If you are feeling stuck in a job you passionately dislike and are ready for a change then I’m glad you are reading. As a Job Search & Career Coach, I work with clients who have decided to make a change and are actively looking for work.

What’s interesting about the people I meet who are in this stage of their journey is that their reasons for wanting to make a change can vary a lot! Some people have experienced conflict at work, either with their managers or co-workers, and others cannot see any opportunities for growth on the horizon and want to further develop their career either within or beyond their industry. For other clients they know they want to make a change however have no idea where to begin. What they do know is that they’re not enjoying the type of work they’re doing and want to make a change.

Changing Jobs Requires Tenacity

When clients first approach me, they know they want to change jobs. They may have applied for a variety of jobs and have not had much success on their own. Some have not applied for a job for a long time and don’t know where to begin. The reality is that changing jobs requires tenacity and a positive mindset. You need to be able to bounce back when recruiters and hiring managers say no, but don’t always tell you why!

The key steps in the job search process when changing jobs includes:

• Upgrading and tailoring your resume to match the job.
• Preparing a cover letter that gets you noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.
• Writing strong job applications and responding to key selection criteria.
• Creating an awesome LinkedIn profile that helps you stand out from the crowd.
• Preparing for the job interview process (which can have up to 7 stages, and may include phone, video, face to face group, panel and experimental interviews).
• Learning how to have meaningful conversations (with your manager to create opportunities within your current organisation).

Engaging the services of a Career Coach is an increasingly popular choice for people who want to be a step ahead of others in an increasingly competitive job market. Just like the industry you work in may be experiencing some changes, so has the job application and recruitment process.

Some of my clients seek my assistance with all of these steps and others ask me to help with a few of them such as interview coaching. It’s often about confidence levels and how much success they’ve had on their own.

Changing Careers is a Longer Process Than Changing Jobs

When I partner with clients who are wishing to change careers, it is a longer process. It requires a lot of planning and a realistic timeframe. Here’s an example to help you better understand what’s involved.

Please meet Ben. 

He’s an IT Support Officer who realised he no longer wanted to pursue IT roles. What to do? He felt stuck and was not sure what steps he needed to take.

We began by exploring his key skills and looked at how those skills could transfer to other possible roles.  We all have transferable skills and they are incredibly valuable to employers. Identifying and harnessing your transferable skills can help you stand out in your job search.

For Ben, we discovered he:

• Was a great communicator
• Built relationships easily with others
• Had a very strong customer service ethic
• Enjoyed solving problems and identifying solutions for his clients.

As we considered which areas in his company needed those skills to drive outcomes, we discovered that the Commercial area of the company, that worked with suppliers to drive better customer solutions, could be a great fit. This part of the business looked at providing better solutions for the client base as well as setting up IT solutions to deliver the outcomes.

We then considered a plan to help Ben transition into this area. The key steps Ben needed to take included:

• Speak with people in the area to understand the role, skills required and key deliverables
• Once we understood the role, highlight and match the skills for the role in the resume
• Create the pitch*
• Have a courageous conversation with management to discuss creating a plan to look at what it would take to transfer / transition into this area.

* Side note – you may be wondering, what is the ‘pitch’? Read this article by SEEK that provides 6 examples of amazing pitches that succinctly articulate the person, what makes them great and what their career aspirations are.

The good news is, Ben was successful in making the transition. It took time and courage and Ben is now enjoying using the transferable skills we identified together in his new role!

What Can You Learn from Ben’s Experience?

Understanding that changing careers is a longer process than changing jobs helped Ben work with me to map out a plan. Importantly, it was Ben that did the work and took the action. This demonstrates that when you are willing to do the work and have a courageous conversation with management, a variety of options may unfold for you within (or beyond) your organisation.

Those organisations who realise the value of retaining talent (and the cost of hiring new talent) are increasingly open to career development conversations.  This can play out in a variety of ways. It can include some of the following scenarios to ensure the transition is well thought out and manages the needs of both the individual, and the organisation during the transition.

Job shadowing in the department:
This is when an individual from one area of the organisation has the opportunity to work alongside and gain experience of the role of another individual. It helps to gain an insight into that particular work area.

Volunteer for a project that involves that department:
From time to time some departments may provide opportunities for cross functional teams to participate in special projects. It is essential that the individual is able to manage both their current workload and the project workload, and that this is factored into discussions about performance.

Relieve in the department:
This is when an individual from one area of the organisation has the opportunity to back-fill roles when people are on annual leave, long service leave or maternity leave. It is a great way to trial the individual’s suitability for the role and the individual can also trial whether this is the right environment for them to work in.

Mentoring:
This is when an individual is provided with professional guidance from a more experienced individual within (or outside of) the organisation to help them develop their skills to make the transition. It helps manage expectations of the individual and provides an additional level of support for the individual making the change.

Up-skilling & re-training:
This may be provided by the organisation or an accredited external provider. It may be funded by the organisation or co-funded by the organisation and the individual.

Changing your career does not happen overnight, however with careful planning it will happen!

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post What is the Difference Between Job Change and Career Change? appeared first on Letz Create.

Prior to making a career change, it’s important to understand the changes that might take place in your lifestyle and how you will adjust. It is also important to understand the benefits that will come from making such a change. It is this preparation, both in the form of specific actions you can take, as well as subtle shifts in your mindset, that will help you prepare your career change plan.

Victoria, where I live, is one of the most fire-prone areas in the world. Fortunately, I live close to Melbourne CBD and do not live near dense forests, where the fire risk is highest. For those who do live in higher risk areas, having a fire plan is a crucial factor that will reduce the impact of the potential dangers of fire and damage to property.

Just like preparing for a fire, every decision you make in your career will have some consequences – both good and bad. How you navigate your career change therefore requires careful consideration so that you are in control of the elements you are able to influence. Being prepared is the best way for you to ensure you achieve the success you deserve. You need a career change plan.

3 Crucial Factors That Will Affect Your Career Change and How to Prepare

There are three crucial factors that will affect your career change – and how you prepare for them by developing a career change plan.

1. Know Thyself

The first crucial factor that will affect your career change is how well you know yourself and understand what skills, experience and character strengths you offer or can develop further.

The preparation required is to conduct some self assessments, including the following:

• Make a list of your core skills – what is is that you are good at?
• Make a list of your developing skills – what are the areas you enjoy but could work on further?
• Update your resume and LinkedIn profile and ensure they capture all of your relevant work experience, describing the breadth and scope of each role and any key achievements specific to these roles. Also make sure you’ve documented relevant education, certifications, voluntary experience and awards.
• Understand your character traits. This free Character Strengths survey thanks by Via is an excellent way to do this.

You are now MUCH better equipped to tackle the first crucial factor that will affect your career change – knowing thyself.

2. Understand What You Want

The second crucial factor that will affect your career change is understanding what you want.  LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2022 report identifies 15 roles you could explore right now in Australia. However, you must do the work in terms of understanding what it is that you want before diving into roles that are popular or in demand.

To prepare for this in your career change plan you need to figure out what you want from your next job. Here are a list of questions to help you determine what you want:

• Do you want to work remotely?
• Do you want more flexibility in your schedule?
• What particular elements of your skill do you feel will be helpful in the long run?
• What is it that you want out of your next job?
• Do you want to work on something more creative?
• Do you want to move up the ladder and have more responsibility?

3. Know How the World Works

The third crucial factor that will affect your career change is understanding how the world works and realising that you can’t just hope for change. You need to really understand the employment landscape for the role and industries you are considering changing to.

The Secret was a best selling book a number of years ago.  The premise of the book was that you need to visualise your goals clearly in order to attract what you want. While I am a big believer in visualisation, I also know that to be successful in a career change, you need to consider the following factors:

1. Financial and personal stability – what are the financial parameters you need to consider for future roles? What type of responsibilities do you have outside of work and how can you ensure your career change helps you incorporate these to create a better work / life balance?
2. Ability and skills – the self assessments will enable you to develop a clear picture of where you are now and where you may need retraining to up-skill for certain roles.
3. Network and connections – the people who know and trust you are the ones who can open doors for you in new roles and new industries. Rather than ask for a job, seek their advice and opinions – you will get a much warmer response.
4. Understanding and adapting to a new work culture and environment – by identifying your top character traits in the self assessment you can uncover some of your preferences. Carefully consider the type of work culture and environment that will bring out the best in you. Some people love the challenge of working in demanding and fast paced environments. Others prefer a slower pace. You need to explore organisations and opportunities that are best suited to your preferences.

Key Actions To Prepare for Your Career Change

Taking all of this into consideration, to properly prepare for any possible changes as part of your career change plan, you need to:

A. Investigate the labor market and find out what skills are in demand at the moment

Reviewing LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2022 report is a good start, along with setting up job alerts on LinkedIn, SEEK, Ethical Jobs and any specific industry based job sites. I also recommend you speak to friends and colleagues who already work in the industry you are exploring.  You may also like to reach out to specialist recruiters who are currently advertising roles you’re potentially interested in doing in the future.

B. Get feedback from people who have done similar career changes

By speaking with people in your network who’ve made similar changes, you will get the most reliable assessment of what’s really going to be involved. Before doing this, carefully assess what you know about this individual’s values and character traits, as they may not view the world in the same way you do. This does not mean their advice isn’t helpful, it just means you need to understand the lens with which they view the world.  Something they may have experienced as being difficult or challenging may be a welcome change for you.  What’s important is that you remain curious and understand what their experience has been and what insight you can draw from this for your own circumstances.

C. Talk to an expert

It’s essential that you stay up-to-date with the latest information that’s relevant to your career change. If you’re exploring specific re-training or up-skilling, always seek out the industry’s peak body for the required standards. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how helpful people can be when you ask for their advice.

If you are moving into active job search, seek the support of a Career Practitioner who can help you set up your job search tools and prepare you for the job application and interviewing process.

If you’ve taken the time to consider these three crucial factors and the key actions to prepare for your career change you are well on the way to achieving the success you deserve.

And if you have any questions along the way, I’m here to help. Book a complimentary 15 minute Career Chat to ask your questions.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 3 Crucial Factors That Will Affect Your Career Change and How To Prepare appeared first on Letz Create.

My mission is to help you achieve confidence and success in your career.  As an experienced Career Practitioner I spend most of my days having conversations with people who have so many thoughts circling in their heads.  They feel undervalued by their employers or have simply lost that loving feeling towards their work and believe it’s time to consider a different career path.  In other cases they want to escape a job they hate, or they have a toxic workplace culture and they worry that this will stop them from securing future job opportunities in other organisations.

The problem with feeling this way is that it’s often hard to ‘see straight’.  Without my guidance I have seen many people resign from their jobs in frustration, as a way to protect or maintain their sanity, or apply for the wrong types of jobs.  In both cases, this action is taken because they mistakenly think leaving is their only way to make a change.

But this is not you!

You are more methodical and understand that change takes time and you need to carefully research and consider your options before leaving gainful employment.

You know not to apply for roles that won’t serve you well in the medium to longer term.

You know you need to mix things up and make a change but you’re not sure where to start.

If I am describing you, I’m so glad you found me! If I’m not describing you, but you’d like to change, you’re welcome to read on too.

Right & Wrong Reasons for Changing Careers

Making the decision to change careers is not for the faint hearted.  A better way to describe a career change is a ‘career transition’ or even a ‘career transformation’.  It takes time and a lot of hard work, which is worth it if you carefully consider your reasons for change and the steps you need to take.

The good news is that there’s no right or wrong reason for wanting to make a change in career direction.  Some say change is better than a holiday, but when it comes to changing careers there is a lot more involved than booking a trip and getting travel insurance.

Some people are not happy in their current career and do not see themselves settled in that industry for at least 5 years.

Some people want to change careers because they are not satisfied with the income generated by their current career.

Some people change careers because they’re bored of the routine day-to-day work in their current profession.

Some people are seeking a work life balance lifestyle and their current role does not allow for this.

What’s important is that you’ve acknowledged that you may need to make some sort of change and you’re willing to reflect on whether changing careers is for you.

The decision to change your career is not an easy one. There are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration before you make the leap. It’s important to do your research and prepare yourself for any potential obstacles that you might face.

The more you know about the factors that will impact your career change, the more prepared you will be to handle them.  You know the saying – fail to plan, plan to fail.

Create the right environment as you answer these questions

It is so important for you to acknowledge that unsettled feeling you have about your current role, desire for change and prospective job opportunities.  You need to do the necessary reflection and consider your answers to these questions before embarking on a career change.

By answering these questions you will be better equipped to figure out whether a career change is for you or not.

Let’s get ready to get started.

I’d like you to get a piece of paper, or even a journal, your favourite pen and sit in a quiet and private spot where you will not be interrupted.  You may even like to pour yourself a refreshing glass of water or a comforting cup of your favourite tea.

Take a few deep breaths to acknowledge and honour this time with yourself and then write each of these questions (and your answers) on the paper or in the journal.

Let your words flow freely.

If you do not like writing, you may prefer to say this out aloud.  Ask yourself the question out aloud and then share your answer out aloud. Don’t be embarrassed. It’s only you who’s listening.

The beauty of taking the time to do this is that what you write or say may surprise you!

And that’s the point of this exercise.

When you dig deep and spend this sacred time with yourself, you are allowing yourself to really consider if career change is the right thing for you.

15 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Consider a Career change

Let’s begin…

1. Why am I considering a career change?
2. What do I want in my next role?
3. What are the specific career goals I would like to achieve?
4. What skillsets can be put to better use elsewhere?
5. Would I really be happier somewhere else?
6. Why is now the right time to make a change?
7. What other changes should I be considering as well, or instead?
8. What emotions am I feeling about my desire for change?*
9. How are these emotions helping or hindering me?
10. How can I use previous experiences with managing change to help me now?
11. What might prevent me from moving forward with my plan?
12. What steps can I take to prepare for the transition?
13. What resources do I need to make the change?
14. Who else could help me as I explore this?
15. How badly do I want to make this change?

Your answers to these questions will help you decide whether a career change is for you. Once you’ve answered these questions, sit quietly and take some deep breaths.  While there’s no harm in making a list of your actions as you settle on your decision, do let this exercise settle within you over the next few days before taking any drastic action.

Once you are clear that a career change is for you, make a plan, get your resources updated and start your new journey.  And if you need any help along the way, please ask!

*If you’re having trouble naming your emotions, please refer to this List of Core Emotions, thanks to Brené Brown.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post The Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Consider a Career Change appeared first on Letz Create.

If you are thinking about making a career change – you are not alone! A SEEK study* has revealed that 57% of Australian employees are considering making a career change in the future. The top 3 reasons people wanted to make a career change included more earning potential, want to do something more fulfilling or want to pursue their passion.

Proven Tips to Set Yourself up for a Successful Career Change

Here are my proven tips for how to ensure your career change is a success.

Identify What You Want in Your Next Job

The first step in preparing for a career change is to figure out what you want from your next job. Here are a list of questions I’d like you to write down in a journal and answer. Please take the time to do this as it’s the work you do now that will influence your success in the future.

• Do you want to work remotely?
• Do you want more flexibility in your schedule?
• What particular elements of your skill do you feel will be helpful in the long run?
• What is it that you want out of your next job?
• Do you want to work on something more creative?
• Do you want to move up the ladder and have more responsibility?

Be Prepared to Play the Long Game

Career change does not happen overnight and you need to focus on playing the long game.  If you’re not sure what I mean by ‘the long game’, here’s a great definition from Psychology Today.

“Playing the long game means taking the necessary steps, now, to set yourself up for long-term success. It means not sacrificing long-term gains for short-term wins. Unless something unexpected happens, you’re looking at anywhere from a 30-50 year career.”

In the future, when you look back on the steps you’ve taken to make the change you desire, it will feel more like a career transition.  There’s really no one point in time when things will change. It’s gradual and you need to be patient.  It’s therefore important you ‘adjust your settings’ and develop a long-term plan.

Successfully transitioning careers can be a daunting task. To be successful, here are some things that you have to keep in mind:

• Understand your motivations and take advantage of the opportunity.
• Be resilient and persistent when it comes to overcoming challenges and setbacks.
• Create your own opportunities.

Set Specific Goals

Balanced with this idea of ‘the long game’ is the need for you to set specific goals for yourself.  This will help you focus and stay motivated as you build momentum.  Here’s an example of goals you may set for yourself.

• Buy a journal and pen dedicated to capturing your action plan for career change.
• Allocate at least 1-2 hours per week to working on the steps in this article.
• Make a list of the people I know who currently work in the jobs or industries I am exploring.
• Arrange a coffee catch up each fortnight with someone on this list.
• Research the qualifications required for the jobs I am considering changing to.
• Follow me on LinkedIn for regular career updates.

Do Your Research

Spend some time researching the new industries you are considering changing to.  This report from LinkedIn is great resource to help you identify potential jobs or industries that interest you. It details the 15 Australian roles that are growing in demand. LinkedIn states that:

“No matter what stage of your career you’re in, this list provides insight into where the workforce is heading and where long-term opportunity lies — whether you’re looking to make a career pivot, get back into the workforce or invest in skills that will prepare you for the future.”

LinkedIn is also an incredible source of industry information. I recommend you follow the LinkedIn company pages of relevant industry peak bodies and companies you’d like to work for to stay informed about industry news and potential job opportunities.  Connect with leaders in the industry and ask their advice on what attributes they’re looking for. You’d be surprised how helpful people can be!

This research step is essential to help you find ways to start gaining experience in your new field before you actually make the jump.  Consider voluntary, as well as paid roles.  SEEK Volunteer provides an extensive list of voluntary opportunities.

Check For Values Alignment

It’s also important to make sure that the new industry aligns with your values and what makes you tick. Take the time to identify your values.  Write them down. Spend some time journaling why these are important to you and how this translates to the type of role, industry and environment you’d like to be in.

One of the reasons you’re planning to make a career change is similar to what the SEEK study revealed.  You want to do something more fulfilling, or something that is more aligned with what’s important to you.  The more time you spend considering your values and what’s important to you, the greater your success will be in making the right move in your career change.

Build a Compelling Personal Brand

Your professional reputation matters and it’s therefore essential that you focus on building your professional relationships in real life and via online professional networking tools like LinkedIn. Once you’ve started to develop a sense of which types of roles and industries you’re exploring, I recommend you attend networking events for these industries. It’s a great way for you to make important connections and explore how to position your skill set.

If you’d like some help identifying your transferrable skills and having these networking conversations, I can help!

It’s also important you’re presenting the best version of you on LinkedIn, so make sure your profile is up to date and includes all the relevant information about your skills and experience. Update your photo, headline and contact information and spend time engaging in conversations via your LinkedIn newsfeed.  You may even like to activate the Open to Work feature and notify recruiters of the types of roles you are looking for. To find out more about this LinkedIn feature please visit LinkedIn Help here.

Commit Time to Your Action Plan

By committing time to taking action you will build momentum faster and make the incremental changes needed for a successful career change. The clients who I have helped make a successful career change have included the following activities in their action plan:

• Look for and identify opportunities that interest me.
• Start communicating with my employer about what I am thinking of transitioning to.
• Get educated about my new field of interest – learn skills on my own time or take courses that are relevant to that field.
• Try interning or volunteering in the new field for a couple months to get more experience before making the final decision to switch careers completely.
• Start networking with people in the new industry.
• Read blogs, listen to podcasts and watch videos by industry experts.
• Ask for advice from friends who have made similar transitions successfully.

LinkedIn Learning and Google Digital Garage are just two examples of free learning resources. Side note – most local libraries provide their members with free access to LinkedIn Learning.

It’s my hope that these proven tips and examples of activities from clients who’ve successfully made a career change will also help you achieve the success you deserve.  If you would like a confidential and obligation free conversation about your plans for career change, please contact me today!

Resources:

* https://www.seek.com.au/employer/hiring-advice/australian-candidates-changing-careers

**https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/your-awesome-career/202006/playing-the-long-game#:~:text=Play%20the%20long%20game.,a%2030%2D50%20year%20career

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post How to Set Yourself Up For Career Change Success! appeared first on Letz Create.

In today’s article I explore what to do next if you want to learn how to better leverage and transform your skills to make a successful career change.

When we talk about career change, deciding if you wish to talk to a Career Coach to help you better identify and then leverage your transferrable skills is an invaluable way to help you find suitable new roles in either a related or new industry. In some cases, it may be that you’re contemplating a complete change in direction, and I’ll explore that here too.

Neither of these decisions should be taken lightly, and after some initial discussions with new clients, I am quickly able to discern if they are to embark on a journey of leveraging their previous experience and skills or instead choosing the much harder (and potentially also extremely rewarding) journey of transformation by making a more radical career change into an industry that requires new skills.

How to Leverage Your Transferrable Skills to make a Successful Career Change

Let’s take a look at the easier path first. In the case of leveraging your transferrable skills, there’s going to be some change involved. These changes will involve how you view your skill set and how you present, position and pitch yourself to recruiters and hiring managers. If the word ‘pitch’ scares you, you are not alone! And that’s why I am here.

When I review a client’s skills, especially their transferrable skills, I explore how we may leverage them to ensure success with securing their next role. It’s this fresh set of eyes by a Career Practitioner, who’s helped many professionals successfully secure roles across many industries in Melbourne, that my clients value the most. I am not emotionally attached to your experience and skills, and so I can objectively assess and define your most valuable transferrable skills that are desired by the employment market right now.

Let’s use the example of a Printer who’s worked in production, management and client relationship management. If we just looked at his client management skills, we can draw these out further to consider what skills he has for account management roles. We may also like to consider his suitability for operations roles in other industries, as well as business development in printing. If we were to consider him in sales roles for the printing industry, then we would call on his printing knowledge.

If you’ve worked in marketing, you may be familiar with the BCG matrix. It’s known by a few names, including the growth-share matrix, the product portfolio matrix, the BCG-matrix, Boston matrix, Boston Consulting Group analysis and portfolio diagram. It’s a chart that was created by Bruce D. Henderson for the Boston Consulting Group in 1970 to help corporations analyse their product lines. The idea is that you review your product lines across a variety of criteria and consider their suitability in the current market, related markets or consider how they would be received in completely different markets.

In this way it’s traditionally been used as an analytical tool in brand marketing, product management, strategic management, and portfolio analysis.

So let’s imagine we’re considering your product attributes (your skills) and considering your suitability for the current industry you work in, related industries and potentially also brand new and unrelated. In the case where we are looking at using your current skills, we would be working out how to leverage them, as is the case of the example I used for the printer.

As with the BCG Matrix we are looking for star roles in that there is demand for the role and there is growth in this industry.

The Role of Transformation in Career Change and Job Search

In the case of transformation we would be moving well beyond the industry you operate in now. For a product in the BCG matrix, this may mean considering new product development. For you, this may mean the development of new skills if you’re considering a career move into a completely different industry. Yes, this may mean the need to up-skill and return to school!

I encourage clients who are considering a transformation like this to think hard about whether they are up for the potential compromises and sacrifices they may need to make to achieve a successful transformation.

You will need to consider questions such as:
• Do I need to go back to school?
• Do I need to be prepared to take on roles with a lower salary?
• Do I need to look at volunteering and exploring the options before I decide to make this change?
• Do I have to start all over again?

My parents read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to me when I was a child. Do you know it? Perhaps you’ve read it to your own children, nieces or nephews.

When the caterpillar starts to form, it’s what’s in that formation that is critical. That formation is very much the sacrifice I speak of in deciding to go back to school. I’m seeing many people return to studies to complete their qualifications in Aged Care (a rapidly growing industry with many potential employment opportunities). It’s a short term sacrifice that is about re-building and starting again. In some cases it also means considering more junior positions.

The transformation process requires that you make some compromises and changes in your lifestyle. You will not be able to order Uber or go on as many holidays, and many people find themselves having to work full time and study part time. You may even need to get some assistance from Centrelink.

Transformation is about becoming the butterfly. You will eventually reap the rewards of your decision to make this career change, and they may not just be financial ones. There is a growing body of research indicating that feeling like you are making a difference in your work can contribute very positively to your mental health. Perhaps the anti-depressant you need to be prescribed is not a pill in a bottle but a change in your work environment.

Pursuing more meaningful work is something that can make a big difference to your sense of fulfilment and I’d love to be your guide.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post How to Leverage and Transform Your Skills to Make a Successful Career Change appeared first on Letz Create.

This can sound scary, and in some ways, it is. Most change feels scary.  It means doing things differently from the patterns we have become used to. It may therefore be helpful to look at the changes are beginning to experience in the way we work from a more general perspective.

Please consider this statement…

There is nothing more certain than change. 

Has this been your experience in life so far? It’s certainly been mine! Just when I think I have a handle on my routine, the goal posts change. Perhaps navigating the future of work may not be as hard as you may think, if you consider how many changes you have already successfully navigated in your life so far. Change is inevitable and it’s how we choose to respond that will make all the difference.

The OECD cites globalisation, technological progress and demographic change as factors that are having a profound impact on society and labour markets.  I hope you’re open to the idea that these changes and the future of work can be bright and may also offer unparalleled opportunities.

Let’s turn our attention to what you can be doing to demystify and perhaps even embrace the future of work for you and your family.

What Changes are Happening to Workplaces in Australia?

In Australia, declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy are the primary drivers of our ageing population.  Australian Jobs 2019, an Australian Government report published by the Department of Jobs and Small Business, reports that around one in five Australians is expected to be 65 years or older by 2035, up from one in every six in 2015.  These and other demographic changes mean that the goods and services needed in the Australian economy will also change and a more diverse labour force will be required to deliver them.

Australian Jobs 2019 reports that on average across 21 OECD countries, around 9% of jobs may face a high risk of automation.  The insights in this recent study also indicate that while specific tasks within each occupation may be susceptible to automation, not everything will be automated and so the task (and therefore the skill) requirements of jobs may also be where some of the changes take place.  One of the conclusions drawn in the report is that it’s important to realise:

• not all such jobs will be automated, because it may be costly or difficult to do so
• workers can adapt by upgrading their skills
• new opportunities will arise from the use of technology.

Here’s how I suggest you can embrace these changes…

1. Focus on identifying and up-skilling in the emerging skills required

The labour market of the future is one in which workers will need a range of complex skills. Having the ability to gain new skills and apply existing skills to new contexts will be critical to success in the changing labour market. A recent survey by the World Economic Forum found employers thought that, by 2022, more than half of all current employees would require significant re-skilling and up-skilling.

Here’s a list of the highly transferrable skills that are predicted to be be valued by many different employers across a range of industries and roles, according to the World Economic Forum:

• Creativity, originality and initiative
• Analytical thinking and innovation
• Active Listening
• Technology design and programming
• Complex problem solving
• Critical thinking and analysis
• Leadership and social influence
• Emotional Intelligence
• Reasoning
• Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility

Can you see a pattern here? Many of these are soft skills and relate to how you navigate your role at work to make decisions.  Soft skills are a combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits, attitudes, career attributes, social intelligence and emotional intelligence quotients, among others, that enable people to navigate their environment, work well with others, perform well, and achieve their goals.

What this means for you is that, rather than put your head in the sand and think you are not going to be impacted by these changes, you should instead be prepared and be proactive in up-skilling to meet the demands for these emerging skills.

2. Create the right mindset

It is critical that you are open to learning new skills, able to work with and adapt to change and plan for the future. It’s easy for me to write this, but it’s not going to be as easy for your to adopt this mindset. I encourage you to do the work if you want to adapt and remain relevant in a changing workforce.

There are many resources available to help you ‘adjust your settings’. And if you are struggling with this one, I am here to talk you through it and make the process of approaching this new horizon with a more positive attitude. Believing in yourself and your ability to embrace the change is often half the battle! Let’s make sure you are on the winning side of managing your mindset so it aids you in successfully navigating the changes in your workplace.

You’ve got covered if you can create the right mindset.

3. Look at your market and see how your role could be affected in the future

Research the market about your role and industry to understand the current and future trends.  Information is power and so understanding what’s ahead will play a key part in informing your decisions. Do not be blinded by one or two opinions. Take your time to really understand what’s happening by reading industry publications, attending professional networking events and following industry leaders wherever they choose to hang out online (e,g, LinkedIn, Twitter and/or Facebook).

As a general guide to help you get started with your research, here’s some information from Australian Jobs 2019.  More than one third of new employment is expected to be for Professionals (up by 325,800, or 10.9%). With the strong growth expected in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry and the increasing importance of computing and technology, Health Professionals (up 16.3%, or 99,400 new jobs) and ICT Professionals (16.0%, or 44,000) are projected to have particularly strong growth.

The Health Care and Social Assistance industry is also driving the employment growth of Community and Personal Service Workers, which is projected to provide around one quarter of new jobs in the next five years. Within this occupation group, there is projected to be a significant number of new jobs for Carers and Aides (up by 129,100, or 23.6%). Hospitality Workers are projected to contribute the next largest number of new jobs in this group (40,100).

4. Conduct a Personal Skills Audit

While it’s great to understand and celebrate your skills and what you are good at, it’s also important to understand where there may be some gaps.  By conducting a personal skills audit on what your skills, strengths and areas of development are and investigating training opportunities to improve those skills, you are putting yourself in a better position to be prepared for changes.

If your role will be affected in the future, consider looking at creating a Future Work Career Plan around what other roles you can consider, what skills or capabilities will be required and how to prepare for the future roles.

The Job Outlook website is provided by the Australian Government and provides a guide to Australian skills based on a number of very useful tools including:

• Skills Match – to get ideas for new jobs that use your skills
• Career Quiz – to discover careers that match your work style
• Explore Australia – to explore careers in demand where you live
• Future Outlook – to find industries and jobs expected to grow

5. Investigate Training Opportunities

The myskills website provides a starting point for finding and comparing the outcomes, durations and locations of nationally-accredited training from registered training providers. It provides three options, depending on where you are in your career journey, including:

• Starting your career
• Advancing your career
• Changing your career

For Australians aged 45 to 70 years old, the $17.4 million Skills Checkpoint Program, was originally announced as part of the 2018-19 Budget, and provides eligible Australians with advice and guidance on transitioning into new roles within their current industry or pathways to a new career, including referral to relevant education and training options.

The Skills Checkpoint Program will support up to 20,000 older Australians over four years by providing targeted support to help them stay in or get into the workforce.  Visit the Skills Checkpoint Program website to check your eligibility and access the program.

6. Have a Career Conversation with your Manager or Human Resource Department

Medium to large Australian organisations are increasingly aware of their responsibilities to support their employees as a result of structural industry changes that impact their workforce. With this in mind, there are more and more resources and support programs being offered to employees to help manage the changes that may be starting to happen across your industry.

It’s up to you to be proactive and have a conversation with your Manager or Human Resource department about what skills have been identified that you can improve to help your options to move forward within and across the organisation.  There are a variety of accredited and non accredited training programs that your organisation may be able to offer or co-fund. There is absolutely no harm in asking!

7. Speak to a Career Consultant

Engaging the services of a career consultant is an increasingly popular choice for people who want to be a step ahead of others in an increasingly competitive job market. Just like the industry you work in may be experiencing some changes, so has the job application and recruitment process.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to better manage your career that will help you achieve the success you deserve. A career consultant can help you navigate:

• conversations with your Manager or Human Resource department
• making the transition from one industry to another
• developing a Future Work Career Plan to ensure you are not left behind

Click here to book a 15 Minute Career Chat to speak to a career consultant that understands the market, strengths, roles and how to create a Future Career Plan on how to move ahead!

Sources:

https://docs.employment.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/australianjobs2019.pdf

https://sydney.edu.au/business/study/careers-and-employability.html

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 7 Ways to Demystify & Embrace the Future of Work appeared first on Letz Create.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post Podcast Ep 11: How Gilly strategically planned her next career move appeared first on Letz Create.

If you feel stuck in a job you hate and are ready for a change, I am so glad you found me! As a Job Search Coach, I work with clients who have decided to make a change and are actively looking for work.

What’s interesting about the people I meet who are in this stage of their journey is that their reasons for wanting to make a change can vary a lot! Some people have experienced conflict at work, either with their managers or co-workers, and others can not see any opportunities for growth on the horizon and want to further develop their career either within or beyond their industry. For other clients they know they want to make a change, but have no idea where to begin. What they do know is that they’re not enjoying the type of work they’re doing and want to make a change.

Changing Jobs Requires Grit and Tenacity

When my clients first approach me, they want to change jobs, may not have had much success on their own, have not applied for jobs for a long time and want to increase their success rate.   The reality is that changing jobs requires grit and tenacity and you need to be able to bounce back when recruiters and hiring managers say no, but don’t always tell you why!

The key steps in the job search process when changing jobs includes:

• Upgrading and tailoring your resume to match the job.
• Writing strong job applications that get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.
• Creating an awesome LinkedIn profile that helps you stand out from the crowd.
• Preparing for the job interview process (which can have up to 7 stages, and may include phone, video, face to face group, panel and experimental interviews).
• Learning how to have meaningful conversations (with your manager to create opportunities within their current organisation).

Engaging the services of a career consultant is an increasingly popular choice for people who want to be a step ahead of others in an increasingly competitive job market. Just like the industry you work in may be experiencing some changes, so has the job application and recruitment process.

Some of my clients seek my assistance with all of these steps and others ask me to help with a few of them. It’s often about confidence levels and how much success they’ve had on their own.

Changing Careers is a Longer Process Than Changing Jobs

When I partner with clients who are wishing to change careers, it is a longer process and requires a lot of planning and a realistic timeframe. Here’s an example to help you better understand what’s involved.

Please meet Ben. 

He’s an IT Support Officer who realised he no longer wanted to pursue IT roles. What to do? He felt stuck and was not sure what steps he needed to take.

We began by exploring his key skills and looked at how those skills could transfer to other possible roles.  We all have transferable skills and they are incredibly valuable to employers. By identifying and harnessing your transferable skills they can help you stand out in your job search.

For Ben, we discovered he:

• Was a great communicator
• Built relationships easily with others
• Had a very strong customer service ethic
• Enjoyed solving problems and identifying solutions for his clients.

As we considered which areas in his company needed those skills to drive outcomes, we discovered that the Commercial area of the company, that worked with suppliers to drive better customer solutions, could be a great fit. This part of the business looked at providing better solutions for the client base as well as setting up IT solutions to deliver the outcomes.

We then considered a plan to help Ben transition into this area. The key steps Ben needed to take included:

• Speak with people in the area to understand the role, skills required and key deliverables
• Once we understood the role, highlight and match the skills for the role in the resume
• Create the pitch*
• Have a courageous conversation with management to discuss creating a plan to look at what it would take to transfer / transition into this area.

Side note – you may be wondering, what is the ‘pitch’? Read this article by SEEK that provides 6 examples of amazing pitches that succinctly articulate the person, what makes them great and what their career aspirations are.

The good news is, Ben was successful in making the transition. It took time and courage and Ben is now enjoying using the transferable skills we identified together.

What Can You Learn from Ben’s Experience?

Understanding that changing careers is a longer process than changing jobs helped Ben work with me to map out a plan. Importantly, it was Ben that did the work and took the action.  This demonstrates that when you are willing to do the work and have a courageous conversation with management, a variety of options may (or may not) unfold for you within (or beyond) your organisation.

Those organisations who realise the value of retaining talent (and the cost of hiring new talent) are increasingly open to career development conversations.  This can play out in a variety of ways and can include some of the following scenarios to ensure the transition is well thought out and manages the needs of both the individual and the organisation during the transition.

Job shadowing in the department: this is when an individual from one area of the organisation has the opportunity to work alongside and gain experience of the role of another individual, and gain an insight into that particular work area.

Volunteer for a project that involves that department: from time to time some departments may provide opportunities for cross functional teams to participate in special projects. It is essential that the individual is able to manage both their current workload and the project workload, and that this is factored into discussions about performance.

Relieve in the department: this is when an individual from one area of the organisation has the opportunity to back-fill roles when people are on annual leave, long service leave or maternity leave. It is a great way to trial the individual’s suitability for the role and the individual can also trial whether this is the right environment for them to work in.

Mentoring: this is when an individual is provided with professional guidance from a more experienced individual within (or outside of) the organisation to help them develop their skills to make the transition. It helps manage expectations of the individual and provides an additional level of support for the individual making the change.

Up-skilling & re-training: this may be provided by the organisation or an accredited external provider. It may be funded by the organisation or co-funded by the organisation and the individual.

Changing your career does not happen overnight, however with careful planning it will happen!

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post What is the Difference Between Changing a Job and Changing Your Career? appeared first on Letz Create.

If you’ve been employed in your role for some time, and worked in your industry for a while too, you may be thinking about a change in role, and even industry.  But the constant change around you, and the disruption of so many traditional industries with automation, is giving you cold feet to make a move. You may even be wondering if your skills and experience will be valued in this brave new world!

Your Personal Guide to Career Change

Marina-Pitisano-Letz-Create

If you are feeling this way, thank goodness you found me! Yes, it’s true that in the upcoming decades, many activities that are currently being carried out by people will be automated. And 67% of Australian students are training for roles that will not exist in the future or will be significantly transformed by automation.

Change is inevitable, and while there are certainly rapid changes all around you, there’s so much you can be doing to help you prepare and future proof yourself for these changes.

 

1. Get Tech Savvy

If you affectionately call yourself a luddite or technophobe, stop! It is no longer acceptable not to be embracing technology. You need to be able to access the odd App on your mobile device (especially LinkedIn) and use the organisation’s customer relationship software and email system! Keep yourself up with technology and you will be very pleasantly surprised at the increased productivity this can offer your working day and your future employability. There are many online resources available to help you learn,. I suggest there are also a number of millennials in your workplace, or perhaps even a handful of teenagers in your family and friend circle who will be more than happy to spend some time with you showing you how to navigate technology.

2. Develop Your Human Skills

I believe it is essential to enhance and develop your ‘human skills’. Some call this the ‘soft skills’ and they’re also called human relational skills. These skills involve communication and attention to relationships with others. If you’re unsure what this means for you, it is related to your emotional intelligence and this Forbes article explores this concept in the context of a leader’s ability to navigate, and even lead, organisational change. Forbes insights with Debutt tell us “the value-add of the human worker will focus on essentially having human skills such as leadership, creativity & emotional intelligence”. It’s worth taking the time to assess your soft skills and develop these further through professional development programs offered within or outside of your current organisation.

3. Passion for Continuous Learning

A life long learner will be open to change and always able to learn something new.  Your openness and ability to learn new skills will be a key lever for how well you can future proof yourself.  In many ways it’s related to my first point.  What is your appetite for acquiring new skills and passions? If you are scared, that’s okay! It’s all about being open to learning and finding the right guides. You’ve found me, and I can help you find others who can help you on your career journey!

4. Think Global

Geographical barriers to business are getting less and less relevant. In this Forbes Article, remote workers are headlined as being ‘The New Normal, and more than half (55%) of hiring managers agree that remote work among full-time permanent employees is becoming more common. While this varies by industry, it is certainly true that your co-workers, clients and stakeholders now, and in the future, can be anywhere in the world.

The implications of this in terms of how to ‘future proof’ yourself are that you you need to acquire the ability to work with the entire marketplace. I suggest you consider and work on the following elements :

• Learn about working with diverse cultures
• Ask for assignments that require international exposure
• Learn to respect difference

5. Develop Resilience

Resilience is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. It’s about how mentally tough you are.  The future is uncertain and you will encounter setbacks. In this article I explore why rejection is sometimes the best teacher, especially when you are in active job search. In this article I explore the one thing you can do when you are feeling stuck.

Developing resilience means you need to toughen up. And this is not always easy! That’s why I am here to help. Building resilience means:

• Identifying and working on how well you bounce back from setbacks and your ability to let issues go
• Considering your attitude towards setbacks/obstacles. Do you view these as ‘learning experiences’ or do you let them knock you over emotionally?
• Identifying how flexible you are when things do not go to plan
• Your ability to stay positive!

 

The Future Can Be Bright

And so there we have it; my 5 tips for helping you future proof yourself.

It’s up to you.

What can you do this week to make your future brighter?

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 5 Steps To Future Proof Yourself appeared first on Letz Create.

As an action-oriented person, my focus is on providing my clients with the ‘how to’ of a more successful job search. When I see a problem, I naturally move to solution and pride myself on helping clients develop a step by step action plan. However, sometimes my clients are not ready for action and just want to be heard.

A recent experience with a client was a powerful lesson in the importance of going to where my clients are and taking the time to check if they are okay before moving into solution mode. In this particular case, my client had recently been informed her role was to be made redundant. My role was to help her develop an action plan. I wrongly assumed she was ready to have this conversation, and it was midway through our first meeting that I realised we were not talking about what she needed to focus on. I had made the assumption that she’d done ‘the work’ required to process the news of her redundancy.

I chose efficiency over the relationship and as a result, she rejected me!

The Benefit of Hindsight

As you read this, you may be asking ‘Marina! Why would you share such a story with me?’ This is a good question and one I have considered myself before hitting publish on this blog post. The reason I am sharing this experience with you is because you too will experience rejection in your job search. I want you to benefit from what I learnt from this experience!

So what did I learn from this experience? Lots!

• Feedback helps you grow and develop
• It’s about teaching people the process, not just the outcome
• It’s about regularly checking in for feedback
• It’s not about me
• People get confused and frustrated by information and feedback they are not ready for or do not understand
• Job seekers can struggle with feedback if they have not dealt with the trauma of their situation (especially if there is a redundancy or termination involved)

And so what do I want you to take from this?

That feedback helps you grow and develop and rejection can sometimes be the best teacher!

What This Experience Taught Me About Myself

With the benefit of hindsight and some workshopping of the situation with a number of close colleagues, I am now on the other side of this. The rejection hurt at first, and I have taken the time to work through it, using the experience to inform my practice. This means future clients will receive a more empathetic Marina who will double check you are okay before she dives into action mode!

Specifically, I will also continue to focus on the following key areas with my clients, including:

• Going at the pace that feels comfortable for my clients
• Clarifying where they want to go during the conversation and making sure we cover the issues they are worried about
• Explaining the process and how I can help
• Asking lots of questions to understand what they really need and want
• Playing my understanding of their needs and goals back to them to make sure I have ‘got this right’
• Reviewing what we have discussed
• Checking what they are thinking / how they are feeling
• Clearly explaining and agreeing the next steps

And of course, we will move into action and solution mode. When they are ready!

How I can Help Your Job Search

If you’re just about to start your job search or are right in the thick of searching for a new role, I am so glad you’ve found me! I work with professionals who are actively looking for their next challenging role and are not quite sure how to write their cover letter, adapt their resume or prepare for their job interview. In some cases, it’s been a while since my clients have applied for work, in other cases they are applying for their dream job and want to make sure they get it right.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post Why Rejection is Sometimes the Best Teacher appeared first on Letz Create.