Career Vision Board Ideas

📚”Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career" by Herminia Ibarra Just finished an interesting read this weekend: Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about a completely different career, envisioning a life that feels more aligned with your true self? Whether it's a passing thought during a hectic workday or a deep-seated yearning for something more fulfilling, the desire to reinvent ourselves is something many of us have felt. But how do we take that leap without feeling like we're throwing away everything we've worked for? Enter Herminia Ibarra’s enlightening book, Working Identity. This book felt like a conversation with a wise friend who sees things differently. Ibarra challenges the traditional wisdom that we need to have it all figured out before we can make a move. Instead, she flips the script, suggesting that we learn by doing. It’s a refreshing perspective: career reinvention isn't a straight line but a winding path where we try on various "possible selves." Ibarra’s model for career transition is both practical & inspiring. She suggests three key strategies that anyone can adopt: Experimenting with New Activities: Dip your toes into different professional roles to discover hidden talents and interests. Interacting in New Networks: Engage with diverse groups of people who can open new doors and offer fresh insights. Reflecting on Experiences: Take time to make sense of your journey and the new possibilities that arise. The book is filled with fascinating stories—like a literature professor who became a stockbroker & an investment banker who found her calling as a novelist. These stories aren't just entertaining; they're proof that radical change is possible. Here are some of the golden nuggets I took away: Explore Possible Selves: Give yourself permission to try new things and see what excites you. Craft Identity Experiments: Set up small, low-risk experiments to test out new career ideas. Create Small Wins: Celebrate the little victories that keep you motivated and moving forward. Navigate the In-Between: Embrace the uncertainty that comes with change, knowing it's part of the process. Connect with Mentors: Seek out mentors and role models who can guide and support you. Reflect and Reframe: Regularly pause to reflect on your experiences and adjust your course as needed. Embrace New Stories: Start telling a new story that integrates your past with who you are becoming. Reading Working Identity was like having a heart-to-heart with someone who truly understands the complexities of career change. It's a heartfelt reminder that our journeys are uniquely our own and that the path to a fulfilling career is rarely straightforward. If you’re yearning for something more, maybe it’s time to let go of the old script & start experimenting with the new. Who knows what exciting adventures lie ahead? #WeekendMusings #BookReview #WorkingIdentity #LifeLongLearning #PersonalDevelopment

How do you go about finding a new job? It doesn't start by updating your resume. It starts with some reflection and getting clarity. This is usually the hardest part. Visualization can work for some. (It may seem too fluffy for some). Here are the rules: 1️⃣ Set aside quiet time and an open mind. 2️⃣ Go with your gut response. Don’t over-analyze your answers. 3️⃣ Don’t judge your answers. Envision you are in your ideal/dream job and answer these questions: ▪️ What hours do you work? ▪️ How do you get to your job? ▪️ Are you working virtually or in an office or some combination? ▪️ What does your workspace look like? ▪️ What is the background of your co-workers (what do you have in common) ▪️ What is your boss like (what’s their background and management philosophy and how do they recognize your successes) ▪️ What is the first thing you do when you get into the office? ▪️ What types of tasks or projects do you love spending time doing? ▪️ Who are you serving or helping? Who are your customers? ▪️ What is your favorite part of your job? ▪️ When your workday is over, how do you feel? The purpose of this visualization exercise is to pinpoint what you want. Once you can picture it, it is much more likely to come to fruition or at least you’ll recognize it when you see it. Have you tried visualization for other parts of your life or at other times in your life?

3 powerful tips for a successful career change: Pause. Consider. Investigate. When we decide we want a career change, it's tempting to jump right into applying for opportunities. Taking time upfront to deeply consider the possibilities pays major dividends. Use the IKIGAI framework to clarify your criteria: - What do you WANT in your next role? - What skills/experience do you have that the world NEEDS? - What are you truly GOOD at? - What can you realistically get PAID for? One way to refine your possibilities is by networking with people in the types of roles you think you want. Ask about their real experiences, challenges and advice. Not everyone will give you their time. But for the ones who are willing to take a chance on you, don’t ask them for a referral or for an interview, ask for their perspective. Build a relationship. The clarity and insights you'll gain can help you figure out what you don’t want and get closer to what you do want. Building these relationships might also help you begin to develop your frame of reference on the industry and the role you seek. By investing this time upfront, you'll enter your search laser-focused and well-informed, ready to do the hard work required to land the RIGHT next opportunity.

Working on a career change? New certification? Big life goal? Treat the process like a project and use SWOT to gain clarity and improve chances of success! What is SWOT? SWOT is a tool to determine Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It helps identify areas that may otherwise be overlooked and to help see the “bigger picture” for a goal or objective. How can I use SWOT? ▪Reflect on your personal strengths and things you enjoy doing. Think about your past experiences, transferable skills, and what you’re good at. Add these to the strengths section. ▪Think about what skills you are weaker in. Look at job descriptions or videos about what it takes to meet that goal. Talk to people in that role, or who have met that goal already and list out the things you don’t feel confident in. Add to the weaknesses section. ▪Think about resources or connections you have that could help you reach your goal- what opportunities can you explore to help you achieve success? Add to the opportunities section. ▪Be realistic about threats- what could cause you to fail or lose traction? This could be a limit in your finances, time constraints, market competition, etc. Add them to the threats section. After you complete the SWOT start making an action plan that uses incremental growth to meet your goal. It'll be a lot easier to tackle in small parts! Here is an example of an actionable plan: 1️⃣ What are your top two strengths? Add them to your LinkedIn, showcase them in your profile or portfolio, make a post or share an article with your thoughts/experience. 2️⃣ What is one opportunity you can explore? Set up a coffee chat, update your profile, engage with posts and add your value to the conversation. 3️⃣ What is one weakness you can address? Read articles or take courses, learn from connections, listen to podcasts or audio books, use apps or micro-learning platforms. 4️⃣ How can you overcome or mitigate one threat? Make a budget or schedule to find flexibility, research certifications or courses, talk about the issue with connections and brainstorm solutions. Making a big change or meeting a lofty goal can be overwhelming. It's easy to lose motivation, make mistakes, and end up setting yourself back or giving up completely. Get clarity on your goal first; you’ll end up better prepared to take it on AND deal with problems when they arise. How can you use SWOT to help you in your goals? I’d love to cheer you on or brainstorm solutions if you need it! Grab the free template and let me know in the comments! --- Like this post? Please react, comment, or repost! ♻ Hi, I'm Melissa! A certified #scrummaster & #productowner that uses #projectmanagement and #agile in the #education field. After a successful career I'm ready for my next adventure! I post about PM at work, in daily life, and in schools. I share resources, course reviews, and tips for #Jobseekers or #transitioningteachers moving to PM. Follow or connect with me for more! 🔔

Earlier, I shared a post about my mom's career change at age 60, which was actually her 4th major change. Then I set up to find more stories of those who have made big changes. From a Harvard Business Review article called, It's Never Too Late to Switch Careers, these stories were featured: Three Stories of People Who Switched Careers 1️⃣ Anna Quindlen Anna Quindlen twice left her successful career at The New York Times: first to become a full-time mother, and later to pursue a career as a full-time novelist. Both times, she faced skepticism, but ultimately found happiness and fulfillment by defining success on her own terms. 2️⃣ Pope Francis Before becoming the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis worked as a bouncer and a technician in a food science laboratory. He later changed his path entirely, entering the priesthood and eventually becoming Pope, illustrating that dramatic career pivots are possible at any stage of life.   3️⃣ Ina Garten Ina Garten, known as “The Barefoot Contessa,” began her professional life working in nuclear energy policy and management for the White House. Seeking something more enjoyable, she bought a specialty-food store in Westhampton-a field she had no prior experience in. This leap led to her successful career as a chef, author, and television personality. Stats that stand out from the Article ⭐ Only 27% of college graduates have a job closely related to their major, highlighting that most career paths are not linear. ⭐ Of those who quit their job in 2021, more than 53% changed their field or occupation, showing a widespread willingness to make significant career shifts. ⭐ In a survey of people who attempted a career change after age 45: 🔸 82% of career changes were successful 🔸 87% were happy or very happy they made the change, demonstrating both the feasibility and satisfaction of late-career transitions. Questions for you: Do you have any stories about career change or transition that you can share? These could be from your life, or others. I find these really inspiring, so I'd love to hear from you! #careerchange #careertransition #jobsearch #careerinspiration ---------------------------- Hi, I’m Sabrina Woods. I work at the intersection of Career & Wellbeing. Interested in career transition coaching, or a workshop for your team? Let’s chat! 

“Playing pretend” is not just for little kids - it’s a powerful tool for adults, too. And can help you figure out your career direction. Hear me out! When coaching clients are torn between career options, or at a crossroads, I’ve often worked with them to “play pretend” - seriously. And you know what? They usually get good clarity on which direction is more energizing for them. Where there is energy, there is usually more momentum to get going and keep moving. Here are a couple examples of how this looks: 1. Do a “3 lives” exercise where they imagine their ideal day-in-the-life in one of the 3 (or 5 or 7) lives they’re dreaming of for themselves. It can involve journaling - or finding images online or in magazines - or sketching and drawing. Whatever gets them into a less edited and more creative mode. 2. Test the fantasy of an ideal “day in the life” in another job by talking to people who do that job. This works best with fewer options because you have to network and know people in the fields you’re targeting. Starting with videos on LinkedIn and YouTube is a lower-stakes way of easing into this one. 3. Finally - play and “pretend” to be that other thing. This can look like: setting up their calendar in a way that mimics the new job. Doing freelance or volunteer work in the new space. Network and cover someone’s parental leave. Do you like these ideas or is this just LinkedIn lunacy? ;-)

Business Analysis is no longer a linear career path. It is a launchpad. As technology, AI, cloud, and cyber reshape every industry, Business Analysts have more opportunities than ever to evolve into roles that are both high-impact and future-ready. This visual captures that shift well: from technical paths like Cybersecurity Analyst, Cloud Engineer, AI/ML Engineer, and Data Analyst to non-technical but equally strategic roles like Product Manager, AI Consultant, Data Governance Specialist, and UX Researcher. What stands out most is this: The best career moves today are not just about job titles. They are about transferable skills. Business Analysts already know how to: - translate complexity into action - align stakeholders - uncover risk and opportunity - turn business needs into outcomes Those are the same capabilities that power success in secure AI, cyber resilience, cloud transformation, product strategy, and governance. From my perspective working across Cybersecurity, DevSecOps, Cloud, and AI Governance, I see a growing need for professionals who can bridge technical depth with business value. That bridge is where the future is being built. For anyone in Business Analysis wondering what comes next: Your next role may be closer than you think. The question is not whether you can pivot. The question is: Which direction aligns with your strengths, curiosity, and long-term impact? Which of these paths do you think will create the biggest opportunity over the next 3–5 years?

I used to think having multiple career interests meant I lacked focus. I was wrong. In finance, we diversify portfolios to manage uncertainty. Why do we insist on betting our entire careers on a single future? What if considering multiple career paths isn't a sign of indecision—but a sign of intentional design? Many of us were taught that careers should follow a straight line: Study one thing. Choose one profession. Climb one ladder. But life rarely works that way. Our interests evolve. Industries change. New opportunities emerge. Sometimes the person we become no longer fits the path we started on. Yet many talented professionals stay stuck because they believe changing direction means starting over. It doesn't. One of the most valuable frameworks I've encountered for navigating uncertainty comes from design thinking. It's called the Odyssey Plan, developed by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans in the Stanford Design Program and featured in the book Designing Your Life. Instead of asking: "What's the one perfect future for me?" The Odyssey Plan asks: "What are several meaningful futures I could create?" The exercise challenges you to design three parallel versions of your next five years: Plan A: The Current Trajectory The path you're already on. What happens if you continue building on your existing experience, skills, and momentum? Plan B: The Pivot Imagine your current role, industry, or career path disappeared tomorrow. What would you build next using your transferable skills, interests, and experience? Plan C: The Wildcard If money, status, and the judgments of others didn't matter at all, what would you do? What problem would you solve? What would you create? What would you spend your time doing? Here's what surprised me: The goal isn't to pick the "right" plan. The goal is to realize that there is rarely only one future available to you. When we stop searching for certainty and start exploring possibilities, career transitions become less intimidating and far more creative. So if you're feeling stuck, don't ask yourself which path is perfect. Ask yourself: What are three futures I would be excited to build? You may discover that your next chapter isn't hidden behind a single decision. It's hidden behind permission to imagine more than one possibility. Have you ever created an Odyssey Plan? What would your Plan C look like? #NonLinearCareer #DesigningYourLife

Are you a teacher considering a career change but unsure how your skills translate to other industries? 𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒! Let’s break down how your skills can open doors to new opportunities. 𝟏. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 As a teacher, your ability to explain complex concepts in an understandable way is incredibly valuable in corporate training, customer service, and sales, where clear communication and addressing client needs are essential. 𝟐. 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Managing a classroom requires top-notch organizational skills, which translate well into project management and administrative roles, where organizing tasks, resources, and timelines, as well as handling multiple responsibilities, are essential. 𝟑. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦-𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 Teachers constantly solve problems by engaging students, addressing behavioral issues, and adapting lesson plans to diverse needs. This problem-solving ability is ideal for consulting roles, where you help businesses overcome challenges, and tech roles like user experience design, where creating solutions to meet user needs is essential. 𝟒. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 In the classroom, teachers lead by example, inspire students, and take on additional responsibilities such as mentoring new teachers or leading school committees, making their leadership experience highly transferable to management positions in various industries and nonprofit organizations where motivating and guiding a team, as well as community-building, are crucial. 𝟓. 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 Education is a dynamic field that requires teachers to adapt to new curricula, technologies, and diverse student needs, making their adaptability highly valued in fast-paced industries like tech and start-up environments where flexibility and quick thinking are key to success. - - - - - - - Let’s take my friend Gretchen Johanson, Learning Experience Designer , for example, a former school teacher who successfully transitioned into an instructional designer role. She used her creativity from years of explaining complex topics to design engaging training programs for corporate organizations. Her organizational skills helped her manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines. Today, Gretchen thrives in her new role, where her teaching experience enables her to create effective learning solutions and drive measurable change. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑺𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 Transitioning to a new career can feel daunting, but remember that your experience as a teacher has equipped you with a unique and powerful skill set. If you’re feeling uncertain about your next steps, 𝒍𝒆𝒕’𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕and explore how you can leverage your skills for a successful transition. Your journey from the classroom to a new career starts with recognizing the value you already bring to the table. #CareerChange #TransferableSkills #TeachersWhoLead #TeacherTransition #NewCareerOpportunities #SkillsForSuccess #LeavingtheClassroom