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Health & Fitness

Know What to Ask of Your Job Search Network – Planning to Change Careers

Planning to change careers? Get information about the career you're planning to change to from people who do it. Peg presents tips and questions to maximize your time with your network contacts.

Last week I wrote about knowing specifically what to ask of your job search network contacts. If you’re planning to change your career, most likely, you want information about the career you’re planning to change to from people who are doing or have done what you want to do. So, try this:

  1. Find someone in your network who is currently doing or who has formerly done what you want to do. For example, if you want to change from being an accountant to a fitness instructor, find someone who has made a similar career transition. If you want to change from sales to business coaching, talk with people who have made a similar move.
  2. If no one in your current network has made the kind of transition you’re considering, ask if s/he would be willing to connect you with someone who has. It could be someone they know or someone with whom they may have or will come into contact.

When you’ve made a connection with a person in your proposed field of work, prepare a list of questions to ask to maximize the time you spend with him or her. What you will find is that people generally love to talk about themselves and their passion around their work. Here are some questions you might ask:

  1. How did you get involved in __________?  OR What made you decide to get into the __________ business?
  2. What kind of background do you have in this field? OR Tell me a little about your background.
  3. What do you enjoy most in __________?
  4. What are some things you don’t enjoy?
  5. What was easy/tough about getting into this area?
  6. What would you suggest I need to do to get into __________?

While you are getting to know your contact on this level, s/he is also getting to know you. Your contact could potentially be helpful to you should you decide to go forward.

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Keep in mind that you are meeting with this person to explore what’s possible in your transition. Be prepared with your side of the story. Talk about why you want to become a _________. Speak to your excitement around the possibilities.

Knowledge is power. The more you know about what you want, the easier it is to make decisions around the transition AND the easier it is to be specific when asking for support from your network contacts.

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In my next blog, I’ll be addressing staying on your current career path but wanting to change organizations.

As usual, I welcome your comments and questions. Also feel free to suggest topics that you’d like read about.

Regards,

Peg

coachpeg@peoplegrowthllc.com
www.peoplegrowthllc.com

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