Out Of Office currently runs at a loss. The weekly content and the majority of events are free, because I believe all self-employed women deserve support. By becoming a Patreon you can help keep all of this free, and as a thank you, you’ll gain free access to the monthly webinars and accountability sessions with like-minded women. If you can’t afford to support it each month, you can also make a one-off Ko-fi donation.
Morning, Colleague!
I don’t know about you, but my April was dreadful — personally and professionally. It was great to take a week off to re-set, and now I’m bouncing into mid-May feeling positive. So what better time to announce a couple of new events? Read to the end to find out more.
Today’s issue is all about that career change itch. And if there’s anyone who knows about changing careers, it’s Rachel Murray, who not only transformed her own work, but now writes Pivot — a fantastic newsletter on the topic. I spoke to her about how self-employed people can pivot their own careers or specialisms, and she was kind enough to share some advice.
Considering a career change?
If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that traditional ways of working are dying out, and we might as well push towards whatever makes us happy.
If what you’re doing is no longer working for you, and you’re considering a switch, in many ways there’s never been a better time. “There’s been a massive shift in the last two to three years, with much more focus on the gig economy and portfolio careers,” says Rachel. “The idea of a side hustle is also more mainstream. There’s more support available and less questioning if you want to create your own career.”
As we already know, there’s been a boost in people going self-employed, particularly women. “Companies aren’t moving fast enough to allow people to be flexible, so a lot of them are going freelance, and the pandemic is accelerating that,” says Rachel.
But if you’re established in a freelance role (and would rather pull your eyelashes out than return to office life) you can still career-switch, moving to an entirely new area or tweaking your work to fit a different specialism. Wherever you’re coming from, and wherever you’re headed, the advice, and the challenges, are the same.
Rachel’s own pivot
“I was in law for seven years and it was tough,” says Rachel. “I loved it, but I was dealing with domestic abuse and care cases day in, day out. There was no such thing as mental health for lawyers, especially a decade ago, and it became harder for me to help the people I wanted to help alongside supporting my own mental health. I felt like I was drowning.”
She started writing and blogging on the side of her day job. “People said they enjoyed it, and why didn’t I consider writing? I took a career break and helped a friend with some social and copywriting work, and it spiralled from there.” She took a role at Tatler as an advertorial copywriter, and eventually went freelance. Now she offers advice to other people wanting to make big changes too.
Crab-walk this way…
One topic that Rachel covers brilliantly in Pivot is the idea of ‘crab-walking’ — in other words, the idea of sidestepping towards your ultimate goal.
One of the massive advantages of changing careers when you’re already self-employed is that it’s much easier to make micro-changes each week, without being forced to immediately give up your current income. Whether it’s taking time out to build a new website, or dipping your toe into a piece of work in your new field, there are lots of ways to test the waters before diving in fully.
For more ideas on how to do this, check out my earlier issue on paid side hustles.
Possible pitfalls
While you might be happy with the idea of changing direction, sometimes other people in your life can take convincing. “People thought I was mad leaving law. I had family members sending me law jobs for years, and others saying I’d wasted my degree,” says Rachel. “I also had friends who are lawyers who took it quite personally. Law was seen as a ‘stable’ career. Within professional services moving on is frowned upon.”
I certainly found people in my life were quite anxious when I went self-employed, and I imagine many of you experienced the same thing. Unfortunately, when switching from one self-employed job to a different field, it’s likely those same people will have questions for you again. Ultimately it’s about learning to tune them out, and firmly but calmly pointing out why you’re making the change.
When anxiety is holding you back
“Wobbles are part of the process,” says Rachel. “If they’re caused by stepping out of your comfort zone, then they’re a good thing. I was so burnt out when I jumped from my job, and now I’ve created Pivot to be a support network for people ready to change. I hear from my readers ‘I should have left earlier’ so often.”
Her main advice? “Have money behind you if you can. That way money won’t be the factor that stops you from changing jobs. I didn’t have enough, and I used my credit card a lot, but I think if you can plan ahead it’s much easier. The more prepared you are, the better.”
Is my career too diverse?
One further worry that many people have when switching careers, and that I’ve touched on previously, is having a portfolio that’s all over the shop. In a world where we’re encouraged to be ‘brands’ it can make it harder to admit that your career history is chequered. “If you haven’t been in a job for long, put it on your CV as a piece of contract work — change the narrative. You can always pick a common trend or skill that you’ve improved too,” says Rachel. “It’s not about what you’ve done, but how you talk about it. Own your story.”
Plus, don’t forget that often what we see as a weakness can be a super power, and sometimes it’s the weird combination of experiences you’ve built up that make you the perfect fit for a niche client.
Have you changed fields, or do you plan to in future? I’d love to hear how you’re making it work.
EVENTS! First up, the next webinar is all about podcasting. Got an idea for a series but not sure how to get it off the ground? Or maybe you’re keen to move into the field but are lacking in inspiration? Wherever you’re at, this session with Ross Sutherland, creator of the award-winning Imaginary Advice could be just the thing. Lots of chances to ask your own questions, and also look at a very handsome man who makes his full-time living from the podcast. Tickets are free to Patreons or for sale here. It’s on May 20th and a recording will be available too.
Also, a reminder of our next free ‘work together’ afternoon, which will be THIS Friday from 2pm. It’s a nice opportunity to get the benefits of office life without the faff. A bit of chat, a bit of work, a lot of fun! More details here.
Don’t forget to come and join other like-minded self-employed women in our private Facebook group for OOO readers.