We have all been at that point in our lives where we thought of getting that amazing job. The idea of graduating and getting the job we want is not new to any one of us.
No matter how desirable that dream is, most people don’t get this luxury of having a linear career path. Wendy Sachs in one of her famous books, Fearless and Free: How Smart Women Pivot — And Relaunch Their Careers, has explained in depth the struggle of getting out of that slump and moving towards your dream.
Also Read: 8 Best Jobs to Consider For a Career Change
Sachs also gave some ideas mainly for women to look ahead and make their career pivot. We mention below a few words of wisdom that were laid down by Sachs:
1. Redefine your Experience
In every job interview whether you decide to take the big plunge or to get promoted within your current firm, the interviewer has a few traditional questions penned down. One of them is to explain your past experiences. You’ll need to talk about your encounter in a manner that you know is significant. Sachs proposed the concept of leveraging other people’s interactions to your advantage.
Internet is an amazing way to form that cheat sheet! Look people up on LinkedIn. People who have had worked in the place you want to apply. Do your research and look into their profiles, pay close attention to what skills they have mentioned, or what language has been used. All this information is crucial to align your qualifications with the job description given by the organization.
Out of all this don’t feel like you need to understate your experiences that you have acquired during your employment. Even if those jobs were side fills to what you wanted to achieve.
Sachs also highlighted a story from her book to give another reference. She said that whatever job or experience you have gained out of all employments. Talk about them in a manner that is relevant or where you think the industry is headed. She talked about a woman in her story that took time off her work and started doing volunteer work. When she resumed her job, she put forward her volunteer experience as a very relevant skill. The woman talked about her experiences in a way that the industry was looking for it. So, wording your experiences in a way that promotes you is another skill to master.
Also Read: The Importance of Good Communication Skills For Career Success
2. Don’t follow the Bandwagon
It’s very enticing to follow the trends of the industry. People talk about the recent trends in terms of it being a very vital skill you should have. Sachs wants you to know that it’s okay not to have all your skills lined up for the dream job. From her book, she quotes the story of Tami Pardee, who from being an event planner moved onto being the CEO of a tech company. Any layman looking at this woman and her experiences would call her crazy for even attempting to secure a job in a Tech company. But Tami went around and realized that her skill’s which she gained from her years of experience in event planning, fit right in for the role of a project manager.
Nobody needs to be an expert in any skill. It would be an absolute resource for the company if you are, yes, but there are many ways to go about that Job description. People will tell you that you need to be a social media expert for getting that job. But the truth is different.
Companies nowadays look for the IT factor in all employees. For people who can multitask and succeed at it, being versatile might be a greater asset to the company’s now.
Also Read: Most Common Career Success Myths That Are Holding You Back
3. Be a Risk Taker
Taking risks is not an easy expression. For some people, it comes to them naturally but to some, it’s despair. But we have to see that to achieve a pivot something more needs to be done. It’s tough to shake through stagnation while doing the same things repeatedly, so you’ll need to find some middle ground.
Risk can be a variety of things, signing up for that online class, speaking In front of your manager about your ideas, or reaching out to a senior-level employee. All these things can help boost your confidence and make you feel like you have a voice.
4. Always Gain Something out of an Experience
The world of employment moves in circles. You would be surprised at how you’ll wind back up with some people again after leaving a job. Keeping a good relationship with people where you work and learning through them is a very important aspect, even if you don’t wish to settle in at that firm.
Sachs mentioned her experience yet again when she joined a firm that she realized after joining was not ideal in terms of growth. She could have quit right after it, but she chose to stay and learn from the people there as much as she could. Someone always has something to offer. She remained in the position for nearly nine months. In the end, she was surprised at how much experience she gained from there.
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