Job Search? 7 Ways To Pivot With Purpose and Success In Mind
Kathleen Turner (L to R), Emily Dickens and Angilee Shah discuss career pivots at Take the Lead’s 2024 Power Up event.
Tens of thousands of people are newly out of work, let go, downsized, entering the job market after graduation, making for a crowded den of eager job candidates. Many were in shock and unprepared to leave positions they enjoyed and often excelled at doing. Others are new to an industry and looking for the best start.
Read more in Take The Lead on how to navigate career change
It is time to launch a career search for work that you find meaningful—and hopefully lucrative—no matter what rung of the career ladder you are on. Switch the narrative from what you lost or how hard a hill you must climb to the energizing, magnificent possibility you have to embark on the next phase of your work life.
“If you are job hunting, switch the narrative from what you lost or how hard a hill you must climb to the energizing, magnificent possibility you have to embark on the next phase of your work life. #jobsearch #career #opportunity”
Listen to Gloria Feldt on How To Pivot With Power
The Atlantic reports, “According to New York Federal Reserve, labor conditions for recent college graduates have “deteriorated noticeably” in the past few months, and the unemployment rate now stands at an unusually high 5.8 percent. Even newly minted M.B.A.s from elite programs are struggling to find work.” White-collar industries—especially technology—were among the hardest hit.”
According to Hiring Lab, “Policy-driven disruptions to the supply of goods, materials, tourism, and labor may prove to be significant headwinds to economic growth that will play out in the coming months and years.” Some industries, such as research and development are seeing a nearly 20% drop in job openings.” Hiring Lab also reports, “The share of workers who were long-term unemployed (out of work for 27 weeks or more) rose to 23.5% in April, the highest share in three years.”
Read more in Take The Lead on career pivots
In such a tight and unpredictable economy, why not just grab the first offer that comes along? Because your happiness and sense of joy is at stake. Psychology Today reports recently, “One study published in JAMA Network Open found that having a sense of purpose was linked to lower mortality rates in older adults. Another study in Psychological Science suggested that people with a strong sense of purpose experience better physical health outcomes and lower stress levels.” The author, Jordan Grumet M.D. adds, “Follow what lights you up. Small passions lead to big impact by fostering community and meaningful connection.”
“@JAMA Network Open found that having a sense of purpose was linked to lower mortality rates in older adults. People with a strong sense of purpose experience better physical health outcomes and lower stress levels.” #purpose #lifemission #work #health”
Read more in Take The Lead on career change
Take The Lead offers you seven (it’s a lucky number for many) strategies to make the process informative, meaningful and ultimately beneficial.
1. Learn as much as you can about pay. Whether it is about an industry you want to occupy, or a specific company. Research is the very first thing you need to do in order to prepare for a negotiation. According to Empower.com, “Some resources for gathering salary data include Glassdoor, Payscale, and Salary.com. Having data to back you up will help you remain confident in yourself. You’re not going after a random number; your salary request is based on market research.
Read more in Take The Lead on getting paid your worth
“Having data to back you up will help you remain confident in yourself. You’re not going after a random number; your salary request is based on market research. @glassdoor @linkedin @indeed #jobsearch #salary”
2. Dive deep into geographic trends. In a new report by Techr, that “analyzed the occupational employment and wage estimates from 2021 to 2024 compared to median salaries across states, via The Currency and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics database,” they came up with the “percentage difference between executive and worker pay was calculated to determine which U.S. states are experiencing the widest compensation divides.” According to the study, “South Dakota leads the nation with a 652% gap between CEO and median worker pay… The median salary sits at just $43,680, while executives command an average of $328,585 annually.
Wyoming reports the lowest compensation difference of 203% among all the states in the U.S.” Your potential employer could offer an in-person only job, or remote work, but knowing the trends will help you choose.
Read more in Take The Lead on best cities for women entrepreneurs
3. Prioritize your well-being in the search. Because you have the opportunity of a new opportunity, research the specific companies and industry to understand better the trends of the system in place for fairness, gender and racial parity and civic responsibility. Bestselling author and journalist Brigid Schulte writes about this in her new book, Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life, “Americans across all demographics, industries, and socioeconomic levels report exhaustion, burnout, and the wish for more time for meaningful lives. This full-system failure in our structure of work affects everything from inequality, to family stability, civic cohesion, and our health, wellbeing and quality of life.”
Schulte adds,” In cultures that put a premium on working long hours, devoting oneself body and soul to work, as in America, where appearing busy and being present trump output, performance or impact, then women and those with care responsibilities will never have fair opportunities to contribute, learn, grow, earn and lead.” See if your potential workplace has a good –or bad—reputation for prioritizing the wellness of its leaders, colleagues and all business associates.
“Devoting oneself body and soul to work, where appearing busy and being present trump output, performance or impact, then women and those with care responsibilities will never have fair opportunities to contribute, learn, grow, earn and lead.” @BrigidSchulte #overwork #burnout #wellness #balance ”
Read more in Take The Lead on managing wellness
4. Work on your experience capital. Don’t just send out 25 resumes a day, take some classes online in leadership, specific skills to your industry, and also learn how AI interacts with your field and how you can up your skills effectively. “Experience capital can be gained through employer-provided learning and development programs, through job changes that challenge you to add new skills to your repertoire, and by observing how colleagues and bosses handle complex tasks or tricky situations,” the Harvard Business Review reports. In an analysis of 86,000 workers, researchers found that men use their experience capital more effectively than women, and women can do more to help themselves.
Learn more here about Take The Lead’s new leadership training skills course
“Learn new skills, take on training and career improvement courses to stand out in a sea of applicants.” @takeleadwomen #courses #webinars #experience ”
5. Learn about the company’s values. This goes beyond salary, location, and the offerings of learning programs and skill enhancement. Harvard Business Review advises, “Find out about the culture. Learn everything you can about the CEO, the executive team, and your future boss: What are their values and leadership styles, and how do they interact with others? Consider the board of directors, too. How diverse is it in terms of background and expertise? Board members, after all, are the people who shape the organization from the very top.”
Learn more in Take The Lead on values-based leadership
6. Prepare mightily for the interview. Whether the interview is in person or on zoom, look professional and competent, and offer your take on the value of the company and what value you bring the company. Make no criticism at all of the system or the leadership, but instead say what you have accomplished in your leadership roles and what you are learning and what you can continue to learn there and offer to the company or organization. Update yourself on the latest news that impacts the company or the field. Congratulate them on an award or demonstrate awareness of the latest highlights in the field—announcements, developments. And listen for any hints of misogyny, sexism or difference. If you need to brush up on those, watch this video from a Dutch retailer asking male job candidates the biased questions women are often asked. And if your prospective employer asks these questions, crossthem off your list.
Learn more in Take The Lead on How To Interview
7. Know your story. The HR Director reports, “Drafting a strong personal narrative and developing an impactful elevator pitch allows women leaders to establish credibility and inspire change. By owning their story, women can position themselves as thought leaders and create lasting professional impact.” There is a reason that Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead, in her 9 Leadershop Power Tools offers the first Power Tool as “Know Your History: And you can create the future of your choice.” It is also keenly related to the final Power Tool #9: “Tell Your Story: Your story is your truth; your truth is your power. Telling your story authentically helps you lead (not follow) your dreams and have an unlimited life.” Women leaders must adapt their communication styles to foster collaboration, connection, and impact. Storytelling is a powerful tool that can evoke emotion, inspire teams, and drive meaningful change. Mastering contemporary communication techniques ensures that women leaders can effectively share their vision and rally support for their initiatives.”
“ @Takeleadwomen #PowerTool #9: “Tell Your Story. Your story is your truth; your truth is your power. Telling your story authentically helps you lead (not follow) your dreams and have an unlimited life.” @takeleadwomen #story #professionalbrand #narrative #career”
Learn more about The 9 Leadership Power Tools
In the 2024 Power Up Conference, iconic actor, advocate, philanthropist, instructor and author Kathleen Turner said she has continued to pivot in the mosaic that is her successful career. “Risk is everything,” she added. “I don’t take a job I know I can do. For me, every job is a risk to the point of failure.”
The winner of the Wear The Shirt Award at the 2023 Power Up Conference, Turner added, “If you are a talented communicator and have the power to change ideas, then the stories you choose to tell are essential.”
