The five steps Danielle recommends before considering a career transition are as follows:
- Find your support person or system. Danielle proposes you “surround yourself with people who not only believe in you, but will also tell you when you have something stuck between your teeth.” “They should be people who don’t only give advice on careers, but also can help guide you about what you need to do today to become even better tomorrow,” Danielle shares. Further, he emphasizes you should not seek people who will tell you what you want to hear; rather, these individuals should have a vested interest in your success.
- Complete a Personal SWOT Analysis. A major part of this audiobook explains how to conduct a personal modified SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats — though he changes the “Weaknesses” to “Areas for Improvement” and “Threats” to “Challenges”). Danielle believes this analysis can help focus you on what you need to do now, to prepare for the next transition along your career path. He goes through each section in detail. In the opportunities section, for example, the author suggests checking into your employer’s educational and additional training benefits, pointing out: “Many organizations offer very comprehensive benefits in this area, but statistically not all employees are aware of, or take advantage of, them.”
- Create a plan. Danielle suggests readers create a plan demonstrating how to “leverage your strengths, seize opportunities, address areas for improvement, and manage challenges.” He highlights incorporating actionable SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) — including milestones and critical events you need to achieve success. Danielle stresses the plan is only valuable if you “own it,” and are committed to working it.
- Be willing to ask for help. Use your support team to assist you in developing and fine-tuning your plan — and to help you work on it.
- Repeat. Danielle emphasizes this “iterative process of continuous improvement” is “not just a ‘one and done’ exercise,” but are efforts you should continue throughout your professional career. He recommends not just pulling these exercises out when your career is floundering, or a transition is forced upon you–but that the reader should “revisit and use these tools when things are going well. “You will find it will either validate what you are currently doing, or demonstrate you need to make additional changes,” Danielle says.
Danielle clearly believes in always being prepared for the next transition but warns, “If you decide to go down the career transitioning path, you need to make sure that you are willing and able to put in the time and effort to achieve the goals you set.”
Dr. Danielle’s audiobook, Career Transitioning 101 – Book One: First Steps, is available at the IEEE-USA Store free for IEEE members. This book is part of an e-book series, all of which are also available at the IEEE-USA Shop.
Dr. Robert Danielle is an expert in the areas of organizational behavior, leadership development, and career transitioning. He has held strategic roles in the media, technology, government/military, and higher education sectors. Dr. Danielle’s work has focused on professional/career development, leading large successful change initiatives, and improving individual/team performance. He holds a doctorate in Higher Education and Organization Change; an MS degree in Information Systems Management; and a BA in Leadership. Dr. Danielle has also served as an IEEE Student Branch Chair.
