Q: After spending more than 20 years at a major corporation, I’ve decided to start a new chapter by finding a job with a more informal, relaxed work culture, but I’m not sure what, how or where to begin my search. Any thoughts?
A: The decision to make a new beginning can be exciting, both personally and professionally, but the search as well as the transition can be challenging.
Recently, I had the opportunity to meet one of the country’s most legendary advertising executives, Jeff Goodby. Not familiar? He created the wildly successful “Got Milk” campaign, the Budweiser Lizards and many other highly recognized, award-winning works. He says sometimes it’s good to unlearn all the rules.
After working in a corporate structure for so many years, take some time to decompress. This may entail learning how to be yourself and to find your own way. Think about doing away with preconceptions about how something should be done or how a problem is going to get solved.
That said, look for work environments where your immediate office team and especially upper management have a sense of humor. Organizations that know how to humor up are a really good sign of flexibility and understanding. There are many workplaces where humor is not encouraged. So, when being interviewed for a new position, make sure to listen carefully to get a complete understanding of the company’s culture.
For instance, during the interview consider whether they are interested in anything else besides your job qualifications. And, while you’re in the interview process, keep in mind, it’s good to have focus, but it’s just as important that you don’t narrow your sights before making a decision. However, if you feel the new job opportunity requires you to humor down, run, don’t walk, to the door!
Most importantly, take time to get a perspective on your wants and needs so you don’t find yourself in another corporate echo chamber.
Finding a good fit may take time so unless you have a solid financial cushion, hold on to your current position until you find just the right match for your second chapter. Use the various networks you’ve developed over the years to help in your search. In-person informational interviews are still one of the most effective tools and are imperative to give you more time and space to get to know an organization and ensure that it truly resonates with your new career direction.
Don’t push, take your time and be intentional about what you bring to the job and trust your gut. If we are all being honest with ourselves, all things being equal there is a special chemistry when we’ve made the right match. Good luck!
Joan Lee Berkman is a marketing and public relations consultant. if you have a question for Joan, send it to business@townandstyle.com.