Six Figures Blog

Following on from part one: “Why flying solo is not always the best approach when changing jobs or careers” it is important to be able to identify those people who are both willing and best able to assist you in your job search or career change.  These people fall into a couple of different camps: our significant others, which include family and friends who are there to give us moral support as outlined in the article by Paul Stevens ‘Discover How Supportive Your Significant Others Are Of Your Job or Career Change’; and people who have made a big impact in our professional working life such as bosses, colleagues, mentors and those that we have a general respect and high regard for.  This is the group of people whose support and guidance will assist you in achieving your career goals. Those who you have an established relationship with and a history are the ones that know you best. As such, they know your strengths and weaknesses and are likely to want to see you happy and succeed in your work-life.

From these groups, ask those amongst your professional and working circle if they would be happy to provide assistance to you in your job search or career change, being clear with them what kind of assistance you seek. Is it someone to review your resume, assist you in making decisions about what jobs to apply for, provide interview coaching, keep their eyes open for jobs, making networking introductions, etc?  If you are going to ask for help, it is essential that you define your expectations and confirm that these are acceptable to the person whose help you are asking for. If done correctly, rarely will you be turned down or be in a situation where those whose help you have sought fail to deliver.  Ultimately, you will have to drive the process but you will feel more confident you have a team to call upon as you go through it.

I discourage people from asking those they have loose connections with for help and support in an active job search or career change. This includes friends of friends, social networking connections whom you have never met or deeply engaged with, and those you approach via email or phone whose details you have found online. Occasionally these channels may work but generally speaking those who have no real connection to you are unlikely to be willing to invest their valuable time on your job search or career change; likewise for those who may actually be competing with you in a work context.

Instead, I do very much encourage enlisting the support of those you trust and respect that can play a strong and positive role in your job search or career change. It is extremely important to spend sometime upfront identifying the right people that you have a strong relationship with to get you where you want and the role that they will play. Otherwise, it is unlikely to translate into the outcome you desire. Also be mindful when you seek the time and expertise of someone that you are well-prepared and clear in your expectations of them for this to work (particularly without expecting to pay). As someone in the careers profession, it can be frustrating when someone I have no real relationship with expects careers advice, resume reviews and so on for nothing; rather than having a proper career coaching session.

Your job search and career change does not have to be a solo and lonely experience. It is often far more enjoyable and ultimately rewarding when done with a team of those behind you.