Photo: Anna Shvets on Pedels
With a plethora of business podcasts, communities and books out there, all centred on female business owners (which we LOVE!), it can be easy to fall into the mindset that starting a business is the only way to be a ‘success’. It’s been said that comparison is the thief of joy, and that pesky trait can also nab your confidence and motivation too. So, what to do if you’re not interested in setting up a business? Or if you want to eventually but you’re just not ready or wanting to right now? As a non-business owner myself, I’ve put together a little list of suggestions to keep yourself on top (even if you’re not at the top of that organogram!) ...
Work out what you really want to do
It can be tricky to work out what you want to do, rather than what you should do, but it’s the perfect place to start. Where do your passions lie? Do you want to support vulnerable people in your community? Do you want to travel? Do you want to be able to walk to work? Do you want to talk to people? Do you want to talk to nobody?! A bit of self-reflection is a great place to work from.
Margot De Broglie is a prime example of going with your gut and pursuing what feels right, when she took time away from studying: ‘For the first time in my life, I truly knew what feeling passionate about something felt like – it was one of those a-ha moments that still gives me shivers.’
Could you switch roles where you already are?
If you feel you’re not in the right role and you want a career pivot, it’s not necessarily best to jump ship. Have a look at other roles with your current employer – if you’ve made a good impression on your co-workers, chances are you’ll be in a better position to try a different role at your company than applying ‘cold’ to a new workplace with little or no experience. I’ve worked with people who have switched from HR to Marketing, call centre work to account management, and Facilities to Finance – it can be done!
Another option here is to create a whole new role. Ellie Sampson is a Model Maker for an architecture practice, a new position she proposed to her company director. In her profile she explains: ‘I often felt a disconnect between my understanding of a project and how I felt I was responding to a given task. I didn’t feel I was effectively utilising my specific skills.’ So, if you have an idea for a role that will mutually benefit yourself and your employer (something will have to be in it for them!), be bold and go for it.
Get all the training you can!
One of the big perks of being employed is the ‘free’ training you can benefit from. If you have an idea of what skills you need to continue your career development, and they will benefit your workplace, find some courses, get quotes, and take them to your line manager.
It is worth bearing in mind there may be stipulations on working for a certain amount of time after completing the course, and any training will need to directly link to your current role to be a worthy investment for them, but it could be a huge boost to your career progression.
If your company isn’t in a position to invest in accredited training, you could suggest a subscription to one of the many online learning platforms. Sites like Shaw Academy and Udemy offer valuable courses for little cost, and they offer greater flexibility in terms of time and travel, because there is none!
Think big
What would be your dream company to work for? Google? Burberry? Macmillan? Channel 4?
Whatever your line of work, if there’s an organisation that you would be proud to commit your career to, then why not set yourself on that path?
When we asked Alice Beverton-Palmer what the best thing was about her job at Twitter, she could honestly say: ‘Working for Twitter! It’s a platform that’s made a huge difference to my life and I feel really lucky to be in the building.’
Keep learning
With a guaranteed salary coming in, it can be easy to fall into the trap of becoming ‘comfortable’ in the workplace. Don’t let your brain go to mush! Alongside the many podcasts and books about running a business or a brand, there’s a plethora of great content about personal development and getting ahead at work. This is an easy way to learn and you’ll be surprised by the knock-on effect to your professional practice and your self-confidence.
Ask for help
Don’t be afraid to ask others for ideas, support and advice. Look at those around you and see if there are any qualities or specific workplace skills that you could ask about. Learning from first-hand experience is invaluable, so take advantage of the wealth of information that could already be at your fingertips.
Not the right avenue for you? You could also have a browse of our site via the keywords on our homepage; if you’re planning a career change but you’re not sure where to start, click ‘career pivot’ and you’ll find profiles of women who have completely changed their career path.
And lastly, we’re here! If there’s a question or idea niggling away at you and you’re not sure where to turn, then please do get in touch and we’ll do our best to help!
Alice