At A Crossroad In Your Career?

“The greatest risk to man is not that he aims too high and misses, but that he aims too low and hits.” Michaelangelo 

With the unemployment rate hovering around 13.5%, I know this is a tough time mentally and practically for many people. I thought it might be helpful to provide a few ideas outside of the typical job boards and recruiters. Other situations these tips may apply to: if you are running a business and are looking for more clients OR if you are having an epiphany during this time of social distancing about pivoting your career.

• ONLINE CERTIFICATIONS: If you are in between jobs, you may want to consider getting an online certification to beef up the resume as well as keep busy. Many educational institutions are offering free or reduced programs and certifications. Universities such as Yale, Penn, and Harvard have jumped on the bandwagon. (For chuckles, check out this video by Scott Young who managed to take the entire 4-year MIT curriculum for computer science in 12 months, without taking any classes.) Since I’m a dinosaur, I was very skeptical of online learning until I tried it. I took a certification program through UC Berkeley a couple years ago and found the combination of self-paced coursework, videos, guest lecturers, and live calls with people around the world perfect to do from home. And one upside to virtual vs in-person coursework I hadn’t considered is the abundance of links to additional research, articles, TedTalks, etc. Overall, it makes for a very rich learning experience if you are self-motivated. And I can’t tell you how many clients ask about my certification in the Science of Happiness vs my Masters in Organizational Psychology, in which I invested a lot more time and money. Kind of funny.

  • BTW, if you are not self-motivated or unsure, check out Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies, which will help you determine if you are motivated more by internal or external forces. It’s fascinating!

• VOLUNTEER: This is a great way to pivot a career. I know a lawyer who was fed up with her career choice and wanted to shift to public relations. She volunteered for 3 months doing PR work for a local non-profit on the side. In return for helping a cause she believed in, she developed PR skills, made new contacts, and got a recent reference in the new field. No one asked her if it was a paid position!

  • I started and ran a nonprofit, so have lots of contacts if this is an avenue you want to explore.

• TRADE ASSOCIATIONS: Trade associations are a great way to meet more people in a field and get exposure. If your ideal clients are in Human Resources, join a trade association for human resources. Or if you can’t join, these groups are always looking for people to present on topics of interest to the group. That’s your opportunity to build valuable contacts and start establishing yourself as an expert. They also often have recommended training programs or free webinars and networking events. 

  • Make sure you connect with everyone you meet at the trade association on LinkedIn. I found one of my business partners and many opportunities through these types of organizations.

• SUBCONTRACT: Many companies specialize in selling projects and then scramble to find qualified subcontractors. You can help fill that gap. Reach out if you want my list of subcontracting companies.

I encourage you to continue to aim high during these odd times. Know that you are not alone. Continue to take small steps every day. Partner with people. And take time to celebrate the small wins.