So, You Want a New Job!

A new year can be a great time to make a career transition. It's a popular time to post jobs, and there tends to be a certain amount of energy at the beginning of a year.

You may be feeling underappreciated, undercompensated, and underchallenged. Maybe you're experiencing burnout and are seeking a career reboot.

Perhaps you're feeling hopeful that your next work situation will be a great fit for you, enabling you to make a great living while using your strengths to make a positive difference.

Whether you think of this as a job search, career pivot, or career change, there are certain practices to be aware of so you can make your desired transition, and sooner rather than later.

So, when and where to get started?

When to Start Your Job Search

Based on my work with hundreds of clients, I recommend that you figure it will take a minimum of 7-9 months to transition from your current work situation to your desired work situation. The clock starts ticking from the time you learn and start to consistently apply career best practices.

Can you make a career pivot in less time? Sure. But don't assume it will happen, or you're more likely to feel bad about yourself after a couple of months, and that won't help you advance your goals!

The amount of time it takes for you to make a career transition depends on a variety of factors such as your levels of awareness of:

• Yourself

• Your target industry

• Career development best practices

Other factors include support from trusted advisors, your health (including mental, emotional, and physical), and your ability to dedicate time, focus, and energy to your search.

A Double Switch

The more drastic a change you're looking to make, the more aspects there are to manage. For instance, a "double switch" tends to take more time to plan and execute than a single switch. A double switch would involve a different:

• Function and/or

• Industry and/or

• Issues area and/or

• Sector

For instance, you want to go from being a program director at a transportation agency to being a nonprofit development professional. For more on this, read the “Switchers” book on my recommended reading list.

Sample Job Search Timeline

Let's suppose you want to start a different type of role in October. To be on the conservative side, I suggest working backward from your target month and counting 10 months. If you have more time before your target date, great! It might look something like this:

Target Date for a New Role: October 1

• Research what people and resources will help you navigate this process (9-10 months in advance)

• Reflection & clarification: tap into your past, present, and desired future (7-9 months in advance; aided by working with a career professional)

• Exploration: Research target employers and example roles; hone your list (6-8 months in advance)

• Market: Build/enhance your personal brand; get together a current base resume (5-6 months in advance)

• Network: Engage with target employers and connections with contacts (4-5 months in advance in particular)

• Search: Identify specific roles of interest, tailor resume and cover letter, and submit applications (3-4 months in advance)

• Interview: Prepare responses to common interview questions, especially behavioral interview questions; prepare questions for the employer; do not need to wait for an interview to be scheduled to start preparing (2-3 months in advance)

• Negotiate: Prepare to negotiate before you even have interviews scheduled so you are not caught off guard by questions about target compensation, etc. (2-3 months in advance)

• Hiring process (1-2 months in advance, at least)

• Prepare to transition into your new role (1 month in advance)

If you need to accelerate the timeline because you got a later start or you didn't expect to be looking for a new job, it is still possible for you to land a new role in your desired timeframe. However, you will need to be extra focused and dedicated.

Resources to Speed Up Your Job Search

How can you learn and consistently apply best practices? If you plan on DIYing your career, books, podcasts, and articles will be your friend. See below.

Many people find that working with a career professional (aka career coach, career advisor, career counselor) helps them increase their sense of accountability and organization, decrease their stress levels, and develop a more purposeful approach.

By receiving support from a career professional, you can speed up your timeline by learning and starting to consistently employ career best practices as soon as possible.

How to create the most value from working with a career professional?

• Be open to reflecting, learning, and feedback.

• Be ready to show up for yourself and challenge thought and behavior patterns that could be holding you back.

• Expect to come away from sessions with thought work, writing, research, and other recommended activities to help you make progress.

"Where Can I Go For Job Search Guidance?"

Your Alumni Career Office: Tap into workshops (in-person and online), one-on-one counseling sessions, assessment tools, guides, and more.

Your Alumni Network: Most alumni associations have an online platform where you can create a profile and connect with fellow alumni.

Blog Posts: Speed up your progress with help from blog posts on career topics, from networking for a job search, to how to prepare for a job interview, to how to leave a job gracefully, and more.

Book Recommendations: Check out my favorite career books (I'm constantly adding to the list -- send your recommendations!)

Career Clarity Compass: Not sure what you want your next career chapter to look like? I've got a free resource for you to start figuring it out. Access your free Career Clarity Compass.

Your Government's Employment Office: e.g. American Job Centers

O*NET OnLine: Career exploration and job analysis tool sponsored by the US Department of Labor.

Podcasts: Listen in to my podcast appearances on Find Your Dream Job, Career Buzz, and more, where I discuss career journeys, personal brand development, and more.

Personalized Support with Your Job Search

When you’re looking for personalized support to help you pinpoint what adjustments you need to make to your mindset and your approach, reach out. A coaching arrangement may be just what you need to get unstuck, build momentum, and make meaningful progress toward your goals.