How can you preserve your professional reputation when changing careers?

Great Point, highlighting to transition carefully. Abrupt exits leave a bad lasting image, even if they are intra-functional leave alone full fledged exits from organizations. While planning your career transition is of utmost importance, going with the trend just for the sake of it is destructive. Analyze your skillsets and seek mentorship if necessary to gauge your transition direction, gauge strength of your credentials, strength of skillsets is equally important. If possible try leveraging the strength of current trends to highlight how your move is going to be good for you, your career and organization you are about to join.

A successful career transition indeed hinges on careful planning and a clear career vision. It's crucial to avoid impulsive decisions and instead base your choices on thoughtful self-reflection. Start by asking fundamental questions to understand why you're considering a career change. Reflect on whether your dissatisfaction stems from your current job role, work environment, or the industry itself. Often, as you've observed, a change within the same field or even a different role in the same company can address these issues effectively. Such adjustments can be simpler yet highly impactful, offering a fresh perspective or new challenges without the need for a complete career overhaul.

Career transition is not built in a day, but what helped me move forward in building my reputation was participating in volunteering projects (women`s hackathons, conferences) and identifying new startup projects where I brought my contribution to social media and community events.

Embarking on a career transition demands meticulous planning. Before announcing my move into tech, I extensively researched industry requirements and expectations. To bridge skill gaps, I'm constantly enrolling in courses and gaining certifications. Crafting a compelling career story highlights my passion for tech, diversity, and ethics. This transition is about contributing fresh perspectives and experiences to the community you join. Continuous learning is key, beyond certificates, actively participating in the evolving landscape. Building connections within the community fosters collaboration, insights sharing, and celebrating innovations together.

Changing careers doesn't mean you're changing your values or who you are as a person. The value you have created and are creating is recognized and appreciated by those around you. Naturally, when transitioning to a new professional role, you can't simply apply the same work standards from your previous career. Therefore, in your new role, you need thorough and well-prepared adjustments (using suggestions from LinkedIn is one way to do this). This demonstrates to others that your professionalism and reputation are not lost due to a career change, it's just a matter of finding a career that is more suitable for you.

Planning your professional exit with care is crucial, as your potential future employer might contact your previous company for references. It's important to leave a positive lasting impression. In your final days, demonstrate determination and commitment by tying up loose ends, ensuring a smooth handover to your successor, and maintaining your reputation for professionalism. This approach helps preserve valuable relationships and keeps doors open for potential future collaborations. Additionally, staying connected with former colleagues, both online and offline, can be beneficial. You can reach out to celebrate their milestones or offer insights on challenges they might be facing.

Existe um grande equívoco de que, ao mudar de carreira, o profissional zera sua reputação e precisa começar do zero. Na verdade, muito da sua reputação é construída a partir de habilidades socioemocionais, como comunicação, liderança e adaptabilidade, que são transferíveis para qualquer carreira que você escolher. Para preservar sua reputação profissional ao mudar de carreira, é importante destacar essas habilidades contínuas em seu currículo e durante as entrevistas. Além disso, mantenha boas relações com sua rede de contatos anterior, pois essas conexões podem fornecer suporte e até mesmo abrir portas na nova área.

I really enjoy talking about this bit, especially so because Communication is a basic human activity and most of us take it for granted, however it plays such a huge role in any walk of human transactions. Many of us, carry the burden of our professional dealings to the last day of work, which is only human. However, its utmost important that Career change shouldn't trigger negativity for us or people we thought weren't good to us. Instead of bracketing people into groups during our exits, lets keep the bridge strong. Remember, Silence is Golden & better than any bad taste we leave intentionally or unintentionally. A Study mentioned that 86% of employees & executives cited lack of collaboration / ineffective communication for failures.

Approaching a career change with respect and professionalism is paramount. Providing ample notice, expressing gratitude, and offering assistance in the transition of tasks to the current employer and colleagues are key priorities. Try to be honest but aim to avoid any negative remarks about past or present work if is not constructive, recognizing the importance of maintaining positive relationships for potential references or collaborations in the future. Communicating the change to your network, clients, and mentors would be positive and confident, emphasizing achievements, goals, and skills, while seeking their support and advice.

This is a classic step in demonstrating your professionalism, decency, and culture when changing your work environment or job. Both you and I live in a society where maintaining relationships with current and former colleagues is indispensable. We are not all-powerful individuals capable of asserting that we can do everything independently and excellently, that's why we need relationships, communication, and mutual support. As suggested by LinkedIn, you can continue to support former colleagues and companies even after leaving, if they still genuinely need your assistance. This is not just about maintaining a culture; it's also about leaving a lasting impression of your character and values.

It’s very often said that your network is your net worth. But many of us don’t appreciate how truly valuable our networks have become as we reach mid-career. Today the biggest hurdle to surmount in any effort is gaining trust and credibility. But within your network you already have a wealth of people who know you are a real genuine and credible professional (not some weird LinkedIn stalker or bot). This immediately gets you through the hardest filter and can get you heard. Likewise for partners - you have people who you know and can judge as suitable people to collaborate and partner with. Pooling yours and their experience is greater than the sum of the parts and invaluable on a career change journey!

Leveraging your existing network effectively during a career transition is essential. Rather than simply asking for job leads or general advice, be proactive and specific about your goals. Clearly communicate your value, your career vision, and the impact you aim to make in your target industry. By articulating your career ambitions and strengths, you enable those in your network, both personal and professional, to more effectively identify and recommend opportunities that align with your career path.

A career transition can feel like a daring leap into the unknown. And that's where your network becomes your launchpad. Beyond introductions & advice, your network strengthens your credibility & visibility, solidifying your image as a well-rounded individual with transferable skills and valuable experiences. But how do you leverage this powerful tool? -Nurture existing connections by engaging with them and staying in touch both online and offline. This keeps your name relevant and shows genuine interest. -Actively build new bridges by joining industry meetups, following thought leaders...and seek informational interviews to gain valuable insights and build rapport in your new field.

Nurturing and growing your network is pivotal during a career change. This invaluable asset opens doors to opportunities, knowledge, and credibility in your new field. To leverage it effectively, stay connected with former colleagues, expressing genuine interest in their endeavors. Joining professional associations, attending industry events, and engaging in online forums amplify networking opportunities. Cultivate relationships with a proactive, curious, and respectful approach, focusing on mutual value and trust. A robust network is not just a tool; it's a dynamic support system.

When you establish a personal culture of professionalism and kindness, I believe good relationships and support will naturally gravitate towards you. Maintaining positive past relationships and building new ones in the present not only offers numerous opportunities for personal development but also opens up professional possibilities. Each individual possesses their network, and if you are well-regarded and appreciated by many, the assistance from their networks can be invaluable. And of course, in life, we always need friends to share these wonderful moments with. Building and nurturing your connections and network enriches both our personal and professional lives, creating a supportive and thriving community around us.

It's important to tailor your achievements to your desired field. Focus on the actions you took and the impact these actions had. This could include the challenges you faced, the strategies you employed, and the results you achieved. Documenting your progress and publicly acknowledging those who have assisted you not only shows gratitude but also demonstrates your ability to collaborate and appreciate others' contributions. When deciding on the best platform to showcase your achievements, consider where your target audience and industry professionals are most active. Choose a platform that aligns with your industry's culture and where your content will have the most relevance and visibility to those in your desired field.

Through the great opportunities I had at various organizations, I learned that a compelling portfolio and a strong personal brand are not just assets – they're fuel for career ascent. Early on, I didn't recognize the need to showcase my expertise. Later, I could curate a portfolio showcasing my best work & quantifiable achievements. Remember, one would need tangible testament to one's capabilities, to boost credibility & open doors to exciting opportunities. Although I never thought that crafting a powerful personal brand was pivotal, but now I'd recommend it to all. Unintentionally, my unique value proposition, simple yet effective communication skills, my passion for excellence was visible & resonated with my leaders. Lucky for me.

Elevate your professional image during a career change by spotlighting your portfolio and brand. A well-curated portfolio, comprising work samples and achievements, serves as a testament to your skills and potential. Your brand, encapsulating your values and unique selling proposition, is crucial for presenting yourself effectively. Utilize platforms like your resume, LinkedIn, website, and social media to seamlessly integrate your portfolio and brand. Ensure consistency, relevance, and regular updates to authentically reflect your career change and aspirations.

This is a core element when changing careers, indeed. Clarifying your identity, making your profiles easily accessible, and updated, and effectively showcasing your values are tasks we must regularly maintain. Leveraging the relationships and networks you have built is a way to spread your image further and faster in your career transition, in my opinion. Endorsements and confirmations from quality relationships are invaluable additions to your profile. Knowing how to present yourself and capitalize on your brand is key to a career change. It's about strategically positioning yourself in the professional landscape, ensuring that your skills, experiences, and values are visible and resonant with potential opportunities.

Learning from feedback is indeed a lifelong journey. It doesn't just come from books and formal education but also from experiences, feedback, and interactions with people and the environment around us. Curiosity fuels motivation and excitement while seeking feedback helps consolidate, improve, and develop oneself. Therefore, it's essential to maintain a cycle of giving and receiving feedback throughout life's journey. Approaching this with mindfulness, inquisitiveness, and gratitude, in my opinion, is a wonderful key to a fulfilling life. This approach not only enhances personal growth but also enriches relationships with others, creating a supportive and dynamic learning environment.

Maintaining professional credibility during a career change involves seeking continuous feedback and improvement. Feedback, gathered from new colleagues, employers, clients, mentors, or peers, is a valuable tool for growth and adaptation. I approach this process with an open mind, humility, and gratitude, demonstrating a willingness to act on feedback and enhance my performance. This commitment not only elevates skills and knowledge but also builds a reputation grounded in credibility and continuous improvement.

1) Consider changing career paths within your organization if possible and you like where you work. Good companies are willing to keep good employees. It's worth a try if you do decide to do something else. 2) When transitioning to freelancing, consider offering your services to your current or previous employer. They know your skills and added value. You can get your first assignment and then a review! 3) Talk to people in your company, add them on LinkedIn and tell them what you're going to do. They may need a colleague like you or your help in the future. Tell as many people as possible about your new career.