Ah, my peers and mentors. Thank you for patiently waiting for your chapter of this blog series…I made it to “us” and how NYC impacts our careers and our choices. Lets just say, there is so much to cover and though every one of us has different circumstances, I am going to kick off this conversation by sharing the top ten hot topics I hear in any given calendar month. This conversation happens at work, on the playground, at the nail salon, in the supermarket, on the bus- anywhere and everywhere I go as I must be a magnet for every single New York Tri State Area grown up looking for change or reason to change.
The difference between us and the generations I covered before us, is we come to this place with a very different perspective…whether it be life change, a shift of expectation or priority, or frankly the deep breath attitude of a group of people who have accepted that work is work…not summer camp…and we use it to find a means to an end… to better our lives outside of the office and if we are fortunate, we find personal joy in what we do.
“I can’t do the hours I used to put in.”
“My commute is killing me, I don’t see my children.”
“I don’t want to travel as much anymore.”
“I am scared of change. I have been here so long.”
“I need to figure out a new avenue, but don’t know where to start.”
“I took time after my kids were born, I want to go back, but not the same way.”
“I want to use my skills in a different way and no one will take me seriously.”
“Staying home full time is not for me, working full time is not for me.”
“I can do so many things but can’t afford to try.”
“I keep interviewing and I can’t seem to get anyone to respond to me.”
My answer for all of these conversation starters is generally the same and I ask you to take a moment to answer these questions thoughtfully and honestly and openly. Something tells me my next mini blog series will dive deeper in HOW to actually manifest your next chapter (more to come on consulting, freelancing, and MORE!)…but this one is meant to discuss change/professional pivot in relation to our home base- NYC. Our best asset and our achilles heel.
If you seek change… WHY?
In an ideal world, what do you want to do?
What are you SKILLED to do?
What else CAN you do with the skills you have already cultivated?
Can you work without BENEFITS?
What is the LEAST amount of money you can earn in order to leave your home every single day? ***
***My asterisks are on the last line because sadly, though we are in the land of opportunity, that opportunity to change rarely comes at your current salary. To try something new, to return to work after a personal gap of time to switch gears or professionally pivot, we normally have to take a pay cut.
Is MONEY everything? Here in NYC, of course. Emotionally, No.
Before you can take a leap or I can give you a professional hug or vote of confidence or set your ship on a sailing path…you need to have a heartfelt conversation with yourself…What I call STAGE 1 of a professional pivot…what are you willing to do? What are you willing to accept? What are you willing to change? Know all of these things and speak them fluently before you start your search for new.
I believe in the power of your mind and energy. I have seen its work day in and day out for the last 12 years. If you want something new and you focus on it, believe in it, say yes instead of no, open your mind… it will manifest (within reason). This is not a simple sentence. As we get older, we say NO all too often. We close open doors intentionally and innocently.
With that said, no one is paying you 275K to work 3 days from home from 8-2pm with benefits. So, let’s get over it. If you don’t approach the change with a dose of reality and already having eaten your slice of humble pie, the new chapter can NOT begin. We can’t create a new life without leaving every single preconception and expectation behind with our old life.
When people start their “what do I do now” chat with me, I cover the above material delicately. It’s emotional. It’s invasive. It’s hard to talk about. It crosses grey lines on every level and pushes buttons that we even didn’t have at 25. I have to speak tough love and if you come to me still in “STAGE 1”, this will sting and I want to avoid that… Once we are on the same page, I start on your resume (STAGE 2).
Your resume is a tool to get what you want… it’s not a diary. Also, your computer skills and your social media skills should be on it because otherwise you are going to look frankly over the hill and you won’t come up in key searches online. Rule of thumb, I don’t care if you were President of the United States, I don’t want you on more that 2 pages …especially if you want something new. Recruiters don’t want to see the 3 pages of accomplishments that don’t apply to their current opening. They want to hire exactly who they intended to hire and don’t want to know why you could fit their mold… They want to hire someone who is the mold.
Usually- this is the ‘aha moment’ because my audience has hired people before and know first hand that I am speaking truth… (Would you interview a swimwear designer when you had an opening for a denim designer?)
I sell and coach strategy. My strategy is I want my candidates to be self-confident, assured, diversified, and open minded …but I want their resumes to look like the opening they set out to attain. Your resume is your paper trail and what is left behind after you tremendously great in-person impression. It should be tailored each and every time you go out the door so that weeks later the recruiter can remember why you were right for your “professional pivot” opportunity and not why you were wrong.
My grandmother always said “Que Sera Sera” and I have built a business over the course of the last 12 years that proves that true… my advice (any recruiter’s advice) is just that…advice…because whatever is meant for next is already written for you. It’s the journey that allows you to reach your set goals. We are old enough to know first hand and sometimes we need a firm hand at the small of our backs to remind us how to “just do it”. Take off your own handcuffs, do the above work and set your mind to what is around the bend. Anything is possible- especially in NYC. There is always someone to network with, to dream big with… Never give up. Find your inspiration and joy again … and remember your WHY.
I would be honored to help you chase your next dream as we are never too old to learn something new. We may just have to be a little broke again… silver lining, we will feel 20 something again? Thanks, NYC!
Marissa*
