Strategic Career Transition Planning Framework

7 Steps To Make A Career Pivot (Without Taking A Pay Cut): 1. Get Clear On The Switch The more different paths you pursue, the more your time and energy will be split. If you’re going to change careers, you need to focus on figuring out the specific role and industry you want to target. That way, you can invest 100% of your time, energy, and effort into that path. That’s going to make this process SO much easier. 2. Find Career Changers First, make a list of 5-10 companies in your current industry. Next, make a list of 5-10 companies in your target industry. Now go to LinkedIn and: - Search for your target job title - Add current industry companies to the “Past Companies” filter - Add target companies to the “Current Company” filter This will give you a list of everyone who transitioned from your current industry to your target industry! 3. Learn From Them Don’t reach out and ask for a referral. Instead, reach out and ask for guidance. Tap into your common ground of this transition. Ask them: - What mistakes to avoid - What skill gaps you need to close - How to position your experience - For intros to colleagues These people are the best guides because they’ve successfully made the transition you want. 4. Habitually Upskill Even if you have transferable skills, employers want to see that you’re invested in this change. Create a practice of consistently working to build skills in the new space. - Read books - Take courses - Listen to podcasts - Etc. Not only will this make you more prepared, it will provide evidence you can use in networking and interviews to show you want to hit the ground running. 5. Use Your Background To Your Advantage Most people on your target team will have similar backgrounds. Play into that! Talk about how your non-traditional background: - Lets you bring a new perspective - Has pushed you to learn this industry yourself - Allows you to bring new solutions to the table - Etc. 6. Focus On Future Value Research your target companies to learn about their goals, challenges, and initiatives for the next 6-12 months. Focus your efforts on addressing those in networking conversations and interviews. This will allow you to shift the conversation away from your non-traditional background (which you want to avoid) and towards the company’s needs (what they care about most). 7. Create A Value Validation Project This will seal the deal for you. For each company you land a referral at, create a slide deck that: - Shows the research you’ve done - Highlights a set of problems/opportunities - Provides solutions/ideas to each of them This will show the hiring team you can do the work in this role.

Career transitions aren't about finding a new train track to ride to career advancement—they're about mastering the rock climb. Here's the framework I use with clients to help them pivot successfully: Step 1: Identify Your True Pain Point Before making any move, ask yourself: Is it your boss you dislike or the actual work? Is it the industry or just your company culture? One client was ready to leave her entire field until we discovered she only needed an internal transfer away from a toxic boss—saving months of job searching while keeping her seniority. Step 2: Apply the W.I.S.E. Framework Don't jump straight to job applications. First, analyze: Workplace needs: What motivates you at work? Industries: Which sectors will you thrive in? Skills/Roles: What work uses your skills/strengths? Experience: What experience can you leverage in your transition? Step 3: Become the Entrepreneur of Your Career The ultimate goal? Complete ownership of your professional destiny. This mindset shift is everything. Your experience is your product, and you must position it differently for different opportunities. Feeling stuck? Successful job seekers prioritize and compromise.  Use “forced choice” to help you prioritize what’s most important to you and narrow down your options. Here's a question for deeper reflection... How does your past experience prepare you for the roles you're targeting now? #Careers #JobSearch #LinkedInTopVoices

🎯 Looking for a clear framework to guide your job search? Here are 9 practical steps to build a strategic career transition plan: 1. Assessments: Use tools like Gallup StrengthsFinder or YouMap® to identify your strengths, values, and preferred skills. This insight helps ensure alignment with company culture and roles that match your interests. 2. Leadership Style: Whether you lead teams or contribute individually, prepare to explain how you influence outcomes, especially in today’s hybrid world. 3. Career Story: Write out your full career journey. What prompted each move? What did you learn? Identify patterns and tie them back to your strengths and values. 4. Career Results: Gather your top achievements. Quantify your impact using metrics—%, $, # to shape a strong resume and LinkedIn content. 5. Career Narrative: Can you deliver a compelling 3–5 minute “Tell me about yourself”? Break your story into thirds and note key themes to keep it focused. 6. Resume & LinkedIn: Use your story and results to build a targeted resume. Optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords and messaging that speaks to your ideal audience. 7. Interview Prep: Deconstruct job descriptions. Craft SOAR stories (Situation, Obstacles, Action, Result) and practice clearly delivering them. 8. Job Search Strategy: Skip the “apply and hope” method. Be intentional. Prioritize relationship-building and outreach over volume. 9. Thought Leadership: What are you known for? Share your insights. Build a personal brand that reflects your expertise and values. — This is the foundation of my upcoming book, "Qualified Isn't Enough," which will be published on 9/9/25. 💡 A strategic search starts with knowing yourself. Take the time to build your foundation before jumping in. 🔗 Here is the link to my Forbes Coaches Council article describing this in more detail: Career Velocity: The Nine-Step System To Help You Win Leadership Roles #CareerVelocity #QualfiedIsntEnough