Mind the Gap- Lessons in Personal Resiliency Learned from Career Gaps
Enjoy the Sunshine in your Gap Period!
Happy 2023! We are well into this new year and the hope of an eventless new year has been overtaken by our business headlines of late. The news has been filled with the seemingly endless list of Technology company layoffs. This cycle started in Q3 of 2022 and has continued to the present day. 2022, saw almost 100,000 positions shed in the big tech sector. The new year has picked right up where last year left off with close to 50,000 layoffs announced in the first few weeks of the new year in tech and carrying over into financial services. While the rationale for these layoffs is varied and the strategy for why they happen is a great topic for another blog, I’d like to focus on what will become the reality for 150,000 plus families in the tech sector and numerous others in companies that have also announced layoffs- the reality of the gap in employment or the “career pause” as they navigate their next steps.
So like any potential negative experience or trauma, you have to place the experience in the proper context. If you were in a toxic situation and it came to an eventual end, it is probably more likely that you can compartmentalize the experience and not take it personally- good riddance you might say. Time to move on. However, often- the gap comes when you become a casualty of restructuring, poor leadership decisions, politics or an assembly of other reasons mostly out of your control- that makes it tougher- it is after all a loss. And losses, as Elizabeth Kübler-Ross might say-have stages of grief. Now I could launch into a cycle of denial, anger, bargaining etc. to depict the loss or you can just put it in its perspective- Stuff happens. Worst of all, bad stuff happens to good people [period, end stop].
A healthy perspective to view the situation through is that this is your chance to move forward and try something new. As a veteran of a few of these lovely inflection points (and I’m going through one of them right now), I can tell you first hand that it isn’t fun, but when you come out on the other side, you will be the better. So, to shed some optimism on this subject for you- I’m going to share a few observations that I’ve made as someone who has self-reportedly mastered “the gap” and has emerged better than before on the other side of the hill you are about to climb. So here we go…
So I usually use the immediate few weeks of entering the gap period to clear my head. Some people do yoga or perhaps meditate. I journal. I’ve been cataloguing my thoughts for years having started when I was in high school. In fact, my journals were the focal point of the book I published last year, Tenacity For Life, Lessons in Life Business and The World Around Us (2022 Fig Factor Media). So between journaling and hiking or long walks, I am able to clear my head and focus on what this last episode has meant in my life. I like to pick the setting for this, it has to be in an area where I can commune with nature. It is here were I go through the process: What did I learn? What did I discover about myself? What patterns did I see and choose to not repeat? What did I like about the position? What did I not like? I find this process of completion to be fairly therapeutic in itself. It is then time to start to lay the framework for your next adventure. I’ve tried to keep the following lessons in mind as I work through the experience. Just a few of the many I've faced in my many adventures transitioning through the gap.
1. Never Underestimate the Power of Your Network:
We all have networks and if there has ever been a time to use them, this IS one of those times. There is an adage that you should build your network well before it comes time to use it and nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve found that in reaching out to your network, people are generally willing to help. You have to be very specific about what type of help you are asking your contact to make. Do you need an introduction? Perhaps you need a referral or reference? Be specific and be very respectful of everyone’s time. There is no better way to tax your network than by wasting their time. Linked In is a great tool, but use this opportunity to get out, have coffee, meet one on one, and catch up with your network. I also like to make “deposits” in these personal accounts as these meetings come up. How can you help them? What are they struggling with? It’s a great opportunity to nurture your relationship with that person. When it comes time for your ask , remember S-A-T-G:
Specifically- How can they help you?
Action- What action can they take?
Timeframe-What is the timeframe that you need that help in?
Gratitude- What can you do for them?
Evaluate the Treasures of your network.
2. New Beginnings- It’s a great time for a career pivot:
These unplanned or planned gaps are often a great time for a career pivot. Much has been written on this subject and I'm no expert, but I'm glad to share how I've used the gap as an opportunity to pivot. Had you topped out in your previous industry? Had you hit the wall or ceiling? What skills can you leverage into a new industry? As a guy who has pivoted his career three times in three decades, I can tell you that I have fully leveraged the gap as a period of rebranding. You will find that there is still a consistent theme that your career has taken- build on that. For example, perhaps you have successfully lead teams over a period of different positions-That is a transferable skill. The ability to be an empathetic leader is a skill that is greatly needed in various sectors. Leverage that. Another might be your responsibility for a P&L which demonstrates your financial acumen. Financial management and budgeting skills are transferable. You may need to lean in on the business logic for the numbers, but the skills are never the less useful in various industries. The same goes with experience hiring- a highly transferable skill. Being able to recruit, hire (and fire) teams are very valuable skills. Next you will need to work with specific nuances related to the industry you are looking to go into to leverage those skills based on the needs of their organization.
3. Don’t Underestimate your Own Resourcefulness:
"Pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you." Maya Angelou
One of the greatest lessons of these gap periods is the level of resilience that we don’t even know we had. I love to take advantage of these times to explore new skills and learn new subjects. In my most recent gap period, I’ve re-explored sharing my lessons learned with founders in the start-up community. I’ve focused on founders from under-represented communities because we are usually the ones that don’t get the help. I've also taken on being a business mentor. So I’ve learned a lot about them and myself during this gap period. I was speaking with a colleague recently who shared that she was going to take on some non-profit work to keep herself busy. She was going to help the non-profit organization’s CFO to help sharpen her financial acumen. This is where we shine in our brightest moments and often these periods that many might consider periods of darkness, become periods of rebirth in a new direction and often it leads to a new beginning. So take advantage of this valuable pause time and feed your growth mindset.
4. Whether you think you can or think you can’t- YOU CAN.
I’m not going to kid you; these gap periods can be emotional rollercoasters. However, I’ve found that balancing it all with a positive disposition and silencing self-doubt helps you to keep the proverbial train on the tracks. I’ve often found that while we don’t realize why these gaps are happening at the time that they do happen, it is important to keep in mind that in due time, we will see the reason why and how this has been part of our journey. We see how it has added to our toolbox and in the process made us stronger. So be kind to yourself, go easy, take the proper time to really make the most of the gap. Silence any self-doubts that may be rumbling in your head. You can do this and you will come out stronger in the end!
“On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.”― Gregory S. Williams
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