Career change - by those who have done it

In the autumn I wrote to a number of long-standing clients to ask how their career choices had worked out.  Might they, perhaps, have any advice for people making new career decisions now?

Most of those I wrote to were clients of many years standing - one or two since the 1980s and all dating back at least 5 years. I think this long view is important.  With life-changing decisions it’s not always possible to assess the real impact for some years. (And in fact most advisers wouldn’t maintain prolonged contact anyway.)

I was really fascinated by the stories that came back. Whilst for confidentiality reasons I would not retell these stories - they’re not mine to tell - I did find people’s insights very touching.  The advice they offer from their own experience has a lot of relevance for anyone in the same position today .

The first question I asked was what direction their careers took after they had worked with us.

CONFIDENCE - VISION - DIRECTION:  these were the three themes that dominated the answers.  Some individuals had gone off determined to go out on their own.  Some analysed and deliberated while others followed heart rather than head.  Yet others had come here feeling stuck and went away with new strength and conviction in dreams and ambitions that guided them through. They had been able to clarify their thinking, reflect on their own characters and realise they needed to tread their own paths.

For other clients it had been a question of focussing on career progression and having the confidence to make the right career adjustments.

The second question I asked was whether the impact from their work with us work was immediate or ‘slow burn’.

As one would expect, it varied. The ‘immediate impact’ group were associated with a concentration on personal priorities - recognising what was important to them and then going for it with more focus and confidence.

For others, responding to their emotional reactions - to the possibility that things could be different - played a bigger role.  With a dawning realisation of what was important, their reaction was typically to implement change over time - some changes being quite dramatic.

The third question asked about any particular conflicts or concerns which brought them to JO & Co, and if so how they were resolved.

The main issues were:

• exploring life changes
• balancing risk and security
• change linked to being undervalued, discontented or bullied

‘Doing something different’ certainly seemed to be the resolution - some by radical change, some by managing themselves differently within the current role, some by managing changes in their environment.

In my final question I asked the clients what advice they would give people in similar situations. Some of the themes were:-

• Take the chance to view your situation from a distance. Think out loud and work things through to come to a resolution in your own time. Speak frankly.
• Recognise the importance of reviewing your values and goals regularly. You’ll discover unexpected strengths.
• Learn to believe in yourself and follow your heart - the real you.
• ‘New’ is scary but work towards your goal and New becomes exciting.
• JO & Co give people hope and the freedom to dream. Things could be different. That’s what gives you something to work towards.

All in all, the message I got was of optimism.  Change can have a very positive face, even if sometimes a very unexpected one.

Jo Ouston
April 2010