Buying a home tends to be a lengthy, complex process with lots of moving parts. A home purchase requires a certain amount of resources — time, thought, energy, and money.

A conversation with a friend about home buying got me thinking. The homebuying process has a lot in common with navigating career transitions.

To help you advance your goals sooner, I’ve identified 3 lessons from home buying you can apply to shape the next chapter of your career.

Proven strategies to manage your career

#1 Develop your vision

If you only have a vague idea of what type of home you’re looking for, it’s very difficult to conduct an effective and efficient search.

A two-bedroom home? A small city? A condo? Close to mass transit? What’s your budget range?

Once you clarify your vision of what you want, it’s much easier to develop a tailored search, taking advantage of filtering options. This can save you loads of time and reduce overwhelm.

With your career, you need to develop an idea of what kind of work situation you’re seeking.

Full-time? Hybrid? What topics? Who are you serving? Salary range?

When people seek me out for help with figuring out what’s next in their professional life, they often have not determined what kind of work situation they’re seeking. They probably have some ideas, but fears are holding them back from going for what they want.

Here’s what to do:

Make a list of what’s important to you and then prioritize among the items. Be sure to parse the list:

• What are the deal breakers?

• What are the “nice to haves”?

Increase your clarity

If you find it difficult to complete this step on your own, that’s normal! You can speed things up by working with a coach who can ask questions and share approaches that help you increase your clarity.

#2 Be aware of the market

Market conditions play a huge role in shaping your home buying options -- what mortgage options will be available, how much competition there is, flexibility on pricing, and so forth.

Similarly, when it comes to your career, market conditions will impact what industries are growing, how much competition there is, what the compensation and benefits will be, and so on. For instance, when there are high unemployment rates and competition, employers may be less willing to negotiate.

Here’s what to do:

Conduct some research so you’re aware of what fields are growing and what occupations are in high demand. Sites like ONetOnline, hosted by the US Department of Labor, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics are a couple to check out.

Also, identify some industry-specific resources that are relevant for your desired industry. For instance, Candid is a great resource for nonprofit/philanthropy.

It’s important to talk to people too. What groups or individuals can you be in communication with to keep your finger on the pulse of your desired industry?

Each week, by reading a few articles and being part of a couple of conversations with the right people, you can be in-the-know. This will help you make informed decisions for your next steps.

Focus on your target field

Having trouble determining what resources are relevant for your target field? Working with an experienced career advisor can help you build the necessary awareness and habits so you can focus on relevant information.

#3 Get organized

When it comes to homebuying, there’s a lot of information to manage. You need to gather information to provide to a lender so you can get a mortgage. You need to collect information about homes you’re interested in and compare features. And when it comes to moving, there are a lot of logistics to organize.

If you don’t get organized, you’ll waste a lot of time looking for materials and you’ll miss out on opportunities. And, you’ll create unnecessary stress.

Regarding your career, you need to collect information about opportunities so you can be considered for internal promotions and external opportunities.

Here’s what to do:

Tap into a system that will help you track opportunities you’re interested in. That way, you won’t have to dig around to find deadlines, job postings, your application status, the salary range, etc.

Use a tracking system

I created and honed a system I use with my clients that helps them save loads of time and minimize stress. It’s a tracking tool that they get into the habit of using and it facilitates identifying patterns, which is extremely valuable.

For instance, you might notice that certain words are coming up again and again in the job titles you’re interested in. This type of observation will help you determine how to position yourself.

Create an effective job search portfolio

You need a job search portfolio that includes your up-to-date resume and cover letter template that you customize as needed, a robust and relevant LinkedIn profile, work samples, and a list of stellar references.

If you haven’t needed these materials because professional opportunities have typically fallen into your lap and you’re not sure where to start, this step is likely to feel overwhelming. This is why I partner with a certified resume writer who uses her expertise to work closely with our clients to create highly tailored materials.

As a result of this process, our clients increase their clarity and confidence. They present their qualifications effectively to get more interviews for roles they’re excited about. And they know the importance of storytelling with specifics to convey their capability.

Landing a screening call in 48 hours

I love sharing the story about our client who used her revamped resume and cover letter to land an interview for a role in a different industry and sector.

The client received the screening call invitation within just 48 hours of submitting her application.

With the aid of the interview preparation I guided her through, she landed a job offer within weeks. She was delighted to accept and transition into the new role, along with new challenges to apply her skills to and an excellent compensation package.

Approaching your career like a home purchase

When you follow these proven steps, you’ll be able to develop an intentional, informed, and organized approach to your career.

You won’t feel like you have no idea where interesting opportunities could exist. You won’t waste time and energy constantly retracing your steps. You won’t miss opportunities for lack of the necessary materials.

Instead, you’ll be empowered and prepared!

A career partner to help you navigate next steps

Talking things out with a trusted partner can help you increase your clarity. Explore how working with a career advisor can help you shape what’s next.