Career Change: Not Just a Transfer of Skills

Q. “I’ve been a teacher. Can I transfer these skills to become a trainer or professional speaker?” A. You’ve probably heard, “Career change is about transferring skills.” As far as I’m concerned, that’s an urban legend. Skills transfers make sense for some jobs, such as telephone operators who become call center reps. But managers often don’t transfer skills. They join tribes. Teaching and training both call for speaking in front of groups. There the resemblance ends. Teachers have captive audiences. They don’t structure lectures the way a trainer will design a session, much less the way a professional speaker will develop and present a motivational talk. Whether you join a company or offer your services as a consultant, you’ll be expected to join a tribe, with unwritten rules, norms and values. You may be a gifted writer, but some public relations jobs require a degree in journalism. A marketing or business degree won’t count. (1) Use talents to choose a life that feels meaningful. You will probably be most happy and successful when you use your natural talents. And you’ll feel purposeful and authentic. (2) Use skills to create your career makeover. To earn a living, you sell skills, whether you work for a company or for yourself. In other words, you package your talents and get evidence that you know how to use your talents in a way that benefits an organization, group, community or person. ➢ You may have artistic talent, but you get paid for producing a work that will sell in a gallery, designing a website, or creating a knock-your-socks-off advertising piece. ➢ You may write brilliantly, but you get paid for producing articles or books on deadline in a form that meets the demands of your market. ➢ You may be a naturally intuitive person but you get paid for helping clients make measurable changes in their businesses, relationships and/or lives. (3) Get credentials that have meaning to the tribe you want to join. “Vaughn” found his MBA didn’t count with a group of publicity executives. They valued journalism degrees. “Carla” drew rave reviews from students but needed a PhD to get a full-time university job. “Pete” found he needed a CPA to compete for high-level finance jobs, although he’d made money for several companies. When I began to seek speaking opportunities, what drew a sparkle to the eyes of meeting coordinators? My Ph.D.? My years of teaching and speaking on services marketing? My media credentials? Everything helped. But their eyes lit up when I told them I took second place at the regional level in a humorous speaking contest, sponsored by Toastmasters. My former university colleagues would have dissed the whole idea (“you got involved in what?!”). But to my new tribe, this award had real value. Somehow I’d managed to pass an initiation rite without realizing what I was up to. So I encourage my clients to think of the 3-step process – talent to skill to credential – and go where they’ll be valued. You may reprint this article in your ezine or blog if you make no changes and include this resource box with live links: Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is a career consultant specializing in midlife professionals who want to manage any area of their career: office politics, job search, career advancement or striking out in a whole new direction. Visit http://www.cathygoodwin.com Discover the 5 essential ingredients of successful career change: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html