3 Powerful Strategies for Your Career Change

3 Powerful Strategies for Your Career Change

By Mark McCurdy

Start with the mission not your resume

Choosing your mission is a journey and starts with identifying what values and interests are MOST important to you and what you enjoy doing the most. This does not have to be a lengthy self-assessment but rather a thoughtful look at what has been most important to you in your life. What do you absolutely love doing? What problems do to you love to solve? What do you like to teach to others?

Related: Career transition? Focus on mission not your resume

Focus on one sector

When you’re making a career switch, focus on one sector to research and become really familiar with that industry. Trying to research many different types of social impact organizations can feel unmanageable, will take more time and will make it harder to network. The more focused your resume, cause letter (cover letter) and professional profiles are positioned for your new target sector, the better.

Do yourself a favor and focus on one main sector to pursue for your switch. If you’re switching sectors, stay in the same function – i.e. if you’re currently in sales in one industry and you want to switch sectors, target fundraising and development in the nonprofit sector – not some new role, like administration.

Related: Develop Focus

Give it before you get paid for it

The Red Cross was started by volunteers before it became an international nonprofit organization. Michael Jordan payed basketball for the fun of it, and did not get paid for it early in his career. Madonna was singing before she was a music sensation. I started coaching friends on careers before I became a paid career coach. The point is if you are doing something because you love it and not getting paid, this is a great path to figuring out which career path to take and make an even bigger impact.

Related: Strategic Volunteering your guaranteed ROI