I like my calendar full of color-coded activities and to-dos every week. As a teen, this mostly included high school sports, homework, college prep, piano lessons, and time with friends/family. While at Coastal Carolina University, I studied lots while working full-time, was involved in many clubs and fellowships on campus, and somehow made time to build friendships that I can confidently say are lifelong relationships. As I have entered my 20s, my focus has been on building healthy habits, cultivating intentional relationships, creating self-love routines, and navigating career shifts.
Navigating Career Shifts 101
Here are the best practices for navigating career shifts in your 20s:
- Don’t hesitate to reach out to companies that interest you. I have a specific LinkedIn, Career Shift, and Email strategy I use. Research the company mission, values, culture, etc.
- Pick up the phone and cold call and elevator-pitch via emails. I’ll share the exact question/intro template I’ve used to land many of my dream-company interviews. More on this below.
- Create a system for logging notes from conversations you have with everyone that relates to a potential career opportunity or industry connection. I organize my contacts with a system I created in college called the “Network Nest.” More on this below.
- Take time to ask yourself questions like: “What kind of job aligns with my personal goals both now and over the next few years? What are my money aspirations and how will the industry I’m most qualified for support me financially? What are my work styles and what management style do I thrive within best?”
- What does your ideal working situation look like? This inquiry can help you tailor interview questions towards creating a career that helps you excel while creating a balance between work and home.
Where to Look for Jobs
When it comes to making a career shift, it’s beneficial to first reach out to current connections, family, and friends. Then to research with a broad vision what companies, industries, and positions you are interested in. Following research, it’s time to connect through emails, phone calls, coffee meetings, etc. Then bring the process full circle by submitting job applications, logging notes from conversations/interviews, and sending thank you notes to those who helped you along the way.
Let’s talk referrals, research, and reaching out.
Referrals
The first step when looking for a new job is to start mentioning in conversations with friends and family that you are open for new employment. This can be difficult for a few reasons.
- You feel some imposture syndrome about asking for help
- You don’t want people to know that you aren’t currently employed or unhappy/restless
But, let’s put those reasons to rest and instead replace them with thoughts such as: I have built a community that supports my career journey, and I can be open to help.
Friends and family often know about job openings at their company or a friends but they won’t think to mention them if they think you are content with your current position.
Research
After starting the career conversation with friends, family, and other connections, it’s time to start researching companies you’re attracted to. From college to now, I have transitioned from an interest in wine and spirits distribution, to fashion styling, to project management roles, to sales positions, office management, and now am working in the medical field.
It’s beneficial to start broad and then to narrow your interests. The narrowing happens through talking to people that are currently in roles you think might be a good fit. Or when after researching the company, you see that the mission and/or value system does not align you’re your own. While your qualifications might align with a job description this doesn’t mean the position is a good fit. In my experience, it’s happened many times that after I speak with someone about a role, I realize this position is not what I originally thought and then can move on with the job search, knowing that I have exhausted that possibility.
Reaching Out
LinkedIn, Career Shift, and in-person networking events are all great ways to find contacts and start growing your network. The first step for reaching out to contacts is to make sure your profile is up-to-date with a professional headshot, valid work experience, and any other accolades or badges. Alongside this preparation, go ahead and update your resume with the most current version so that you’re ready to email it to the connections you’ve made.
Next, have a three-sentence introduction message ready to send out on platforms like LinkedIn. There is an option to send a note when you ask to connect with someone and there is a limit of 200 characters, so think along the lines of that length when you are cold calling and elevator-pitch emailing. These are both great ways to catch the attention of an employer and to quickly demonstrate ways you are qualified and could benefit the company.
This introduction message should include any relation you already have to the person, why you’re reaching out, and end with a brief actionable item. For example, one variation of an intro message I send out reads:
Hi ______,
I applied to a few positions on _____ job portal and would love to speak with you about your experience at ______. I have a variety of work/intern experience in communications/marketing approaches, sales, & finance and know I could benefit IQVIA.
Do you have any call availability month/day?
Thank you in advance.
-Allie
In addition to making that first step of reaching out to contacts online/in person, I have mentioned cold calling and elevator-pitch emailing a few times in the post but want to give you my exact approach. Below are actionable ways you can start creating a career support system today.
How to Cold Call and Email Pitch Yourself
When prepping for a cold call or to pitch myself via email, I always start by rehearsing a small introduction, plan a few small-talk points, find any connections I might already have with them, and have knowledgeable questions ready to ask.
- Introduce yourself with a brief name, location, and education status, before sharing why you’re reaching out and how their position in the industry relates to you.
- Small-talk comment to break the ice. Try for something non-controversial that is happening in the world, something you saw on their LinkedIn or Facebook that you have in common “I see on your LinkedIn page that you are affiliated with Equestrian Non-Profits, do you ride horses?”
- Mention how you found their contact information: “I found your contact information on LinkedIn and am intrigued by what you do.” Or “I am interested in your job title because ________.”
- Possibly the most important step after researching the person you’re contacting, is to have educated questions ready to ask. When you cold call, you are fully responsible for the conversation’s tone and the information yields. There’s a quote I heard recently, “The answer is always no if you never ask.”
The Qs I Use for Career Shifts
-What is one piece of advice they wish they would have known before entering the
workforce?
-Any advice on transitioning from college to career or from one career to a new industry?
-If you are interested in the specific location they live in: How the career-culture in this location?
-If interested in the company they work for: How is the company culture?
-Is it okay if I reach out to you again?
-Do you have any recommendations on contacts I should reach out to next?
-“Thank you so much for making the time to talk with me, I appreciate your advice and insight.”
Successful Women Have This
After working on the intangible factors for creating and pivoting through career shifts, it’s time to think about tangible presentation—fashion for the office. When picking out professional, office-approved outfits, remember this:
- Visual first impressions are HUGE. This includes attention to posture and body language, wearing tailor-fitted and pressed clothing, and choosing clothes that help you feel confident and powerful.
- Find what colors ways compliment your completion. For me, I like to stick with light blues, blush tones, and pale pinks. You can say a lot in an interview with just the color blouse you chose to wear.
Blue: Responsible, strong, calm, friend, service-minded, reliable
Green: Rational, mediating, steady perspective, and down to earth
Purple: Creative, energetic, innovative, quality, and eagerness
Fashion Ideas for the Office
More outfit ideas on my blog post: 20 Closet Classics That Stand the Test of Time
CONCLUSION
Above all, successful women have designer value systems that yield confident decision making when navigating career shifts in the 20s and beyond. Repeat after me:
Successful women care about their health through food and fitness
Successful women follow up and send thank you notes
Successful women are kind to everyone, no matter their status
Successful women display honesty in public and in private
Successful women are ambitious and have courage in the face of change
Now go challenge yourself to live at your highest level!
xxx Allie
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