From dead-end job and making a ‘wrong’ move to dream career
Are you feeling frustrated in your career and tempted to take the first opportunity that comes along — so you can escape where you are now?
Today, we’re talking about why jumping straight into a job search ISN’T the smartest strategy and how to ensure your next career move is one you won’t regret!
This article is part of the ‘Career By Design’ case study series, where I give you an exclusive, behind the scenes look at my clients’ career transformations. My intention with this series is to show you there isn’t one definition or clear pathway to success. Instead, it’s about identifying what this looks like to YOU.
Despite their different backgrounds, there are 3 things every client has in common which you can use to create a career by design too:
1. Clarity: Getting clear on what’s missing in your current career and what you want before attempting to change it
2. Confidence: Managing your mindset and shifting the self-doubt holding you back in your career to build confidence
3. Career Strategy: Focusing on solving the right problem and knowing which strategies will get you results at this stage of your career
So in this case study, you’ll hear how one client went from making the ‘wrong’ career move to transitioning into their chosen career. Find out how they secured a competitive, highly sought after position in this field and the exact steps to find YOUR ‘right’ path.
RESULTS
This individual was referred by a past client because she’d been with her employer for over a decade and felt like she’d progressed as far as she could go. She was dissatisfied with her career situation, no longer challenged and wanted clarity on her direction. It was something she’d been trying to figure out on her own for YEARS.
She became so frustrated in her role, that one day she jumped on LinkedIn and applied for the first job she saw — in a completely different industry. By the time we met, she’d accepted this position, believing it HAD to be better than staying where she was.
But shortly after starting she realised: she still didn’t know what she really wanted — and this new career path wasn’t the right fit either.
As a result of our work together, this client has complete clarity on her career direction and has reached a place of full self-belief. She’s made a strategic career move into work she genuinely enjoys — one she plans to stay in long-term. For the first time in years, she feels satisfied in her work again and excited for her future career!
CLARITY
Because this client wasn’t sure what she wanted, we returned to the first step: CLARITY.
The Career By Design method starts by understanding who you are and what you want. Then we look at career paths and opportunities which align to this. The goal is to design a career which ‘works’ for YOU — rather than trying to fit yourself to a specific role.
Instead of jumping straight into job search tactics, we first got clear on this person’s unique strengths, values, passions and long-term career vision. By better understanding herself and what she wanted her career (and life) to look like, she recognised her new role wasn’t aligned.
Once she had clarity on these internal factors, we considered the work-related aspects that mattered most: her work drivers, daily tasks, the people/culture and ideal work environment. She explored different career pathways, before identifying one which was a match for her strengths and values. This client now has complete clarity on her career goals, the area of work she enjoys and direction she wants to take her career long-term.
Here’s the lesson for you: When you start from the ‘inside-out’, you will create a career that ‘works’ for you!
CONFIDENCE
One of the biggest shifts this client experienced was owning and leveraging her strengths, rather than focusing on ‘fixing’ her weaknesses.
When we first started working together, she was experiencing a lot of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. She admitted to wasting a great deal of time and energy on the things she believed she ‘lacked’ — skills that came naturally to others, which she found difficult to master.
As a result, she often compared herself to others and felt inadequate. I also noticed this held her back from working out what she wanted next in her career for many years. Because she couldn’t see what she was truly capable of.
The greatest mindset shift this person has experienced is recognising her unique gifts and the value she has to offer. She’s now focused on growing her strengths and wastes less time worrying about or trying to make up for her perceived weaknesses. This means she’s able to articulate her value and experience in an authentic way — and has developed a newfound sense of confidence too!
As a working mother, this individual also struggled to balance her work and personal life. She’d constantly think about work when she was at home and feel guilty when she was at work. This client fully committed to setting boundaries so she’s more present with family — and no longer feels guilty for taking time out for herself!
When you own your strengths and let go of your weaknesses, you will find more fulfillment in your work and communicate your value with confidence.
CAREER STRATEGY
Once this client had clarity on her uniqueness and direction, we focused on applying the right career strategies.
She was proactive about following her curiosity and exploring career paths of interest — primarily through strategic conversations with people doing work that interested her. Through this process, she gained clarity on the type of work she enjoys and leveraged her network to secure a highly sought after role in this field.
In both positions, this person was intentional about observing other leaders she admired. By identifying what they did well (and what didn’t work), she was able to develop her own leadership style further. As a result of building her network, she’s also much more confident reaching out to others to discuss work options to further her career.
TIME was this individual’s greatest challenge — and the biggest barrier to working towards her career goals. Setting short-term goals and breaking tasks down into smaller steps kept her on track with her larger, long-term vision. This also reduced overwhelm and increased her productivity.
When you apply the right career strategies, you will open doors you didn’t know existed and land the role you want, faster.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
So what can you take from this client’s transformation? Here are my top 3 takeaways and how YOU can apply them to your career!
#1 — Start from the ‘inside out’
Before searching for a new job or your one ‘ideal’ career path, clarify what YOU want, first. Then you can explore career paths or roles which ‘work’ for you. This IS the way to design a career that’s fulfilling and sustainable.
#2 — Leverage your strengths, let go of your weaknesses
Invest time into developing your gifts and designing your work around your strengths. One way to do this is by outsourcing your weaknesses to a colleague who has strengths in areas you don’t. If you’re a visionary, big-picture thinker, delegate more detail-orientated tasks.
#3 — Follow your curiosity
Clarity comes through action, not thought. If you’re unsure what you want, explore the things which spark your interest: volunteer, take a class or have a conversation with someone. Every action gets you one step closer to clarity.
So there you have it. How my client went from a dead-end job and the ‘wrong’ role into her dream career. I hope this helps you find direction, build confidence and gives you a clear plan to create a career by design too.
If you’re looking for an ongoing partnership to clarify your direction, build confidence and create a personalised strategy to take ownership of your career, I invite you to explore Ignite Your Career.
I’m now taking applications for the next intake, with 3 spots available starting in June. Apply for a complimentary call to get started here.
Stacey Back is The Career Planning Specialist, an executive career coach and speaker. She guides high-achieving senior leaders and organisations across the globe to design fulfilling, sustainable careers for long-term success.