What to do when your career transition journey stalls out
By Jim Wiederhold
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that insanity is defined as “doing the same things and expecting different results.” It’s a common saying because we all know it to be true: if you keep repeating the same actions, you will get the same outcomes.
It can be very difficult for people to change the way they do something, even when their approach isn’t working. This is one of the reasons why career transitions and job searches can stall out. In your career transition journey, as in life, to get the results you’re after, it is necessary to make changes.
Check your awareness and willingness to change.
Let’s say you’re not doing well in your transition. You believe you’re doing things right and following what you believe to be good advice, but you’re just not getting the results you want. Are you aware that your process, or perhaps your behavior or overall attitude, isn’t working? Once you’re able to see that your efforts aren’t sufficient, you must be willing to do the hard work of making a change.
Gather more info.
Once people acknowledge, “I’ve got to do better,” they often realize they don’t know what they don’t know. You can learn this process in books and resources, but do you really have the time to invest in that research? It could take months and years to gain the skills you would need to be at the top of your game. There’s a ton of material on career-related topics, but for many people I’ve worked with during their transition, the tidal wave of research doesn’t seem to be absorbed and translated into meaningful, helpful action.
