About a year ago, I reached out to an individual on LinkedIn that had great early career experience in the exact industry of my client. His career progression was steady with a good balance of business, management, and sales. However, the last few years he had been in what seemed to be an individual contributor sales position in a different industry. Once I had a conversation with this gentlemen it was obvious that he would be a great fit, but it would be a bit of a stretch to get him interested in the General Manager position I had to offer since it was several states away. He wasn’t really looking to move on from his position when I called him either. However, through our conversation and his realizing all the skills he currently wasn’t using, he decided he would like to pursue the position. The decision to update his resume and pursue the opportunity really got his career back on track… and the 50% pay increase wasn’t too bad either!
As my husband and I sat with our new friends over dinner this week, I listened as the husband talked about his job situation. He had been doing computer automation contract work for the past 10 years, making about $100,000 – 150,000 each year. Early in 2019 they got married, sold their house with a pool, bought an RV, and started their way to California for a long and lucrative project with a well-known company that was his main customer. However, the leadership of that company made a decision to stop all work with contractors and his project was cancelled right after he arrived. Their life took a bit of a spiral and he was now working an 8 to 5 job making $25.00 an hour. There were obviously many variables to their story but I found myself giving him the same advice I give about 75% of the people I talk to about work. “Update your resume and pursue what’s next.”
Too many times, people are passive about their career progression and feel stuck. Since they cannot know the entire plan, exact position, or exact pay of the next opportunity, they choose to do nothing rather than expend effort and take a risk. Everyone’s checklist of steps will be different but don’t let the unknown cripple your action. Even though you can’t know the exact end, let me encourage you that if you start putting effort into the process, you will move forward!
Take some time to dream about what you want in your career, think through the logical steps that need to take place to get there, and choose to work toward your goal. If you have two different paths you could choose, make a resume that highlights your skills for each of those paths and see which one creates more opportunities when you start applying and interviewing for positions.
If you are still feeling stuck in knowing what to do, find someone you respect and ask if you can schedule a time to talk with them. Don’t be ashamed for needing advice. You definitely should have at least 3 people you respect look over your resume and give you feedback before ever sending it to a potential employer. If you are working with a recruiter, the recruiter should also be able to give you solid feedback on your resume.
Another option is to hire a career coach to work with you on updating your resume and developing the skills you need to present well in an interview. As I have filled the career coach hat on several occasions, I have seen the value this adds to the communication and confidence of the candidate in the interview process. Sometimes the right career move is not to leave your current position but to instead bloom where you are planted. A career coach can assist in these situations as well in giving you the tools you need to maximize your current position.
I wish you the best as you take your next step! If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to reach out to me at summer@fhrecruiting.com.
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