What next? Navigating the inevitable career crossroads

What do you do when you’re at a career crossroads and wonder: What next? If you already have a career plan – and have learned all you could from your current job – that big question becomes much easier to answer. #theleadershipbet #careerchange #crossroads #whatnext #navigatingchange #haveaplan 

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A career crossroads can be intimidating. Change is hard, and looking for and starting a new job – or an entirely new career – is one the biggest stressors we ever face. Being prepared makes the inevitable crossroads much easier to navigate.  #theleadershipbet #careerchange #crossroads #whatnext #navigatingchange #haveaplan 

Headline: Navigating career crossroads: What to do when you ask yourself the question: ‘What next?’ 

If you work, you’re inevitably going to come to a crossroads and wonder: What next? 

That time could come if we feel our own personal values aren’t aligned with the values of our company. Working for a bad boss can be another reason for a job change. 

But what about other times? When nothing is wrong per se, but you find yourself longing for something more? How do you navigate that?

First, have a plan

Navigating your career means you intentionally set out with a destination in mind versus just letting your career progression happen. You may veer off course, but – when you have a plan – you can always course correct. 

I’m shocked when people tell me they don’t have a career plan. Since I had a plan for my career, I was almost always able to initiate my next move. I made a change when I had learned all I could from a role, felt I had done all I could in the role and was ready for my next challenge. 

As a leader – I was Sharonview Federal Credit Union’s CEO until my retirement last year – I always wanted to know what people’s career aspirations were and how I could help them get there. So, I’d ask. Typically, I’d throw a Partinism in there and say something like, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

If a member service representative wanted to be in consumer lending, I could help ensure she developed the right skills to make that happen. If an employee told me he wanted to go into nursing, that’s an area I can’t directly help with – but I could suggest he investigate the company’s tuition reimbursement program. Good leaders help their people anticipate the next career crossroads and prepare for it.  

If I knew someone ultimately wanted a career change, I’d be honest and say something like: “OK, I know we may only have you for another year or two, but as long as you’re here, I’m going to help you get where you want to be. But I need you to help me get this company where we want to be.” 

That’s a true win/win. If an employee wants to leave, he or she eventually will. But you can give them a good experience while they’re with you – and enlist their help to meet your goals, too. 

But don’t rely solely on your manager. Anticipate where you want to go next – and prepare.  

The B word

What about boredom? Is it a good enough reason to launch a job search? 

If you’re bored in your job, I think you have to step back and assess. Ask yourself: Why am I bored? Have I learned everything I can in the role I’m in? Is my leader giving me new opportunities? Am I asking for those? 

Early in my career, I came home and told my wife, Kim, over dinner that I was bored at work. She said, “Uh-oh. Here comes another job search.”  

“Not necessarily,” I told her. I wanted to first understand what the boredom was about. Maybe asking for more responsibility would alleviate the issue and allow me to stay in what was otherwise a good job.  

If you’re satisfied you’ve done all you can do in a particular role and you like the company you work for, it may be time to apply for internal jobs in different divisions. It’s usually easier to find a role with your current employer than to look elsewhere. 

But you may have to leave a company you like for the job you really want. My advice: Stay prepared. Learn whatever technology you need to know. Become an industry expert. Get your feet wet by managing a different team if possible. That will help make for a smooth transition when you do move on.  

A complete 180

Another career may call out to you. You might have 20 or 25 years into a particular field and then discover a true passion for something completely different. 

It didn’t happen to me; I knew from the day I took a teller job when I was 20 that I wanted to be in financial services. I’ve been a stockbroker, an investment advisor, a chief member services officer, a VP and an SVP before becoming a CEO – and all those jobs fell under the big financial services umbrella. 

But to anyone who longs for a career change, I think you have to honor that calling. Life’s too short to work at one job knowing there’s another one out there that better feeds your soul. 

Work should be fulfilling. I’ve always said it should also be fun. Not a picnic-in-the-park fun, but something that’s consistently enjoyable. With few exceptions (a morgue, maybe?), the office ought to be a place where there’s occasional levity and laughter.   

Sure, you’re going to get frustrated. But if there isn’t some life, some joy, some lightheartedness during the workday, that’s a long eight or 9 or 10 hours. 

The forced crossroads

Occasionally – but I hope rarely – you may find yourself at a career crossroads not of your own making. I’ll bet most of us have lost a job, and some of us may have lost several. Layoffs are part of the landscape these days, and if you find yourself holding a pink slip, try to find a silver lining. 

Early in my career, mine was one of six VP positions eliminated at the bank I worked for. Kim and I were young; we’d just bought a house. I hadn’t seen this coming. But I saw it as an opportunity. 

I decided to take the chance to become a stockbroker. I interviewed with all the big firms while doing anything I could to earn money. And I landed a job in pretty short order. 

Faced with an unexpected job search, it helps to be a lifelong learner. I’ve always believed in its value, and not just because I’ve considered the question: What if I were released to the marketplace because my job got eliminated? My goal was to learn all I could at my current company because if, for some reason, I’m asked to leave, I want enough tools in my toolbox to readily find a new job – and maybe even make a step up. 

The late Jim Rohn, an author, speaker and business and leadership expert I admire, says that if you’re bringing value to the marketplace, then more and more people are going to seek out your expertise. An upshot of bringing value to the marketplace: You should see a commensurate rise in pay as you become more valuable. 

When you first start your career, your technical skills and abilities are what your employer most wants from you. You know how to do X, Y, Z, and that’s what you’re getting paid for. But as you progress through your career, your employer will expect you at some point to lead people. They’ll care less about your technical proficiency and more about how well you lead. So, don’t neglect developing your so-called “soft skills.” 

If you’ve been learning as you go and seeking new skills, even if your job gets eliminated, you likely won’t be in the job market for long. 

Try not to let a layoff surprise you. Be ready with an updated resume, technical prowess, solid references and impeccable people skills. Work to make yourself so attractive in the marketplace that a layoff doesn’t derail your career. If you’ve made yourself valuable, getting a pink slip is not going to be all that scary. 

When you arrive at a career crossroads and decide to leave a job or a company, make sure you’re not just running from something. When you’re overly eager to escape, you might be willing to take just any job – rather than being strategic. We should always strive to be running to something better. 

Don’t fear the point at which you wonder, “What next?” With planning and a focus on continuous learning, you’ll be ready.