Career Change Series – Tip 1 – Write your own job description and dream employers

I’ve had some really interesting jobs in the last 10 years. They have been in highly sought after industries, often in roles I have not previously held and each role has included a substantial pay increase.

As a result, I often have people ask me “but how the hell did you do it?” So I decided it was time to divulge some of my secrets.

The information provided is a summary of the tips I provide when going through career transition training and I’m going to assume you know what you want to do, but you don’t know how to get there.

It’s important to treat the career change and job search as if you were buying a new home. With such a major purchase, you wouldn’t just buy the first house you saw, would you?

No, I suggest you come up with a list of must-haves such as number of rooms, suburban location, price range, house style, and many other requirements.

In my opinion, career change and job search activities should be carried out in much the same way, only you make a list of interests, values, and working conditions and match them with potential employers and industries.

For example, I studied International Studies in college. Upon graduation I knew I wanted a job where I could travel internationally, learn about new cultures, participate in social enterprises like poverty reduction, improve the status of women, or improve essential services like health and education. Salary and job location were not important to me at this stage of my career, I just needed experience.

Positions in this area are highly sought after, especially at the entry level. So instead of waiting for something to be announced on Seek.com, I brainstormed and researched my employment options:

• AusAID -Department of the Australian Government that manages the Aid Program

• DFAT – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where you could work as an international diplomat

• Management Contractors: companies such as Coffey International Development that manage and implement specific projects and programs on behalf of AusAID.

• NGO: non-governmental organizations such as the World Bank, World Vision, Medicine Sans Frontiers, UNICEF

• Volunteer programmes: to gain experience working on aid projects such as those provided by Australian Volunteers International and Austraining which could lead to permanent paid employment.

I then researched how to get a job in this area, such as:

• Apply for jobs directly through the AusAID, DFAT and Coffey International Development websites

• Access to industry-specific job boards such as Devnet and Devex; Y

• Apply for volunteer programs

• Application for internships in the main world organizations such as UNICEF

I earned a career in international development with no prior experience using a combination of direct contact and applying for jobs advertised in these departments or company websites. Through roles with AusAID and Coffey International Development, I have traveled to Banda Aceh to help with post tsunami reconstruction and to Jakarta, Manila and Nadi to train and advise staff.

So this week think about what you would really love to do by creating your own job description like I did. Next, brainstorm which companies, industries, government departments, NGOs, or small businesses might offer such opportunities. Once you’ve identified potential employer research, how people get jobs with these entities beyond simply responding to jobs posted on seek.com.

What did you think of this tip? I’d love to know, so post a comment below!