EvolveMe is thrilled to partner with Alisha Miranda Fernandez, author of My What If Year, for the first season of her wonderfully fun and smart new podcast Extra Shot – giving you an extra jolt of inspiration to start your day!
And there’s more….EvolveMe is hosting “Ask Judy & Linda” career advice segments on Alisha’s podcast, where we answer burning questions from the audience!
Check out our first Ask Judy & Linda segment featuring a compelling and multilayered question from a listener who is at a career inflection point as a new mother. She wants to make a pivot to explore her passion, but she’s not sure how to move into a new industry after a long career as a civil engineer.
Here’s the entire question below. There’s a lot here, so we’ve broken our response into bite-sized pieces. See what resonates with you!
I've been a civil engineer my entire 9-year career, and I often find myself dreaming of what could have been, or more so, what could still be. In the beginning, I was making career decisions based on what was easy or most beneficial instead of what I was passionate about. After I use my maternity leave benefit this year, I feel like I will have gotten everything I need out of this career. I want to set a positive example for my daughter of enjoying going to work. Life is too short to be unhappy for 40+ hours a week!
I tried switching careers over a year ago, applied to 13 entry-level jobs in various industries, and got zero feedback. Most of the companies didn't even bother to reject me, I was completely ignored. I was overqualified for all these positions and just wanted a chance to explain my desire to try something new.
How should I convince people to give me a chance in an industry when I don't have experience?
Most jobs don't allow the flexibility to take a month off of work to pursue an unpaid internship; I would have to quit my high-paying job in order to take that path. Without "testing the waters" through an internship, I'm afraid I'll choose a new career that won't be what I imagine, and I may fall into these unsatisfied feelings again.
Do any of these questions resonate with you? Read on for our advice!
Q: I've been a civil engineer my entire 9-year career, and I often find myself dreaming of what could have been, or more so, what could still be.
In the beginning, I was making career decisions based on what was easy or most beneficial instead of what I was passionate about.
Judy & Linda: First, lose any regret about your first role. Going with what comes naturally and what you can get paid for are good foundations for a career!
It’s so common for women to second guess themselves regarding career and life decisions they made in the past based on where they are now - or because they’re comparing themselves with others.
You have a daughter now and are in a different life stage - it’s natural you might want something different, with more purpose, now.
Life events like motherhood often make us think differently about what we want out of our careers.
Q: After I use my maternity leave benefit this year, I feel like I will have gotten everything I need out of this career. I want to set a positive example for my daughter of enjoying going to work. Life is too short to be unhappy for 40+ hours a week!
Judy & Linda: Think about what aspects of your earlier roles you enjoyed, then reflect on what’s missing for you now. This will help you start to gain clarity about your new direction. Gaining clarity about what you want to do next is the most important step in launching a next chapter.
When you think about what’s missing, is it possible you might be able to find what you’re looking for within your own career by shifting roles?
Q: I tried switching careers over a year ago and applied to 13 entry-level jobs in various industries and got zero feedback.
Judy & Linda: Career pivot doesn’t mean entry level if you take stock of your transferable skills, both technical and “soft” skills - from both in and out of the workplace - and recast them into a new role.
Think about the leadership and organizational skills you’ve gained as a civil engineer: Problem-solving, project management, critical thinking, working with deadlines and budgets,
Take stock of your technical skills: design, thinking methodologically, math and science background
And we can’t emphasize the clarity piece enough. Sending resumes and job applications out into the ether is a “spray and pray” strategy that rarely works (so don’t feel discouraged!) Over 80% of roles are secured through networking, which is easier to do when you understand where you’re headed.
Q: Most of the companies didn't even bother to reject me, I was completely ignored. I was overqualified for all these positions and just wanted a chance to explain my desire to try something new.
Judy & Linda: You need to connect the dots for the prospective employer so they can see why your transferable skills and experience make you the perfect fit for the role.
Take a look at the job descriptions and think about how your previous experience and transferable skills can add value to the new role. You can reframe how you describe your past roles to demonstrate that alignment.
A great place to do this is in your cover letter, your about section on LinkedIn, and your resume's strengths/skills section.
Develop and practice anecdotes demonstrating where you’ve succeeded with each strength.
Q: You were lucky to have either background knowledge or strong personal connections for your internships. How should I convince people to give me a chance in an industry when I don't have experience?
Judy & Linda: If you don’t have industry-specific experience, learn as much about the role/industry you’re interested in and do your research to see how your current skills can align with the responsibilities in the role you aspire to:
Talk to people who have the roles you want.
What’s it like to work in that industry (the grass isn’t always greener - information is everything!)
What are the top technical and soft skills they’re looking for?
How does that stack up with what you have now?
Join industry groups on LinkedIn.
Get nosey - snoop around on LinkedIn and follow people who are thought leaders in that field
Are there simple things you can do to upskill to bridge the gap? There are loads of free or affordable offerings online.
Q: Most jobs don't allow the flexibility to take a month off of work to pursue an unpaid internship, I would have to quit my high-paying job in order to take that path.
Without "testing the waters" through an internship, I'm afraid I'll choose a new career that won't be what I imagine, and I may fall into these unsatisfied feelings again.
Judy & Linda:
If you have an interest that’s a big pivot, you could take a course to get a feel for the industry - there are many free or inexpensive online courses. If you're looking for an internship-like experience, micro-experiment through volunteer roles or nonprofit boards.
And think about whether there are ways to explore your interests within the job you already have. Taking on projects more closely aligned to your passions OR possibly gaining new skills now that will make your future shift easier!
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We loved breaking down this question for you!
Do you have a burning career question? Reach out to us at Judy@evolveme.work or Linda@evolveme.work! We might feature it on the show :)
And if you're looking for more advice from Judy + Linda, grab your spot for a FREE 1:1 Discovery Session to learn more about how EvolveMe can support you in the next steps of your career journey.
We want more for you!