My advice when you want to change (or create) your career

I have made several career changes in the journey of my working life. Though some decisions were less “right” than others, I have zero regrets about my choices and the experiences I have gained from each job, company, and people I worked with.  

What I have learned along the way are a few strategies that really worked for me when I went to make a career change. (When I was a new grad out of university, I was far less mindful as I am today, and didn’t know how to fully plan my career, but these could be helpful if you are starting out).  I can sum them up into three very simple strategies:

Paint the Picture.  

Preferably not only in your head, create the image of what you want your work life to look like.  What types of people do you want to spend your days with?  Do you want to be in a big open office, or have your own private workspace?  Is downtown for you, or somewhere outside of the big city?  Do you want flexibility in working from home?  Do you want to be part of a team that works together on projects, or work more on your own with direction?  Can you follow rules and regulations (important for some industries) or do you need more creative flexibilities?   What do you love and are most passionate about?  

Ask yourself what matters most to you, write them down, or create a Pinterest or dream board to represent the work life you want.  Make these images real and personal to you.  

Set a Date.

This little tip has been incredibly powerful for me.  On your calendar, pick the exact date you plan to start that new job.  You’ll know what it is.  Note it in big, happy letters on that date.  I have done this twice, and I am not exagerating when I say I started my jobs within a few weeks of the dates I wrote down.  

Do Something Every Day. 

This is where you do the work needed to land that job.  It may seem like an enormous challenge to make change, so it can help to break it down into smaller pieces.  Every day, do one thing about moving your career.  Make a phone call, go online to do search for jobs or do some research into the companies or industries you like, make a connection to someone new in your target industry, read, look into a new course or training… you get the picture. Even the smallest thing you do today can pay off. There are endless actions you can take to create change.  

Finally, keep a positive attitude always! And good luck in your own search.