Welcome to November, career navigators! I’ve got a ton of exciting Career River offers and updates for this month to share. But first, I wanted to test out a framework for thinking about career progress that expands our scope beyond the limitations of career ladder thinking.
When we look closely at what moving up the corporate hierarchy offers us, I’d say progress primarily means increasing our status.
We’re talking higher salary, more impressive job titles, more responsibility, maybe even a corner office or fancy perks. Often moving up the ladder means you have more people reporting to you, as the org chart narrows toward the top. You’re also more likely to have a greater impact on the strategic direction of the organization the higher you move.
If this is the type of progress you’re seeking in your career, excellent.
But this 👏 isn’t 👏 the 👏 only 👏 model for career success.
Here are three more options to redefine how we view professional progress:
When we increase our career stability, we’re increasing the predictability associated with our work. It might mean getting a regular paycheck, or leaving a place that’s beset by layoffs. Increasing the stability of your role means you have more confidence in what to expect.
Our career skills grow when we try something new. Getting out of our comfort zone might mean going down or sideways on the ladder, but if we’re learning, that doesn’t mean we’re moving backwards.
Lastly, we can make career moves that increase our satisfaction. Perhaps you’re seeking greater flexibility, or clearer alignment between your values and your work. Kristen Hare’s Work-Life Chemistry formula allows you to use the decisions they’ve made and their aspirations to identify what drives you and brings you satisfaction.
What definition of progress fits your career journey at this moment? Are there other ways to consider progress that I’m missing? Let me know!
👀 Sneak preview: What’s ahead in November
Last month was a big one for Career River! I launched the paid subscription tier for this Substack, and I’ve been delighted to receive so many supporting subscribers over the past few weeks. I printed out my first subscriber notification to hang on my wall, showcasing my first dollar from my own business. Because of that support, I’ve been able to invest in a website to keep Career River growing.
This month, I’m excited to dig in to what it takes to make major career transitions. Supporting subscribers will learn about a TV writer in L.A., with credits including “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” “Beetlejuice” and “Doug,” who was driven to leave the entertainment industry and become a nurse. She’ll share what it took for her to start nursing school in her 40s with two young children, and what the transition has meant for her life.
Also, my conversation with Dustin Block last month about moving forward after being laid off was so packed with insights that I found myself wishing others were on our call. So this month, I’m excited to announce that our November navigator has agreed to host a Q&A webinar about career pivots.
November Navigator of the Month Q&A: How to quiet the voices telling you to stick with what you know
Join us Nov. 18 for a conversation with Laura Krantz McNeill, Senior Editor for Subscriber Products at The Chronicle of Higher Education, on how she navigated a "terrifying" transition from reporting to cross-functional audience and product work.
Laura will share her advice and take your questions on what you should consider if you're thinking about a career pivot. Upgrade your subscription to receive your invitation to join our conversation! Webinar registrants who are unable to join live will receive a recording of the call.
Laura can answer your questions on how to:
Begin thinking about whether you want to pivot
Explore other roles within news besides reporting, especially news product or audience
Gain the skills you’re missing
Frame your experience in conversations in a new field or discipline
Quiet the voices telling you to stick with what you know
Use your outsider perspective as an asset/secret weapon
Here’s more from Laura ahead of our career chat!
Currently, my work involves bringing more product strategy to my newsroom and organization. This looks like helping us define the audiences we serve, getting to know more about those groups, making sure our work meets their needs, then connecting all that to a sustainable business model. I sit in the newsroom but I’m a bridge to other departments and work at the intersection of editorial, business and tech.
My major career transition was: I was a reporter for 10 years at small and large newspapers across New England. I loved reporting and writing, but then I wanted to help the news industry ensure that the work of our organizations meets the needs of the communities we serve. I realized that meant working in news product or audience, and I love my new role.
One lesson I learned from navigating this change was… My pivot took time, as I had to learn what skills were valued in a news product/audience role, and where my skills gaps were. I had to not only learn new skills, but learn how to tell my story and frame my experience for a new context. As reporters we’re taught not to be the story ourselves, but a pivot means you have to get clear on telling your own story.
I hope you can join us! And as always, if you’re not getting paid for your work, you don’t have to pay for Career River. Email me back and I’ll set you up with free access.
Happy navigating,
Bridget
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