Webinar Summary and Recording
jobs.ac.uk is excited to bring you a webinar to support Academics and professionals in HE, research and industry who are considering or actively navigating a career change.
Hosted by award-winning Career Coach, Valerie O’Hanlon, this webinar will provide a clear, practical, grounded framework to assist with that change.
CORE Framework
This useful framework will help guide you through your career change, reflecting on your career and where you want to go with it.
Clarity: What’s driving your career decisions? What’s getting in your way and holding you back? What are you good at and what energises you?
Options: What story are you telling yourself and others? You have skills, experience, qualifications and abilities; you have options. It may not be A or B – it could be a mix of the two.
Research: Explore what is out there; we don’t know what we don’t know.
Engage: What are the practical actions that will move you forward?
What is driving your career decision?
Valerie recommends taking a step back before taking a step forward. Reflect on what is prompting this career change.
Some common reasons people consider a career move include seeking better career progression, feeling undervalued in their current role, finding that their role or work environment is not the right fit, and wanting a better work-life balance.
Clarity
The first part of the CORE Framework is Clarity. Valerie asks you to answer the four questions below to provide clarity to your career goals.
Why?
Why do you want to change careers? See above on what to consider is driving this change.
What’s working and what’s not?
Consider what is working well in your current role, as well as what isn’t. It’s easy to focus solely on the challenges and assume that nothing is going right, but taking a balanced view can be valuable. Think about the aspects you enjoy and would like to retain in your next role, whether that’s working with supportive colleagues, engaging with students, using your skills and expertise, or carrying out particular tasks and responsibilities.
What gives me joy/energy?
Pay attention to the moments when you feel most energised and engaged. Think about the tasks you’re doing and the people you’re with; these are often clues to what you want more of in your work and life.
It’s also worth looking beyond your career. If you’re not finding joy or energy in your day-to-day life, there may be a gap between where you are and what you truly value. Think about what gives you purpose, satisfaction, and motivation, and let that guide your next steps.
What do I need to change?
After identifying what part of your job gives you energy, consider what needs to change.
A useful way to think about this is to consider what you want more of, what you want less of, and what you want to keep the same. Not everything needs to change; there may be aspects of your current role or situation that already work well and are worth preserving.
Options
To identify your next career move and the options out there, start by understanding your story and what skills, experience, and strengths you bring to the table. As one attendee asked, “I’m a mature student, and my work experience is not in my new field. How can I get into that new field without starting at the bottom?”
The key is recognising that a career change does not mean starting from scratch. The skills, knowledge, and experience you have gained throughout your career remain valuable and are often highly transferable. Learning how to articulate these strengths and connect them to a new role can open up opportunities you may not have considered.
Take time to reflect on what you want to change. Is it your role, industry, work environment, or the skills you use day to day? Career transitions exist on a spectrum. Sometimes a small change is enough, while other times call for a complete shift. By understanding what you want to keep, what you want to change, and how your existing experience can support that move, you can make more informed and fulfilling career decisions.
Research
Valerie starts by encouraging you to raise your head above the parapet and be curious about what is out there.
The world of work is constantly evolving, with new roles and career paths emerging all the time, so it’s important to explore what is out there rather than limiting yourself to familiar options.
Networking is an important tool when researching. Speaking to people who are already working in roles or industries that interest you can provide useful insights into what the job involves, how they got there, and whether it aligns with your own goals and expectations.
Trying new skills and experiences is equally important. Exploring different activities can help you identify both what you enjoy and what you do not. Sometimes the only way to discover whether a particular career is right for you is to test it in practice.
Volunteering can be an effective way to do this. Valerie shared her own experience of training as a financial adviser and then volunteering to teach financial literacy. While it ultimately wasn’t the career path she wanted to pursue, the experience helped her better understand her strengths, interests, and the type of work that would be most fulfilling for her.
Engage
The final part of the CORE Framework is about taking control and acting.
Take Control of Your Career
Be proactive about your career development. Regularly review your goals and identify the steps needed to move forward.
Look for Opportunities
Stay open to new roles, projects, and experiences that can help you grow and explore different career paths.
Learn a New Skill or Update Your Skills
Continually develop your skills to remain competitive and prepare for future opportunities.
Look for opportunities in the role you are currently in; are there projects or responsibilities you can take on to expand your skills and experiences?
Get a Mentor, Sponsor, or Coach
Seek guidance from somebody who’s been there and done that, who can offer advice, support, and can help you to navigate the path to transition to something new.
Valerie highlights that a sponsor is the most important person you can have. A sponsor is there to champion you when you are not in the room. This is someone who is in the company or industry you want to move to and will speak up on your behalf when it comes to job opportunities.
Tell Your Story and Build Your Profile
Be able to clearly communicate your skills, achievements, and transferable experience to employers and professional contacts, whether on your CV or during informal conversations.
Ask questions, listen, and be curious. This goes beyond professional contacts; Valerie uses the example of being at a family gathering or at the side of your kid’s soccer game. Get talking to people, you never know what those connections may bring.
Use Your Network
Networking is often seen as intimidating or artificial, but it doesn’t have to be. When approached authentically, networking is simply about building and maintaining genuine professional relationships. It provides opportunities to share experiences, learn from others, offer support, and gain valuable insights into different roles and industries. Your network can be a powerful source of information, advice, and opportunities throughout your career.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a valuable way to gain experience, develop new skills, and explore potential career paths. By giving your time, you can build the practical experience and confidence needed to progress into a new role, while also discovering what type of work you find most rewarding.
Final Takeaways
Valerie concludes with a quote
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”
The message is don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. After reflecting on your goals, exploring your options, and identifying your strengths through the CORE Framework, it’s important to take action. By being proactive, creating opportunities, and putting yourself forward, you can take control of your career and shape the future you want.
Your next steps should be:
- Do a stock-take of your values, skills, what’s working and what is not.
- Raise your head above the parapet and see what is out there.
- Get up, ready and moving. Take action.
Q&A
What AI tools would you recommend for job searching and help with a career change?
What if my career change is not voluntary?
How do you find a sponsor when making a career change?
How to address gaps in my CV?
Meet the Host
Valerie O’Hanlon
Valerie O’Hanlon is an Award-Winning Professional Certified Coach (PCC). A Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD) and the ICF (International Coaching Federation). Valerie works with individuals across the globe, on career development and change, helping clients to identify their values and strengths and supporting them to stay accountable to their career plans. With an eclectic career trajectory involving media, entertainment, banking, education and self-employment, Valerie has a rare insight into the complexities of managing career change. Valerie has been a career advisor on the online MIT Professional Education Programmes since 2022 and has recently started to co-host a podcast called Life’s What You Make It, which is particularly aimed at the 50+ age group. Valerie also provides help with interview preparation, presentation skills and confidence building.
Further information available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieryderohanlon/ or www.clarenceconsulting.ie.
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