(Photo Credit @wocintechchat)
April 29, 2022
Job Search Strategy, Pivoting into Tech
(Photo Credit @aaronburden)
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As we continue on this ‘Pivoting into Tech’ series, today’s focus is on how to best position yourself for a successful transition. You should be thinking about how you can leverage your current role for the next one - and how to not burn bridges behind you.
Plan to Leave with Grace
Consider how you’d like to handle your current job and what kind of departure you’d like to architect. We all love to hear the stories where someone left a company in a blaze of glory, spilling secrets & bad-mouthing management the way you secretly wish you could. But in reality, doing that that will hinder your progress forward in the new role if anyone hears about it (which they will).
Instead, try to think of someone you admire for how they planned their departure from their role. How did they approach keeping up their work product? Their work relationships? The timing of their announcement? It’s better to emulate someone you admire for their ability to design a good departure that shows it can be done. You’ll leave with no regrets.
Be Aware of Promo/Bonus Cycles
Not everyone has the patience to think about this but it’s worth the effort in the long-run. I had a colleague who was so excited about moving to a new startup that she almost left 2 weeks before our yearly bonuses came out. I convinced her that two weeks in the grand scheme of things wasn’t worth forgoing a healthy financial bonus that she had earned through her hard work.
Are you close to getting a yearly bonus? Aim to make your transition after that date and use it as motivation. You can still be making moves & applying to other roles - just don’t tell anyone yet.
Are you going to be up for promotion soon? I’d advise you to focus on your current role, get the promotion, and then start to make your pivot. You’ll be able to command a better salary and/or title in a new company by leveraging your recent promotion.
Move your current job into ‘Maintenance Mode’
Maybe you’re not interested in bonuses or promotions - you just want to get out asap. Or you’ve already gotten one or both - and your departure is now imminent.
Think about how to move your current job into ‘maintenance mode’ so there are no complaints about your work, but it frees up your brain to learn new things about tech. This will also give you extra time in your week to be sending out applications and building new relationships to help you make the move.
Some clients feel guilty about this tactic but that’s why I highlight the part about no complaints about your work. If you’re a high achiever, it’s hard to just do your job adequately (vs to the absolute best of your ability!) But if you’re not pursuing a promotion, I give you permission to just be average for the next few weeks. You need that energy redirected to your future move.
Keep your connections with colleagues
While I don’t advocate telling anyone that you are leaving until you’ve secured your new role, that doesn’t mean you can’t be intentional about solidifying your relationships with work colleagues that you value.
Take a minute to identify the colleagues who you would like to maintain relationships with once you’re at your new company. What’s the best way to stay in touch with them? Check out this post for a great personal CRM tool to use!
Think about whether you want to send individual goodbye emails to these folks or schedule 1:1 coffee chats when you’re ready to leave to highlight your appreciation for being great colleagues.
Start building a transition guide
For some people, starting a transition doc can help make all of this seem more real. You don’t have to spend a ton of time on this now, but jotting down a few notes will help you start to make your transition a bit smoother for everyone. It can also contribute to your ‘making moves’ mindset.
Start a document where you list out your main project(s). Make sure to highlight dates, collaborators, goals, budgets, and status. You can also keep collecting projects and documents you’re working on in one folder.
Note: this can also be useful if you are going up for a promotion as it helps you see the project(s) where you provide essential contributions because you probably wrote those down first.
I remember clearly that for two of my job departures, I was commended by my managers for being intentional about how I planned my exit & handed off my work so the organization could keep moving forward.
You should aim to do the same thing as your network is a source of great value in your career - and you want others to remember you as someone who demonstrates care alongside your ambition.
