48/52: If you always do what you’ve always done...

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

– Henry Ford

After 16 years in the recruitment industry, I’ve decided to make a change. On Tuesday 1st December, I’ll break bread with my current team for the last time before setting out on a new journey into the unknown.

I’ve probably been thinking about what’s next for my career for a couple of years, but never really had the courage, clarity or conditions to push myself in that new direction. Well, 2020 has certainly changed all of that.

I owe many thanks to the managers, colleagues and mentors I’ve had over the years. Recruitment has been great to me and I’ve built some fantastic relationships, skills and a very thick hide along the way. Hopefully these traits will serve me well in the future.

What the future holds though is really hard to know. I love working hard and being part of a team and an organisation that has clarity of purpose. I’m good at BD, marketing and strategy and I have a passion for new technologies and energies of the future (i.e. renewables).

The challenge, as many people who have tried to transition to new roles and industries will attest, is that it’s hard to convince future employers of your value if you haven’t done it before. So my biggest challenge will be getting in front of lots of the right people and seeking out inspiring conversations that lead to new opportunities.

This is the first time in my adult life I’ve had no job to go to. The security blanket has gone but with Henry Ford’s words ringing in my ears, I look forward to doing something new and seeing where that gets me.

I’m interested to know if you’ve taken the plunge into the unknown with your career? What happened? How did you manage it and what advice would you give me?