Love it or List it: Part II
Last week, I confessed that I devoted too much of my TV viewing time to HGTV. I also discussed how to tell if you should Love or List your career. Because when your job is no longer giving you what you need, you need to honestly assess your situation and figure out what is best for you. Before continuing, you might want to go check out Part I first.
Back? Great. Now that you’ve made your decision to Love it or List it, what steps do you need to take to get what you want?
Love It
So you’ve decided to Love your current job. Awesome! That means you are in a good place, like your co-workers, and believe in what your company does. You just need to make a few changes. So where do you start?
1. Figure out what exactly is bothering you. Is it boredom? A lack of responsibility or leadership opportunities? Have you recently learned a new skill that you aren’t getting to use? Or could you really use a raise or a better work/life balance?
2. Once you have a better idea of what you want, update your resume. This may sound odd considering that you are loving your job, but if you want to make a change, you need a resume that can help you sell your skills and experience to managers. Focus not only on the new role that you want, but on all your accomplishments in your current role.
3. Express yourself. If you have a good relationship with your boss, have a frank discussion with them about your goals and what they can do to help. Talk to HR about openings, development opportunities, job shadowing, or even mentorship from leaders within the company. Talk to co-workers and managers in other departments you are interested in and find out what it’s like and what they look for in new team members.
4. Go after what you want. Apply for internal promotions. Volunteer for that special project or committee. Ask for that raise. Go back to school to learn a new skill or finish that degree. Whatever it is, it’s up to you to make it happen.
List It
So you’ve decided to List your current job. Fantastic! You are ready to take on a new adventure and see what opportunities are out there. But where do you start? (Hint: Not by quitting your job immediately.)
1. Figure out what you want in a new job. More money? More responsibility? Less responsibility? Do you want to make a complete career change or maybe try a new industry? Something more creative or a chance to live in a different country?
2. Update your resume and your online professional profile. An obvious step but still an important one. Focus on what you want and make sure your resume speaks to your accomplishments and what you can offer. “Google” yourself and make sure that up to date and appropriate links show up as the most relevant search results. Even if it’s only your LinkedIn profile, you want to be searchable.
3. Network. I know, I know. Unless you are a big extrovert, no one really likes networking. But people do it anyway because it works. Talk to people about what you are looking for, ask questions, volunteer, join professional organizations, seek a mentor or be a mentor yourself. People want to help and if an opportunity comes up, you want to be the first one people think of.
4. Go after what you want. Put yourself out there and push past your comfort zone. Focus on companies you admire and locations you want to be. Be open to something different; even if it means a step back or to the side if it will help you get where you want to be. Down size your life to make a change more affordable or find ways to boost your confidence. Invest all your free time into a hobby so that you can turn it into your career. Be brave.
Now, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice that whether you Love It or List It, the steps you take are basically the same and they both require a great deal of work and even sacrifice. Change isn’t easy. But the best things in life rarely are.
