Yet recently I heard this career advice question with a twist.
One of my career coaching clients asked me during his monthly coaching session …
“Fiona, what career advice would you give my 16-year old son in today’s world”?
It was a question that long after I had given him my thoughts, it still kept me thinking that night.
The workplace has changed
The world has dramatically changed since 2007 – the year the iPhone came out. That may be the year his son was about three years old. If yes, his son has always known, and been immersed in, technology and the internet. Yet he was too young to experience much about his parents going through the last recession.
In 2008 and 2009, the U.S. labor market lost 8.4 million jobs, or 6.1% of ALL payroll employment.
Technically, North America has not had a recession since then. Yes, we are overdue…
So that day, my client (a 47-year old Director of Marketing & Sales) and I were hashing out the ins and outs of career management. We strategized on how to prepare for a long and prosperous career in a world full of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency, lack of online privacy and increased issues with cyber-security, as well as the generational and gender issues plaguing corporate life (including ageism).
Yes, it was a broad conversation – not like our usual topics around his job interviewing and networking.
- Is a degree “worth it”? {For corporate work, yes}
- Should you get advanced degrees like Masters and M.B.A.s? {Sometimes/it depends on what your ultimate goal is}
- Is it best to get some working experience if you get offered a job in your field and then go back to school if you want more education? {Often}
- Does an ivy league education still have as much impact? {YES, if you network and create relationships}
- Should you focus on following one career path and going deep or exploring and going broad? {It depends…}
- The pro’s and con’s of going self-employed and when and why. Is self-employment for everyone? {NO!}
- What is the average 45-year old professional missing in his/her career management {CONSTANTLY NETWORKING}
- How long should a resume be… {It DEPENDS on your field and your length of time and expertise}.
Still, as mentioned, it got me thinking about the catch-22 question…
“How do I find my dream career path if I don’t know what I want!”
Solving the dilemma…
I love the great career advice from Canadian Astronaut, Chris Hadfield on the “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question. This can (and should) be a question many of us should ask ourselves at 16, 36, and even at 56 (!).
Careers are very long and more like a jungle gym these days.
It is also great advice that can also apply if you are considering a career pivot or a successful career change.
Let’s break it down…
Career Advice – A Simple 3 Step Process to Develop a Career Path
Step 1 – What are your interests.
Go into a bookstore or library (or browse Amazon or a bookstore online if you are not near a larger urban center). Notice what part of the bookstore/library do you naturally gravitate to? Take written notice of at least 1-3 interests that you have. These can become your starting point. Jot them down. (For your first creative pass, use a pen/paper before you move to a computer because the hand/mind creative connection is stronger). Don’t judge yourself! Give yourself the gift of time. Don’t try to do this all in one pass. Yet try to identify 2 or more industries/sectors that interest and intrigue you.
“You don’t want to get too wrapped up in that final destination. You want to enjoy the journey, enjoy the process, and just take it one step at a time”.
Carli Lloyd
Step 2 – What is the potential future career path.
Next, begin envision yourself in those industries say 5-10+ years in the future. Start to explore and research each industry. Explore the sub-industries and connected industries or roles that come up in your research.
Think about all of the related areas to your subject and write it all down without a lot of initial judgement about whether it makes {big} money, it is feasible and/or if it needs a Ph.D. education or a specific skill you as yet, don’t have. Again, give it some time and space to unfold. Chris has some great yet simple examples in his video. Ideally one industry/sector begins to gel for you.
Step 3 – Set a career path “roadmap”.
Consider the more immediate “what should I do now / next” actions that could start to prepare you for that goal. Think about 3 things:
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- Who do I need to meet to understand more?
- What do I need to start to learn?
- Who can I learn from?
In setting a longer term vision for your career path, you can start to work backwards. In my engineering terms, let’s “reverse engineer” the problem. What might be the process and path(s) that can get you there?
TALK to people in the roles you’ve identified. ASK what they like/dislike about their industry or job. LISTEN as objectively as possible in the early days as your process unfolds. This means you have to listen with openness to the judgement and constructive feedback that you may get from the people you are speaking with. Remember, it is all just data.
“Feedback is your friend.”
Have the intent and openness to learn. Explore and drill down for more clarity and to create the beginning of a potential career roadmap. Yes, you may actually need support from a career coach or counsellor at this point
LASTLY yet still equally important to all the tips above, you will need the discipline and perseverance to stay on the journey of change and discovery.
I tell my coaching clients:
“Have a 1% mindshift every day and in 90 – 180 days you are heading in a
completely different direction!”
Fiona Bryan, Career Expert
So what do you think you want to be next?
Remember this simple 3-step process works really well for mid-career professionals as well.
They often come to me with some level of career burnout. They need help in repositioning their mindset and their career… from being ‘beat up’ in their corporate jobs, being passed up for promotion, living under salary constraints, doing 2 people’s roles due to job cuts/budgetary constraints, or not having their contract renewed if they are consultants. It could be they are considering a “career pivot” (aka a career shift). Often they have no idea where or how to start. I take them through a complete, yet unique to them, process on their current passions, likes/dislikes, free time, etc. to find the spark that can reignite them and keep them developing a career path moving them forward.
Want your own 30 minute professional career strategy session – it’s on me! Connect with me (Fiona Bryan) and let’s get you started.
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