New year’s resolutions are always a great idea, or so we tell ourselves at the time we make them. So why is it after only a few weeks, those all-important resolutions have already fallen by the wayside? What stops us from achieving our goals and what have we learnt from 2020, an “unprecedented” year, that will help us stay focused and on the pathway to success?
My thinking is this. When we make a resolution, we focus on the outcome, such as getting a new job, gaining a promotion, increasing our pay, and so on. What we don’t think about however, is the process and method required to get us there, the steps we need to take, the timeframe and the support or resources we may require to achieve our required outcome.
For example, if your new year’s resolution is “to get a new job” that is great and more than realistic, but if we haven’t thought through the process of achieving this outcome, once we realise the number of steps involved particularly during these “unprecedented” times, our new year’s resolution suddenly feels more like a lead weight and an impossible challenge than a desirable goal.
So, what can we do to stay focused and make those career goals a reality in 2021?
As a former recruiter and now career coach, I have worked with a wide range of clients, with varied backgrounds and experience to share. All have offered me valuable insights into the process and steps they took along their career journey. So, to help you stay on track and make those new year resolutions a reality, here are some of my key takeaways.
Reconnect with your interests and skills
Talking with my clients about their skills, capabilities and experience is something I do every day. However, I often find myself working with clients who have become disconnected with or are unable to see and appreciate their own skills and therefore potential. This may be because they don’t receive feedback from their manager, they have been made redundant, have been away from the workplace for a little while or have been doing a job which is a means to an end and not their chosen career pathway.
If employers are going to appreciate what you have to offer, you first need to appreciate yourself. How? Start with identifying your transferable skills, these are skills employers desire, and you will be developing in all aspects of your life not just in the workplace.
The top transferable skills NZ employers look for (as identified by Trademe) are Communication, Problem solving, Emotional intelligence, Creativity, Cultural awareness, Leadership, Focus mastery and Persuasion. Now, have a look on Seek or Trademe for a job role you would like to apply for and note down the ‘transferable skills’ detailed in the advert. You will probably be surprised how much importance the employer places on these skills and remember as transferable skills, they will be developed in all aspects of your life but can be ‘transferred’ to that job and workplace.
Not sure which skills you have? Ask a trusted work colleague, family member or friend which ones you have, then ask them to give you an example of when you demonstrate this skill. Write this down in a notebook, it will be useful later when preparing your CV and for interview.
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” Confucius once said. I am sure we have all heard this phrase. 2020 gave this phrase new meaning, but how do we achieve this? Reconnect with your interests, take the time to figure out, what drives you? What interests you? Knowing what gives you purpose; a sense of satisfaction and a feeling of fulfilment is how we can achieve this goal. Not sure how to translate this into a job or industry sector?
Firstly, give yourself permission to invest in yourself, then take the time to think and answer those questions. You can also check out these free websites, they ask you a range of questions about your interests, values, preferred work environments and more. Your answers, then generate industries and job roles which meet your criteria. https://www.yourfreecareertest.com/ or https://www.careers.govt.nz/tools/careerquest/
I have also used https://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/careerbuilder. Whilst you have to pay for the full result, the initial feedback and insight provided was unnervingly accurate, if you want an honest appraisal give it a try.
If you prefer to talk things through one on one, working with a career coach (available via the Ignite Platform) to help with identifying your skills and understanding your interests and how this can translate into a career, industry and job role, can also be time well spent and a valuable return on investment.
Information Interviews
This is something I have always seen value in, but until 2020, didn’t have a ‘label’ for the process. Information interviews are a great way to gain an insight into the qualities, skills and qualifications required for the career or job you are looking to pursue. They offer the opportunity to gain real life feedback and insights into what employers want. Information interviews are conducted with a person doing the job or leading the career you are looking to emulate. LinkedIn is an invaluable resource when looking to arrange information interviews. The search engine allows you to find people by job title, industry and location, providing you with a list of potential contacts that you can add to your network and ask if they would be open to a call or meeting.
When requesting an information interview, make sure you explain what you are looking to achieve. For example, “I am looking to pursue a career as a marketing professional and have a special interest in brand development, I can see you have extensive experience in this area and wondered if you would be open to sharing some insights into how you achieved your success?”
Do people actually do information interviews? The short answer is, yes, the smart ones do. Not only are you getting insights into the requirements of the role and inside information on the industry, but you are also making contact with a potential employer. Most importantly, you are learning what the job is really like. Imagine having this kind of insight when you first chose your career path, would you have made the same decision? Keep in mind this is one person’s opinion and insight but will still help you make informed decisions going forward on which areas you need to upskill, which qualifications the employer values, what transferable skills you already have and what technical experience you may need to gain. The best outcome of an information interview for me is knowing if your perception of the job is correct and making a great industry contact.
To get the most out of your information interview, make sure you prepare and ask key questions about their career pathway, recommendations, and anything they would do differently. Great questions will leave your new contact with a great impression, confirms your desire to achieve your goal as well as valuable demonstration of your transferable skills including communication, persuasion, focus mastery and problem solving.
Try before you commit - Volunteer
Gaining experience in an industry or job role before you make the transition is a great investment. Volunteering and work placements can help with this. From my own experience, making the call to Dress for Success in Christchurch to ask if they needed a volunteer career coach, was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only do I now volunteer with a great group of people, but it has also given me the chance to see first-hand if career coaching was for me. Knowing I am on the right path, has led to paid work and opportunities I would not have been otherwise able to secure.
Time is precious for us all and I appreciate financially that volunteering doesn’t put food on the table, but I also believe that your career is a marathon not a sprint. If you are not working or the children are at school, use this time wisely. Do you have an evening, a weekend or even a day a month you could offer, after all this is about you gaining experience and insight to support you achieving your career goals? Volunteering or work placements can help you make a career transition over time, keep you on track and offer valuable experience that you can include in your CV which employers will value.
My thought is this. “If someone is committed enough to do the job on a volunteer basis, they are certainly going to be committed in a paid role”. The experience you gain in a volunteer role is real and provides a great opportunity to try before you commit to a career change or new industry.
Staying focused is one of the biggest challenges we face when pursuing our career goals and new year resolutions, to stay on track and ensure this year is the one you achieve your goals, have a plan, understand there will be a number of steps involved, appreciate it will take time to get where you want to go and often longer than you think. Identify the resources you need and a support person or mentor, who will help you stay on track. Checking in with a coach or mentor on your progress, is a sure way to keep you focused but also offers essential support when times are tough, and you need that all important motivation, positive support and encouragement.
Claire French is an Ignite platform delivery partner, who has worked in the careers industry for over 20 years. Providing the best possible support to her clients is Claire’s focus and she is passionate about helping people achieve their career goals and potential.
If now is the time to talk with an expert like Claire, explore Ignite's individual support subscription options or ask your employer to consider employee subscriptions for your workplace. Contact hello@ignite.org.nz to find out more.