Many of us have changed career direction. Yours truly 4 times. Start is like looking for that “proverbial needle in a haystack”. Following gives you a magnet in your toolbox to locate needles.
Key is navigating things to know, that cut across industries and careers. To keep your career growing.
Start:
Write down your skills and strengths. Put check beside those you want to improve.
Write down your 3-7 most significant accomplishment. Quantify them.
Thinking about your career, which jobs have given you the greatest satisfaction. Which have bosses commented on the most?
Now define your management style.
Companies all have management styles. Make sure next employers management style is close to yours. Majority of failed placements reported by Executive Search firms are mismatch of management styles.
8 Public Sources for Tips on a Company Management Style.
-Study company website.
Study company website.
“About” sections are excellent.
Search job listings on their web sites. Check them out on LinkedIn. Position descriptions talk about traits they are looking for. Those are tips about their management style.
Study profiles of executives listed. What are their backgrounds? How are they described?
Read about company in trade journals. How do they talk about themselves.
Look at social media sites company is on. What does Google say about company?
Which of your LinkedIn contacts you work/have worked for company? Then look for current and former employees listed on company website.
Chamber of Commerce websites, Better Business Bureau, CVB’s.
Now make list of companies and industries you think are interesting. The ones you have been wondering about. Thinking about.
What’s next?
Do the companies you like have jobs that fit your skills sets and leadership style?How do you find out?
Look at jobs they are advertising on LinkedIn. Any in your area of expertise?
Connect with people on LinkedIn that work for companies you like. Tell them you could be interested in joining their company. Tell them about your skills and accomplishments. Be brief, this is not a resume. Ask them who you should talk to in their companies. You want to talk with executives on your level.
Try to get specific name and title. Then research and reach out to the person on LinkedIn. More you can learn before submitting information the better. Try to find common interests you can address in your cover letter to create a connection.
To summarize:
You’ve matched management styles as best you can.
You’ve identified few companies you could be interested in.
You have reached out to find people who could tell you if your skills and accomplishments are of interest.
You’ve got an executive name to submit one page career summary to.
Your challenge: presenting your skills and accomplishments to generate a favorable response. This is the one and only time we endorse one page resumes for executives.
-Start with their profile on LinkedIn. How do they present themselves. Use some of their words when you describe yourself. You want them to see traits in you they can identify with.
Start with their profile on LinkedIn. How do they present themselves. Use some of their words when you describe yourself. You want them to see traits in you they can identify with.
Try to find articles about them. Check out business social media sites.
You want to build a connection with someone in company in similar position to those that interest you.
No one respond to your letter of introduction. Now what.
There can be lots of reasons, from being out of town on long assignment to:
-What you sent did not resonate with them.
-Your skill set is not what they are looking for.
Time to quit? Heck no, time to identify and research a new group of potential employers. Employers that will advance your career are there. Remember needle in haystack? You selected wrong group of haystacks first time out.
How about similar industries
In search business candidates frequently ask if they should consider similar industries. If working in hotels should they consider clubs, restaurants, retirement communities, hospitals. theme parks, companies aligned to hotels like national or state parks, companies that support corporation food and catering services in colleges or multi-tenet office buildings, parking lot companies, hospitality vendors, etc.
Only answer to that is “perhaps.” Depends if above offer career opportunities you are interested in. Like any career, there are pros and cons. When considering other industries or sub-industries reach out and talk with few people working in those industries. Learn what they like and don’t like.
Identifying specific industry for your career is always a challenge. Being in industry you don’t like is equally challenging. Just with different reasons.
$64,000 Question. Is the grass really greener? Per above, do as much research as you can when considering different industries. More people you can talk with, the better your evaluative abilities. There is no substitute for thinking things through and researching them. Whether it’s new golf clubs, boat, motor home, or career.
Is it worth it?
Finding career in industry you are excited about is wonderfully fulfilling. Family and friends get to share in those rewards. The effort is definitely worth it. You deserve it!
Tom Ferree is the founder of Ferree & Associates and SecureEmploy, organizations focused on helping companies find exceptional talent and helping professionals advance their careers. Since founding Ferree & Associates in 1977, Tom has worked extensively with hospitality companies, executives, and rising leaders across the industry. Through SecureEmploy, he shares practical career strategies, leadership insights, and real-world advice to help professionals grow their careers and help organizations build stronger teams.
