products" of your company (i.e., options/professional identities that intrigue you and where you will apply your strengths) would you like to bounce off customers (future/potential employers) to get feedback?
3️⃣ Craft your narrative: What skills do you bring to the table? What intersections define you?
My key intersections are 1) strategic capability, 2) sales skills, 3) 15 years in investment banking, and 4) a deep interest in high performance and professional development.
My career today lives in that intersection: I help my investment banking/private equity clients attract top talent and become high-performance teams, and I help professionals accelerate/transform their careers.
4️⃣ Make a list of companies to explore these 2-3 new professional identities.
Check your phone/LinkedIn. Who do you know that's connected to the industries/companies that intrigue you? Differentiate between direct contacts (working in those places) and "nodes" (people who can connect you to the former).
5️⃣ Reach out to these contacts, starting with the closest ones.
Important: DON'T say you're looking for a job. Phrase it like this:
"I'm considering a change to the industry/company/position X, and it would be really helpful to get context about their culture/requirements // the fit/value someone like me could have/bring in that industry/company/position X. Would you have 15 minutes to answer some questions? It would greatly assist my research to speak with someone with your experience!"
REMEMBER: You're conducting RESEARCH, not asking for a job.
6️⃣ Schedule 2-3 meetings of this kind per week. After a month, look for patterns and new ideas that emerge. Adjust your narrative.
7️⃣ Repeat for 6-9 months. You'll receive many rejections. But if you're consistent, one day they'll start discussing positions with you.
And that's how you earn your luck, the key skill for the 21st century. 🚀💼🌟