How to Approach a Career Leap
Are you thinking about a career leap? Exciting! Or maybe terrifying?
An important part of the My Life Couch platform is professional development, movement and success- all framed around the unique challenges and opportunities that women face in the workforce.
It’s rarely talked about, but women need to be more strategic than men when it comes to careers and financial planning. Here’s why:
- There is still a wage gap between men’s salaries and women’s
- When we take time off for having or raising children, we see a decrease in current income and a decrease in our retirement contribution at the same time.
- On average, we live longer than men, which can mean a variety of things! At the very least, our savings need to be more extensive.
But we are not just a paycheque! Our careers are also about our passions, our talents, our experience, our education, and our commitments outside of work.
What Do You Want, Really Really Want?
A job can have a lot of “nice to haves” but what are your “must-haves”? My Life Couch often works alongside women to identify their career goals. I have seen a lot of women that are in roles that don’t serve them at all, but they’re just not used to thinking about what they truly want! ( That’s OK, once we get going, it’s always a fun and surprising journey of learning what really matters !)
Some of the more obvious considerations include salary, position, hours and benefits. What about lifestyle? A career where you can meet your own needs? A position that is meaningful to you personally?
Stay or Go?
If you see indications that you’ve reached the limit of what you can accomplish in your current position, you might need a different challenge. If you have decided it’s time for a change, it may not require changing companies. Explore what may be available within the organization. Of course, this applies if you are happy with the organization in general, but just not with your current role.
Talk to HR, your manager, other people in the organization or the role/department that interest you. Expand your network, but more importantly create an “elevator pitch “ like for you, so you can guide people that can help in the right direction for you.
Meeting the Market
Whether you are looking for a position in a corporation or starting your own business, it’s important to look at the unique value you offer, and how this value translates into the market’s needs. This is part of building your personal brand, and I highly recommend revisiting this area ( your unique selling points and transferable skills ) often so it’s always crystal clear what you are to offer to your new challenge, role or how you can reshape your current role.
Sometimes this takes a little creativity and problem-solving. I find that women are exceptionally innovative in the ways they present their talents and skills to companies and clients in a way that compels them to buy-in. In one example, a woman used poetry to weave together her professional prowess and the direction she wanted to go next. Another one wrote a song — Only recommended if you don’t have a crappy voice as I do .. ). Explore different ways you could stand out and be memorable and don’t hesitate to be uber creative.
Take Your Time
A career leap is a little like dating. You might find a great match early on, and the transition is full of rainbows and sparkles. But it’s a lot more likely that you’ll need some time to sort through what you want, what you will give, and how you’ll navigate the transition.
Take your time. This is about finding fulfillment and enjoying your job shortly, and it’s about the implications for your retirement.
If you need a professional ( and friendly ) place to evaluate your options, contact My Life Couch today and let’s work towards your exciting future!
Originally published at https://www.mylifecouch.com on November 7, 2021.
