Have you ever thought, Oh dear, I’m in the wrong career! Sometimes that truth comes as a whisper and others it knocks you off your feet. What started as a good job and long term plan has become a straight jacket. All that training, all that money and effort, and one day you find you aren’t where you want to be.
How do you find a new career path once you’ve been working for several years? First, congratulations for listening to your heart and head and considering a change. Second, there is hope. People transition into new career fields all the time. In fact it’s a common part of human development. What interests us early in our lives may change.
“I keep telling you the future isn’t set in stone. It’s not all decided yet. The future is just what’s down the road we decided to walk on today. You can change roads anytime. And that changes where you end up.”
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Many people tell me they are too old to go back to school. Even though I believe education is valuable and necessary throughout one’s life span, let’s look at alternatives to formal “schooling”. Multiple resources exist around you in the form of experienced professionals, people who are doing what you think you’d be good at and enjoy.
I first heard about Informational Interviewing in the 70’s from Richard Bolles’ “What Color is your Parachute?”. Perhaps it has existed throughout time in the form of apprentice programs. The value of talking with people who are working in fields you are curious about is obvious. They have answers about opportunities, necessary training, pros and cons, and trends.
The way to get current career information is to set up an interview. Today with the internet and social media, finding people to call is very easy. Pick people who are seasoned and successful in your chosen field. Find out how they got there and how it has turned out. What were their steps? What advice do they have for you?
Howard is a teacher of 20 years who now wants to become an innkeeper. He loves to cook and meet new people and he’s always wanted to live near the mountains. When Howard and his wife travel, they tend to choose bed and breakfast establishments for lodging. They enjoy the cozy, home-like atmosphere and the special attention provided by the owners.
Rather than just dream about this career, Howard can create a plan to learn more about inn keeping. Instead of seeking out formal education as he did when he became a teacher, Howard can explore informal resources by talking with innkeepers.
Informational interviewing requires a list of questions you want answered and a list of people currently doing the work. Help with both can be found on the internet. The hardest part for many is getting started, making the first request. Once people realize that folks who enjoy their work love to talk about it and give advice, the process feels effortless.
A second piece of career investigation is setting up an internship. Many of us had internships during our college years. We had a chance to try on a job with no long term commitments. It provided valuable information for deciding whether to follow that field. Today mature workers can “try on” something new through brief shadowing of a professional or through volunteer work.
Howard decided to spend part of his summer vacation working for free with an innkeeper. He got an up close look at the duties involved as well as more time to be mentored by the owner. Howard couldn’t have paid for that experience and knowledge. He decided this was a good fit and he’s established a 3 year plan toward his career transition.
Whether the information you obtain leads you forward or you decide to keep looking, your investigation will maximize the likelihood of a great fit. The day may come when you’ll be asked to share your career experience. Enjoy the curiosity and passion from a potential colleague as you guide them on their path.
Steps to take:
Choose a potential career
Identify your questions about it
Locate successful professionals in that field
Schedule a brief interview
Express appreciation and ask for more names
Synthesize the information gathered
Take your next step
Stay inquisitive and savor the path!
