10 Steps to Optimize Your Mid-Career Transition

If you're mid-career and beyond and #opentowork or searching for your next role, what can you do to use this time effectively?


 1. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 on the 2-3 job titles and industries that are most exciting to you. Stop applying indiscriminately. It rarely works. If you don't know what you want to do next, get connected to people in those roles and ask for 15 minutes of their time, or ask to send them a few questions via email. Good, open-ended questions are: how do you spend your day? What do you love about your role? What's your next step? Do you have any advice for me?
    
 2. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝟱-𝟭𝟬 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝘁 for you, based on where you want to take your career. Questions to research include: What are the goals or mission? What is the leadership like? The Board? What is the culture like? Is there a ladder to climb? If any of those aren't in line with what you want, don't waste your time.
    
 3. Use the company pages on LinkedIn and other search sites to identify roles that are a fit for you at your desired companies.
    
 4. Check to see if you or any of your connections are connected to people at those companies - LinkedIn makes this easy. Reach out to ask them more about working there. Really try to get a feel for whether it's a match for you.
    
 5. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.
    
 6. Write a cover letter or intro email that speaks even more specifically to how you will knock their goals out of the park, and the leadership qualities you will bring to the role.
    
 7. Apply via the preferred method. Connect with the recruiter if they're listed on the job description. Send a quick message to let them know you applied. You may not get a response here and that's okay!
    
 8. Reach out to anyone who is connected there or could help you get connected. Ask them to forward your resume to the hiring team.
    
 9. If a week goes by with no response, follow up. Prepare for interviews. Continue to research companies and go back through the steps. Networking and connecting to people in the roles and companies you want to be in is a much faster way to a new job.
    
10. Don't lose hope! It's much better to take a bit more time to move on than to move on quickly and end up looking again. You've got this!