Navigating the Career Transition Gridlock Chapter 1.

Welcome to “Navigating the Career Transition Gridlock – a roadmap to success.

Welcome to “Navigating the Career Transition Gridlock”. This e-book has been prepared for the next phase of your career journey. It will help you to:

clarify your direction;
create career goals;
navigate the job search maze; and
create applications that get results.

You’ll learn how to connect with key people to influence your success. You will do exercises that help you recognise and grasp opportunities to get your dream job.

In addition, you may wish to receive personal coaching. Contact robert@icoachsolutions.com to explore your options.

Where to start? 5

Caring for self and knowing your skills, values and direction 6

Dealing with the emotions of transition. 6
Looking after yourself through transition. 8

Dealing with stress. 10

Dealing with Negative Self-talk. 11

Reflecting on skills, values and direction. 14

Exploring your perfect job. 17

Assess your technical, business and work skills; 22

Your core competencies. 25
Having the right mindset before beginning job search. 25
A word about overcoming a limiting belief 27
The power to reframe our thinking can take a limiting negative thought and turn it into positive action. 27
Reshaping thoughts – Reshaping beliefs. 27
Key questions on your beliefs. 28

Identifying My Career Options. 30

Information on specific job types and careers at: http://myfuture.edu.au/. 30
Create a Career Plan for each career choice. 33
Notes regarding making goals: 34
An example of a completed Career Plan template may look like: 34

Step 3. Develop and implement an Career Action Plan to achieve your Career Goals. 35

Career Action Planning checklist 38
Achieve your goal! 42
Implementing your job search and Career Action Plan. 44

Understanding the job market and job search strategies. 44

Strategies for exploring the job market 44
What is the visible job market?. 44
What is the Hidden Job Market?. 45
Why do vacancies exist that are not advertised?. 45
Networking to access the hidden job market 46
Word of mouth—increase awareness of your existing Networks. 47
LinkedIn and Social Media Networking. 47
Meeting a potential employer. 50
Working with Recruitment Agencies and Head Hunters. 51

The purpose of an application. 52

Develop a targeted resume. 53

Other tips on writing a resume: 56
Resume Example. 60

Application cover letters and addressing selection criteria. 64

Example: Addressing Selection Criteria (includes advert and resulting letter) 68

The four “P”s of Interview Preparation. 72

Preparation. 72
Quick Preparation Checklist: 72
What is the employer is looking for?. 73
Other interview questions. 74
The weakness question. 75
Questions for the employer. 75
Perform your best at interview?. 76
Practise. 76
Performance and Presence. 77
Nerves. 77
Closing the Interview.. 79
Priming referees. 80
Salary Negotiation. 80
Settling into the new role. 81

Thank you. 82

Acknowledgements. 82

Where to start?

Feel free to start wherever you feel is best for you.

If you:

are clarifying career choices, go to “Exploring your perfect job” exercise;
are feeling anxious or upset, go to “Dealing with the emotions of transition”; or
need to prepare for an interview, go to The four “P”s of Interview Preparation and return after your interview to other resources to give your job search campaign a lift.

Each topic is organised into:

Destination: captures the goals and key principles of the section.
How to get there: specific steps to achieving your goal.
Exercise: questionnaire or exercise to help you to reflect on the topic.
Template: use to produce your own application documents.

Caring for self and knowing your skills, values and direction

Dealing with the emotions of transition

A useful start is to see the journey through the following Transition Model. There are a number of significant challenges when we leave our current role, move through transition and find a new beginning.

Based on the “Transition Model” created by change consultant, William Bridges published in his 1991 book “Managing Transitions”.

Destination

When you remain positive, focused and energised you will be in a better emotional position to actively job search and take advantage of opportunities that present themselves. You also present a more “attractive energy” to potential Employers.

Fact: BL Fredrickson, a Psychology researcher found that positive emotions during times of stress prompt individuals to pursue novel and creative thoughts and actions. Thus, through exploration and experimentation, in time they may be able to build an arsenal of effective coping resources that help buffer (psychologically and physiologically) against negative emotional life experiences. In effect positive emotions help us become more resilient to deal with stressful situations.

Remaining positive, resilient and optimistic can help us better deal with stresses and speed up our transition as maintain perspective and clarity of direction. However, we need to authentically deal with the emotions that arise as we embrace change. So how can we nurture useful emotions and lessen the effect of self-sabotaging emotions?

Stresses in Transition: As you leave your job, you may experience a range of powerful emotions as what was familiar is lost. Not only are you farewelling friends and colleagues, you are leaving practices and customs that were your norm. We sometimes also lose access to indicators of personal identity. Many people benefit from exploring emotions with a friend or coach to enable them to continue taking positive action through their transition. In all transition stages, it is important to maintain the routines that energise and maintain wellbeing and connection.

The transition phase can be very challenging and you may experience a sense of chaos accompanied by continuing emotional shifts including denial, anger, sadness and depression which are all a normal part of the grief and loss process. In many ways we must let go of what was, before we can recognise and seize new opportunities. This phase may be disconcerting in that the length of the transition and the amount of challenge and pressure we face here is unknown. It may take many months, applications and interviews to secure the role you want. Use the resources in this guide and get if when you feel overwhelmed anxious or depressed.

Once you have found the job, making the new start may also be tricky as you need to learn new things, make new friends and discover how you fit into the new environment and its culture. This can be challenging and many people take a month or two to settle into the new role.

How to get there

“Navigating the Career Transition Gridlock” provides you with reference points through your transition and a structured approach to examining who you are and where you want to go. As mentioned a number of benefits arise from following a “reflective” approach and proactively managing your emotions and thinking:

You remain resilient i.e. better able to deal with rejection and frustrations and cope with stress.
You gain focus and stability as you start to recognise the opportunities that may be explored.
You are likely to be more attractive to potential employers when you present as energised, resourceful and adaptable.

The following section gives suggestions on maintaining your personal best and a sense of wellbeing and balance.

Looking after yourself through transition

Though you may not feel like it, it is important to look after yourself during this time. Research strongly links looking after yourself and participating in career transition programs to speed up the transition with greater levels of success at each step of the job search process and more resilient responses to stressful incidents.

It is a time to make important decisions. If you are feeling clear, positive and energised, you will be better positioned to recognise opportunities. You will also be more resilient and better able to capitalise on opportunities.

Healthy ideas proven to support you job seeking:

Is really important. Though you may not feel like it, exercise releases chemicals known as endorphins that make you feel good. It provides you with a sense of achievement and doing something healthy for your body and mind. Aim to build up slowly and try to exercise at least 3 times per week for 45 minutes. Hey, make it fun. Be flexible. Do what you like doing. Walking is great exercise especially if you include some hills that increase your heart rate. If you have a dog you will become his best friend. Take a friend and walk and talk the kilometres away. Find an activity you enjoy doing as it is easier to maintain an activity you want to do. I recently discovered Pilates and find it is good for my back health. So what about you? What activities do you enjoy?
Go gently on yourself. Whatever you are feeling is OK. Feelings change. Give yourself permission to take time and space dealing to work through your thoughts and feelings surrounding your situation.
Reflect on your feelings. Discuss your experiences with your partner, family and /or close friends. It is ok to ask for support. Psychologists consider career change as one of the most stressful lifetime episodes a person experiences alongside loss of a loved one.
Get extra help for challenging feelings:

If you are experiencing bouts of depression, it is important to get assistance. Speak to your Coach or an Employee Assistance Provider counsellor (in larger organisations, counselling services are often available up to 3 months after leaving a position). You can also seek advice from your Medical Practitioner.

The Beyond Blue website offers a range of excellent, free resources.
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety-and-depression-checklist-k10

Maintain your routine. In addition to a work career, many components make you who you are. Continue to do the things you love ¾activities that give life meaning, purpose and a sense of fun are vital to remain focussed and motivated. You will be more resourceful and resilient to challenges.
Eat healthy. Eat a wide range of fresh foods especially vegetables and fruit. Avoid junk food, caffeine and alcohol¾they deplete energy and motivation. If you are prone to over-indulge, have at least 2 alcohol/ caffeine free days per week or restrict it to weekends.
Maintain social networks, interests and hobbies. If you have excess time, take up a new hobby or set yourself a creative or constructive project. Volunteering to a good cause that interests you can bring a sense of achievement and purpose, develop new skills and broaden your network.
Have a sense of achievement. Plan each day. Set realistic and achievable daily goals. Include some fun ones and reward yourself for staying focused and determined. If you have spare time, set yourself projects around the house and garden or help out a friend.
More ideas. Flourish by Martin Seligman has many practical exercises for increasing resilience, optimism, happiness and wellbeing.

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