Changing Career within a Company: How I Did It and How You Can Too!
Everyone has the potential to build a successful career. I've traversed various career paths, transitioning from one role to another and from one department to the next. The key lies in devising an effective strategy to progress to the next level.
So, if you've ever dreamed of changing jobs within the same company but felt it was impossible because you lacked experience in the new field... I'm here to tell you that it's possible, because I did it myself!
I initially joined Stuart in 2016 as the founding recruiter, responsible for hiring top talent. As the company grew, so did my role. I became the Head of Talent Acquisition. I built a team of recruiters and implemented the talent acquisition strategy, processes, and tools.
Seeking New Horizons
But after a few years of doing 100% talent acquisition, I felt like I needed a new challenge. With a passion for human potential, personal development, and professional growth, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in talent development. Since we didn’t have such a department in the company, I saw an opportunity to build it from the ground up.
Convincing the COO (my then-manager) was not an easy task. He didn’t think I had the necessary experience and also didn’t see the urgency of investing in talent development at that stage.
But I didn’t let his doubts stop me.
The Six-Step Strategy
Here is how I turned my vision into reality:
1. Research: I read everything about building talent development programs in companies. This included going through lots of books, articles, and academic papers to understand the best ways to do it.
2. Global Connections: I contacted over 30 global experts on LinkedIn. In my messages, I asked if they could spare 25 minutes for a call and explained how their advice could help me achieve a dream I've had for a long time.
3. Meaningful Conversations: From the experts I contacted, I engaged in insightful discussions with the 10 who graciously shared their expertise. During these conversations, I explored their roles, objectives, strategies, operations, metrics, tools, challenges, successes, and even their failures.
4. Crafting the Vision: Armed with newfound knowledge, I created a compelling deck outlining my vision, strategy, and operational plan for Talent Development over the next 3 years. I included a budget, timeline, and roadmap.
5. The Big Presentation: I nervously presented my deck to the COO. The first attempt? A flop. But I didn’t give up.
6. Perseverance Pays Off: I refined my pitch, addressed concerns, and presented again. This time, my passion and preparation shone through. The COO saw my determination and vision, and I got the green light!
Once I received the green light, I used both creativity and rational thinking to build a unique, never-before-seen internal university. I called it Stuart Academy and it had several pillars for learning and growth for all 600 employees.
This pivotal shift was in 2019 and has since opened doors to more opportunities in my career.
To those considering a career change within the same company: don't be disheartened by resistance or rejection. View them as opportunities to improve, adapt, and grow. You have the power to reshape your career and, in doing so, you might just reshape your company too.
P.S: Ready to reshape your career and unlock new opportunities? Whether you're considering a change within your current company or exploring new horizons outside, I'm here to guide you. Book a discovery call with me here, and let's embark on the path to turning your professional dreams into reality.
