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No 65                                                                               August 2005

Want to Work for Yourself or Work Portfolio? - Part 2

Continuing from the last NEWORKer the list of myths that discourage the entry to Portfolio work

This is a common myth which most of us have experienced at some time or another. We feel dissatisfied or no longer challenged, so we begin to search for a new role to give us the learning curve we crave. Unfortunately, when we’re unclear about exactly what it is that we feel is missing, we often find that once the honeymoon period has come and gone, we’re left with the same old feelings we had before. Getting clear about what’s missing in your current career is the best step to take before you move on to a new role. You’re also able to still maintain an income while you explore your options, which can take some of the pressure off you in terms of needing to "get a job as soon as possible".

Many articles I’ve read have been designed to help people who are looking for a change in their careers. Of course the flip side of this scenario is that many people are happy in their current roles and don’t want to change. If you’re one of these people, don’t feel that you should change or move on because that is what’s expected of you. It’s true that many people do move to new roles every two to three years to advance their careers or experience. But there’s no unwritten rule that says everyone should be taking the same approach to their careers. If you’re happy where you are then more power to you – stick with it, and enjoy the ride.

A more common myth than you may realise. Many people feel like they’re the only ones who haven’t "sussed out" what they want to do with their careers. Add this feeling of frustration to the confusion you may already be feeling and it can amount to some pretty powerful emotions. Research tells us that we can make between four and seven career changes in a lifetime. Some people have more. So based on this research, believe that you’re not the only one walking around feeling the way you do. Some may hide it better than others, internalise their feelings or may have given up trying to find their ideal career. Regardless of how others may choose to handle their career transition, by acknowledging your own feelings and taking action you’re already ahead of the game.

A CV is a varied animal. The type and size of CV is the subject of debate, debate, and more debate. It’s always a good idea to keep your CV up to date even if you’re quite content in your current role. However, when you do decide to research new career options, remember that you’re on an information gathering exercise only. You’re not looking for a new job at this stage, so it’s OK if your CV is not up to date. In fact, it is often recommended that it is unnecessary to take the CV along for a coffee too when you're meeting with a contact to gather information. This is because you’re meeting with your contact to gather information about possible new roles. By taking along your CV, you have just changed the context of your meeting to one of job hunting. This not only puts pressure on your contact to help you find a role, but let’s be honest, can look a trifle sneaky. You asked them to meet with you to gather information – that’s the agenda for the meeting so stick with it. By all means, if they ask you for a copy of your CV, then feel free to supply them with one - later. If they don’t, you still got what you wanted – information from which to make your career choices and a more informed perspective from which to tailor your CV to go for the roles you want to pursue.

An interesting myth, which relates to a recurring sense that something "isn’t quite right". Another word for ‘transition’ is ‘evolution’. I like this word because it reflects the synergy that exists between ourselves and our careers. We accept that evolution exists in our private lives but sometimes forget that our careers need to evolve too. By re-assessing your career on a regular basis, you’re able to ensure that it grows and changes to meet your needs as you develop at a personal level. Sometimes we ignore any signs that our career needs to move to the next level – but these feelings will always reoccur until you face them and make the changes you need to make.

It is true that many people make a change in their employment every two to three years to build on their expertise or to advance in their careers. However, if you do like the organisation you’re currently with, why not take a different approach? Becoming clearer about what you want from your career enables you to make decisions based on facts about yourself and what you feel is missing in your current role. From this position, you’re able to discuss alternative career options with your employer/principal and in some cases – create the role you’re seeking. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to career planning – so go with what works for you.

My response to this myth is : No one can tell you what you ‘should’ be doing for a career. Sure, there are many career orientation assessments, which provide indicators of careers that would suit your personality or behavioural style. But at the end of the day – there’s only one person who truly knows the answer – and that’s you. A career coach, may help clients find the answer(s) by asking the right questions and by bringing an objective perspective to their situation. So although you may not feel that you have the answers to your career quest right now, that doesn’t mean that you never will. It may just indicate that you haven’t asked yourself the right questions yet or may not have given yourself permission to have what you want.

Granted, not many of us are lotto winners, so securing an income is a pretty essential reason why most of us work. But wouldn’t it be nice to be able to actually enjoy what you do for a living AND secure an income too? Many of us have been conditioned to believe otherwise, but trust me, it is possible to have both. Still not convinced? Then try on this perspective for size. Often, the times when we have enjoyed our work the most have been times when we’ve been using skills and abilities that come naturally to us. These are our innate gifts that are unique to all of us. If we’re pursuing a career that embraces these gifts and channels our energy in a positive way – it stands to reason that we’ll be good at what we do. So, wouldn’t it be logical that we would receive an appropriate monetary reward for doing something that we’re good at? That much we have been conditioned to expect. Although earning money to pay our bills is important, it’s equally important to ensure that it does not become our primary reason or motivator for working. If it does then we can miss out on so much more.

This myth often comes from a position of ‘perception’ rather than from a position of ‘fact’. Until you understand why you want to make a career change and have fully researched your options, how do you know for sure? You also need to be honest about whether you’re using this myth as an excuse not to try by giving yourself an ‘out clause’. If this is the case, then there are other underlying issues which you may need to explore before you consider making a career change. Either way, if this myth sounds familiar – do your homework and find out if this is truly fact or fiction before ruling out a career choice.

The discussions have continued and thus there's more and they will be included in the next NEWORKer

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