Page 114 - Marky Stein - Fearless Career Change_ The Fast Track to Success in a New Field (2004)

Fearless Career Change

It was evident to Nancy that she needed a change. She didn’t
need a reason. Her desire to change was all the reason she needed.
She told me that she felt somewhat “guilty” about leaving a career
she had worked so hard to build and afraid to leave such a “sure
thing.” Yet, she reflected, “I feel like I’m going to stagnate and die
if I continue on in this way.”
In spite of her malaise, Nancy still had a few moments of enjoy-
ment in her job. She thought about it and said that she really loved
writing and editing reports. “If that were all I were doing,” she said,
“I would be completely content!”
When Nancy completed the career fingerprinting process, she
realized that, indeed, her authentic calling involved writing and
editing. “I don’t know how I didn’t see that before. All through
school, and throughout my life, that is where I’ve felt most com-
fortable and the most challenged.”
Nancy researched the positions of journalist, technical writer,
and book editor. She concluded that a career as a book editor felt
like a good fit. It would be a big change, but she already had pol-
ished transferable talents in writing and editing that would ease
her transition.
She knew she would need to start near the middle of the lad-
der in the publishing arena, but with her education and intelli-
gence she would easily rise to the level of editor, and even higher.
Volunteering and strategic education turned out to be her recipe
for a successful transition.
First, she volunteered to work at a free local newspaper that
would publish some of her own writing so that she could start
building a portfolio (some call it a clip sheet) of her work. She also
was able to get some proofreading experience there. Small,
underfunded newspapers are often glad to have someone offer to
work for free. She got two of her own articles into print—not a
bad start!
Though she was still working at her old job, her mood
improved dramatically. “I’m having fun again. This feels like play!”
By building a bit of a reputation at a small level, Nancy was able to
get letters of recommendation from the editor-in-chief and the
publisher of the weekly newspaper.

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