The right way to explore job options

Pervin Malhotra
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Q.After working in the media for several years, I find that my interests have changed. I wish to change my line while I’m still young. But how do I find the time to explore the options while still holding a full-time job? — Makrand Wagle

A.No matter where you are in your career or how much you enjoy it, you’ll find that if you don't do something new to shake things up at regular intervals, you’ll easily end-up doing exactly what you’re doing today. And yesterday.

However, re-careering or making a mid-career change, calls for a lot of soul searching, a great deal of stocktaking, planning and research. And if you’ve never done it before, it can be a bit scary. Here are some useful time saving tips from those who’ve successfully managed to do just that.

After taking stock of your skills and interests, identify your strengths so you can capitalise on them. Explore fields related to your work for starters because the transition will be that much smoother.

• Keep at it! Use every spare hour you can find. Press evenings, weekends and lunch-breaks into service. The more you explore, the more you’l learn. The internet is a great tool. The more you learn, the better poised you’ll be to act.
• Do your entire initial planning and homework after office hours. Later, use this time to write thank-you notes, correspond, etc.
• Put your lunch hour to work to call upon potential prospects, leads etc. If you carry a dry lunch, it will enable you to keep one (not-too-long) appointment. If you do it regularly over a period, you’ll be amazed at how many leads you’ve managed to pursue.
• Make use of your sick-leave, if you have any due, for the same purpose. It’s better to use it now when you need it most, than to cash it in at the time of leaving. 

Similarly, make the most of your vacation — if you’re dead serious about a career change, it’s no great sacrifice. This comes in particularly handy if you need to go outstation. Schedule your appointments so you can squeeze in a spot of vacationing on the side.

n If you still feel you need more concentrated time to visit a whole list of people and places, take leave without pay. No one will deny you a week off for “personal business” if it’s scheduled in advance.

n Review your findings with trusted family and friends. They can be good sounding boards.

Be prepared to take less money initially and work hard to learn new skills. It could even be a part-time or contract job or even a spot of moonlighting.

Remember, reinvention is not an overnight process. Learning new skills needs to be reinforced with the humility to accept lateral or even lower-grade assignments. A “beginner’s mindset” will certainly help. 

Set yourself a time limit. Give yourself a year to see how it goes. Above all, keep at it, even when you find your enthusiasm flagging at times. You need to ‘drive’ yourself to succeed.

Utilise time

• Fix meetings straight after work. Many senior managers and businesspeople work late. Estimate the time it will take you to go across, and make sure you don’t keep anyone waiting.
• Use holidays to maximum advantage. If you’re in govt. service or working in a school or college, you’ll have far more holidays than most business people or organizations. Use them to chat-up people who are actually working in the field and for exploring further leads.