75. On Building Confidence in Making a Career Switch with Dr. Dawn Graham

Overview

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Dawn Graham, a career switch coach and author of "Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success."

If you are contemplating a career switch, this episode is for you. What I appreciate about Dawn’s approach in her book is that she tells you the really reallys, because she doesn’t want you to be surprised. We’ll have more resilience to get through the process if we have realistic expectations of what it will take to move from this to that.

Yet, for that reason, I start with why we should be optimistic about the process. What makes it worth it to step into making a career switch? Then we delve into aspects of the book and core principles Dawn lays out that help you get confident in your switch so you can show that confidence to hiring managers, giving them the confidence to hire you.

We cover a lot of ground also discussing being market focused, putting aside ego, and forming relationships with people who can become personal ambassadors. And a parting word of wisdom from Dawn that we champion here at Sustainable Ambition: pay attention to your career with a yearly check-in. Don’t go on autopilot.

Thank you so much for being on, Dawn! You offer switchers a great roadmap to get confident in making a change that will put them on a more fulfilling path.

More About Our Guest

Dr. Dawn Graham is a career switch coach, TEDx Speaker, LinkedIn Instructor and for 6 years was the host of the popular call-in show "Dr. Dawn on Careers" on SiriusXM Radio. She is also a regular contributor to Forbes.com and was formerly the Career Director for the Executive MBA Program at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dawn is the author of the book, "Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success," which combines her experience as a Career Coach, Licensed Psychologist, and former Corporate Recruiter to give career switchers the strategies to break through obstacles and land the job they want.

Topics Covered

  • We start with defining a career switch. What are the different types? They aren’t created equal in terms of ease of switching into something new.

  • Making a career switch isn’t easy, so I wanted to start with: why should people be motivated to make a career switch? What should they be optimistic about?

  • We then move into the realities, and that is where Dawn starts her book. She’s direct and up front about the challenges of making a career switch and prompts with questions to gauge one’s tolerance for a career switch. It’s better to have your expectations set up front and go in with eyes wide open.

  • A core principle of Dawn’s approach is to help you get confident in your switch so you can show that confidence to hiring managers, giving them the confidence to hire you.

  • One thing to know going into a career switch—it takes time. It is not a quick process. First you must identify what you even want to switch into, and then the process to get there can take time, as well. Plus, remember—when we switch careers it is tantamount to changing our identities. It takes time to figure out what new identity you want to step into.

  • While I believe you need to give yourself space and time to test things out, when you’re ready to start interviewing Dawn’s counsel is to focus solely on your Plan A. It’s in doing so that you can present a more confident and clearer story about what you want, again displaying that confidence to others.

  • I ask about what it takes to have the courage to step back to move forward, and Dawn shares how we need to put our ego aside and to remember that these steps back aren’t permanent.

  • Importantly with any job search, networking is critical, and it’s even more so with a career switch. Loose connections matter. Dawn frames the goal here as being about creating ambassadors for yourself. As she shares, the reality is that the job search process is social, even for introverts like herself. She encourages us all to reframe networking and see it as mutually beneficial. We can all help each other along our career journeys.

  • I ask Dawn about a career advice pet peeve of hers. She doesn’t believe in the mass approach, meaning mass emails and volume of outreach. She also says to customize your outreach and networking approach to what feels comfortable to you. Find something that you enjoy.

  • I close with asking Dawn given her broad experience with providing career advice what she’d say about managing our careers from decade to decade. She always starts with focusing on the market and asking people, “What challenge do you want to solve in the market today?” But she also says, “But I also think the way your career fits into your life changes for us decade to decade.” In our 20’s, we’re often exploring. In our 30’s, it tends to be a time where we develop an expertise, start a family, and make financial investments. Then it’s often in one’s 40’s and 50’s that one starts to consider a career switch, because new opportunities have developed in the market.

  • And Dawn’s parting wisdom we love and champion, as well: Pay attention! Every year spend time checking in and reviewing where you are at with your career.

Resources Mentioned

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75. On Building Confidence in Making a Career Switch with Dr. Dawn Graham

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2022-2Kathy OnetoRight Aspiration