By Richard on 15 July 2008 at 06:10 in Careershifters Blog
The FT have just posted a video of Herminia Ibarra, a professor at INSEAD business school in France, talking on how professionals can make a mid-career switch.
Here's a summary of what she says, which we think is first-rate advice for anyone going through a career change:
The bad news first:
- Changing careers mid-career takes a long time: 3 years on average
- The process is non-linear: chaotic, messy, often unpleasant
The core principles in a career shift:
- Action beats introspection
- You have to figure out 1. what you want to do, 2. how to be a credible entrant
Three themes for a successful reinvention:
- Get involved in side activities
- Expand your network outside your usual circles
- Work on your story for the benefit of yourself and gatekeepers to potential new careers
Her closing remark: "You don't have to have it all figured out before you make a move. It's much more helpful to take an experimental approach."
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