As a Certified Professional Coach and Leadership Coach in particular, I do a lot of career development coaching. In my professional experience, prior to my career change, I had the opportunity to meet many people who taught me or helped me in one way or another. One day in particular, I received this wonderful piece of advice from my manager, which is a mistake I’ve seen a lot of people make ever since.
Today, as a coach working more with women, I can see that it’s particularly common among us at the start of our careers, and even among those in more senior positions.
Aujourd’hui en tant que Coach, et travaillant davantage avec les femmes, je vois que c’est particulièrement commun chez nous, en début de carrière et même chez celles qui ont des postes plus confirmés.
So what’s the worst mistake you can make in your career?
The worst mistake in terms of career strategy… is not having one. A strategy.
Waiting for weariness, dissatisfaction, exhaustion or even burnout before thinking about your next career step is a very common mistake.
One of the most important pieces of career advice you’ll hear is this:
Don’t wait until you want to change jobs, before thinking about your next position…
You’ve landed a job (yay!). You’re happy; the salary suits you, the assignments seem interesting, and your colleagues are probably nice.
Maybe you even feel that in this position you’ll be able to make a real contribution to something meaningful for you, which will make you feel fulfilled. Great!
As soon as you pass the peak following your onboarding, so that period you need to feel competent and comfortable in your position, these few months, I advise you to start questioning yourself – all the more so if you don’t already have an idea or a career plan. Even if you do have a career plan, it’s time to be strategic.
Why think about your career as soon as you’re comfortable in your new position?
We often hear that it takes 2 to 3 years to validate a position.
That’s not what I’m questioning here. What I’m saying is don’t wait until the end of this experience to think about the next one, at the risk of not maximizing this experience. It could be so much more intentional, and meaningful!
Because if all goes well, and you like the experience, you might want to move up in the company (or outside, for that matter), and that’s something to look forward to.
Because if you’re not sure you like it, you’ll need to have the energy to find something else. Don’t wait until you run out of energy!
And finally, because you should always ask yourself questions.
Have regular check-ins with yourself. How do you know where you stand if you don’t take the time to check in?
Questions to ask yourself
- Am I satisfied with my place in life?
- Am I aligned with my choices?
- Does my job give me the fulfillment I’m looking for professionally?
- Where do I see myself in 2 or 5 years?
If you’re satisfied and hope to progress in your current career, what experiences or skills would you like to create or develop in order to position yourself for the next step?
You can enlist the help of a Coach to create a career plan that suits you and that really fulfills you, and start taking the necessary actions to achieve it.
If you’re not satisfied, what adjustments do you need to make? Would you like to have the same position in another company, more in line with your values, or simply to change sector? If so, once you’ve thought more deeply about what you’re looking for, you’ll still have the energy you need to apply for new offers and prepare properly for your interviews to give your best.
You can also choose to be accompanied by a specialist coach to help you find clarity and make sure you find your answers effectively.
If you’re not satisfied at all, keep in mind that the trial period is also a 2-lane street, so you too have the right to end the experience if it doesn’t suit you in the end and look for a better fit.
If you’re already too tired, or in burnout, then what are your options for getting some rest? Can you take some time off, or take more nature walks? And / or what activities give you energy? Do you love to paint and haven’t touched a brush in 10 years? Maybe now’s the time. Find an activity that really gets you going, and stick with it for a while to give yourself a boost while you think about what to do next.
Consider working with a coach to understand how to avoid repeating this experience or at least find a better opportunity for you quickly.
Careers are strategic too, and they need to be planned!
What’s your career strategy?
If you’d like to discuss your career and ambitions free of charge, we can talk about it and see if it would be a good time for you to be accompanied by a Career Development Coach.