January saw us host the first alumni webinar of the year, with Career Consultant Ciara Eastell (English, 1992) sharing her advice to help make that tricky leap between career paths.

You can catch the whole recording, but here we share six tips presented during the session to help you begin to make your own transition.

Tip 1 – don’t rush into it

Transitions take time to plan and work through. Then when you make your career transition, it can take several years to settle on who the 'new you' actually is.

Ciara referenced Herminia Ibarra, a professor at London Business School and an expert on career transitions, who talks about the liminal space that we inhabit as we're making a career transition - leaving the past career behind and transitioning to a new professional identity.

Herminia cautions against transitioning too quickly, advocating to stay in the liminal space for as long as possible because it is the space of grace and development. It can be a sticky place to inhabit, and the instinct is to jump to the future as fast as possible. But she says to stay in the moment or space as long as possible.

 

Tip 2 – make time for coffee!

Ciara explained how one of the most important things you can do is to talk to people that you know and trust about how they see you and what opportunities they might see for you, that you wouldn't necessarily see for yourself.

If you are going through a career transition, make a list of five to ten people that you trust and invite them out for a coffee. Tell them that you're thinking about a potential career change and ask them what they think your transferable skills are, and any roles you could be suitable for.

These 'caffeine connections' can help you understand the skills which are transferrable to other sectors. If all the talk of networking makes you feel a little uneasy reframe it in your mind simply as a series of coffees. People you know are likely to be generous and willing to give you their time - remember that you can reciprocate and help them when the time is right, too.

Tip 3 – do your research into different sectors and trends

So many of us will make a number of big career transitions in our lifetimes that it clearly makes sense to do your research into sectors where your skills and experience could be of use. Multiple reports from government departments, consultancies and bodies like the World Economic Forum discuss the future of skills - for example many people are aware of how AI is changing so many industries, and are wanting to look at that as a skill for the future.

 

Tip 4 – reskilling and Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

As you move into your career transition it may be practical to undertake further learning and reskilling. Dipping your toe into low cost CPD while still in a paid role has the twin benefit of beginning to deepen your knowledge base while you're still earning. But it also means you can test out possibilities before you make a big leap. You might find that the area that you thought would be endlessly fascinating is actually quite dull!

We often have a vast array of transferrable skills that we can take for granted, and part of a career transition is about feeling confident that we are already good enough. We don't necessarily need to keep gaining qualifications before we move sectors. That said, once you've transitioned, you might find that you need to do some additional CPD and reskilling.

Ciara referenced Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott, authors of The 100-year life: living and working in an age of longevity, who advise that every 8 to 10 years we should be recreating ourselves. They talk about 'recreational recreation', investing in ourselves to be ready for a new type of role or industry. It's part of a growth mindset, where you're continually developing and growing your skills and confidence, irrespective of whether you're trying to make a career transition.

Tip 5 – think carefully about money

As you plan your career transition money is such an important part, but something we often shy away from. Talking about the fear of losing a salary and pension may deter people from making a big move.

Changing the way we think about money can be a really fundamental thing to explore and potentially think if certain mindsets are not serving you well.

Ciara presented an example of a client who said it can be easy to fall into the trap of taking a job at a much lower salary just to get out of the one that you're in. And his advice was to know your worth. Be clear about your non-negotiables, including your salary and your working hours and your pension, so you don't inadvertently end up in a worse financial position than you're already in.

 

Tip 6 – look after yourself

It may feel tough and quite lonely going through a transition, Ciara describes how even chief executives and senior leaders have increasingly had a difficult time at work and as a result, their confidence is a low ebb. So though other people often see these people as competent and inspiring, they’ve often had the stuffing knocked out of them by everything that they've been managing in recent years.

To manage a career transition well put your own needs first. For some people that could mean leaving their job first, to take some time out before they start to make a transition and find the head space to focus on themselves.

When you're making a career transition, it's important to be looking at all aspects of your wellbeing; your physical health, your mental health, sleep, all of those things that are going to put you in the best possible frame of mind for making a confident career transition.

Join us in April to learn How to land your next job

Our next webinar takes place on Tuesday 15 April, with Jo Deal, Chief People Officer at Smartsheet in San Francisco. Learn about making the most of your interview opportunities, using AI to improve your performance and the importance of demonstrating your values and behaviours to prospective employers.

Jo will share her insights and tips as an employer and human resources career professional to help you prepare for the next time you’re applying for a role.

Register for free >