Without Career Commitment

An "OH NO!" shriek came from my office. My husband yelled across the house, "Is everything OK?" Alert the authorities: I found a hole in my favorite black jeans (in a not-so-welcome place). Insert panic and shopping dread.

You know THE pair - The best slimming fit, looks good with everything and is the go-to for feeling your best. I went to re-order and the brand no longer makes those sweet high-waisted skinny jeans with the smoothing pockets.

Mustering my fragile ego, the research and the purchasing decision commence. 5-7 business days later - Ding! The arrival of (hopefully) THE jeans replacement on my doorstep. You've been there, right?

The packaging is your paper trail as you rip open the plastic envelope to your bedroom mirror where you stand, hands on hips, mystified in your new garb. Your well-researched purchase just isn’t fitting quite right. You thought it checked all the boxes on screen, but on your body, well…that’s a different story.

The same can go for your career. It’s challenging to know if you're making the right choice when deciding on a new professional path. But what if you can test out career fit like trying on a new outfit? I’m here to say you can! Skip occupational hazards, like you would a fashion faux pas. Use these six tricks to try a role on for size without all-in career commitment.

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

We’ve never had access to so much information as we do now. No waiting required. Pull up that Google search bar and dive into the deep waters of career pivot possibilities. Research is essential to purchasing decisions and even more imperative for your career! 

Explore from the comfort of your couch, possible new professions that align with your specific skills, blend of experience and values. This information gives you the scaffolding for what is required for the role, the primary responsibilities and the qualifications needed. Besides your favorite search engine, consider visiting:

• O*Net: Use the occupation keyword search.

• LinkedIn: Type in a job title in the search bar and click “People” to view real-life career paths and who’s who in the industry/profession.

• LinkedIn Career Explorer: Match your skills with new job titles.

JUST TRY IT ON

Take a note from Flor, the Clansky family housekeeper, in the classic Adam Sandler drama, Spanglish. She pushes Bernice, her employer's daughter, to “just try it on” with the new clothes she secretly tailored for a perfect fit to boost her confidence. 

You can do the same when you’re at a crossroads in your career. Try on a career pivot to not only test fit and fulfillment, but to avoid buyer’s remorse. Here are six ways you can do it:

Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are a great day-in-the-life info gathering sesh to get in on what a role is really like. Don't just stop at one networking conversation. Examine many realities of the job to see if the gig matches up with your skills, giftings and values.

This type of no-pressure networking transforms your 2D career research into 3D, giving you the honest scoop for an accurate fit.

Job Shadow

Experiential learning is not just for the college student. Consider becoming a shadow for the day in mid-career. It’s easier than ever with remote and hybrid work environments across industries.

Glean real-life intel on a role and/or company to determine fit and cultural alignment. If it makes sense, consider shadowing at your current company to start!

Volunteerism

Nonprofit organizations have similar needs to their corporate counterparts. Volunteer your skills and expertise to test out your new career direction in real time. It's a win, win for both parties!

Contract Work

Take on project or contract-based work to test career fit in the market.  You'll get a real life feel if this role is all it is cracked up to be in terms of long-term career fulfillment. Better yet? It's for a fixed amount of time. If you are weary of this option, weigh the pros and cons with the help of this article.

Side Hustle

All it takes is a Facebook page and a passion to start up a career game on the side. Take a trial run on your skill set in a new way by beginning a side hustle, aka a supplementary stream of income to your day job. It not only tests the market but also a possible new career direction if you just can’t figure out if it is a fit from the start.

Returnship

Nope, not a spaceship from Mars. It's a paid internship for adults looking to re-enter the workforce. Programs vary in length and occupation, but you can expect to polish new skills, receive quality mentorship and even land long-term work.

There is a range of returner programs in various industries and companies in addition to return-to-work matching programs like iRelaunch and  Pathforward.

There’s no need to take a blind leap of faith in your career. While some risk is required, auditioning new-to-you gigs will not only help determine your best career fit but give you the confidence to launch. And don’t worry, I found a new pair of black jeans. There’s hope for your career, too.