In the rapidly changing world we live in, the importance of adapting and reshaping our career trajectories has never been more crucial. The tumultuous events of recent times have prompted individuals worldwide to reconsider their professional trajectories and envision new possibilities. To navigate this journey effectively, we propose a structured three-phase model: Re-imagine, Re-engage, and Re-emerge.

The re-imagine: reflecting and defining

The re-imagine phase of the model involves reflecting on personal and professional experiences. It encourages you to draw insights from your encounters with adversity and achieve success. By reflecting on both the highs and lows of these experiences, you can gain clarity on your aspirations and preferences for future careers. During the Re-imagine phase, it is important to establish the degree of change to your career and to be clear about what you want and need out of your career.

 

Establish the degree of change to your career

The seismic shifts brought about by significant events in recent years affected various industries and roles to varying degrees. Therefore, it becomes imperative to assess the degree of transformation required, whether it involves minor adjustments within your current role, like switching activities, or a complete reinvention in a new domain, for example pivoting to a new industry or embarking on obtaining different skill sets for a new profession. Consider what may be possible now that you did not think would be possible before.

Be clear about what you want and need out of your career

Clarity regarding your career preferences and objectives is paramount. Many individuals find themselves in roles that do not align with their inherent talents or interests. Hence, this phase offers an opportunity to evaluate career ‘fit’ and discern what truly resonates with your personal aspirations. Assessment tools can serve as valuable aids in this self-discovery process, highlighting areas of potential and guiding toward fulfilling career paths.

Equally, it is sometimes easier to know what you don’t want than what you do want. Therefore, take note of your past career pain points. Perhaps you do not enjoy routine work, working closely with others, or spending a large portion of your time on tasks that do not seem meaningful to you. Giving thought to seemingly simple things like whether you enjoy commuting to work, working from home, or having fixed or flexible working hours, will all indicate what you may want to incorporate or avoid in the future.

With the above-mentioned considerations and learnings in mind, clearly define a set of objectives for what your future career looks like as an output of the Re-imagine phase.

The re-engage: planning and implementation

Once you have clearly defined your future career objectives, the re-engage phase involves translating aspirations into actionable plans. James Clear, author of the best-selling book Atomic Habits, states “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems”. Hence, focus on establishing robust systems and frameworks to support the pursuit of your career objectives effectively.

As you re-engage in your career spend plenty of time evaluating and understanding exactly what is required of you to meet your specific objectives. Break down broad objectives into plans with clear focus areas and actionable steps.

Action plans should detail what skills (both technical and soft), learning and habits (e.g. networking) are needed. Furthermore, how these would be acquired. For example, one effective way to reskill and upskill is online courses and resources, which are more accessible now than ever before.

Building out an action plan gives you a comprehensive view of what will be required. It also creates more certainty and provides you with the roadmap to actioning your goals. Ensure that your action plan is realistic and achievable to increase the likelihood of sticking to it.

The re-emerge: adapting and connecting

The Re-emerge phase involves actively connecting with others, as well as, implementing your action plans, developing the skills and embedding the habits required to realise your re-imagined career objectives.

As you re-emerge, how you present yourself is paramount. Dedicate adequate time to formulating your professional profile. Ensure that your LinkedIn profile and CV are aligned to your new objectives and showcase your skills and experience effectively.

There are universal skills that will greatly assist with re-emerging, regardless of your career objectives. These include resilience, adaptability and flexibility. An ability to tolerate ambiguity will be essential. An adaptive mindset is important as you may find that you need to be more open and receptive to unusual and unfamiliar opportunities than you were in the past. Strong communication and advocacy skills to ask for what you need and drive the changes that you want to see. Other sought-after skills for those re-emerging in a world of work include solving complex problems, managing and working with remote teams, and navigating the transforming digital sphere. Finally, embrace a growth mindset and remain committed to continuous learning as you re-emerge in your career.

For any change, including career change, to be successful, the desired end-state and roadmap of how to get there should be clear. Our three-phase model outlines key considerations that will help you re-imagine your career objectives, re-engage through building out the necessary plans and re-emerge to start creating this future.

For further details or to explore how we can support your organisation, please reach out to us at letushelp@peoplewise.co.uk.