Tips: Preparing to make a career change
I've been talking to lots of people lately who have started to imagine what their next professional chapter will look like, but aren't ready to start the job search in full force just yet.
This newsletter is meant for that group – the people who know a change is coming.
In my head, there are two categories here: 1. People who have pretty senior roles but need a minute to get their ducks in a row before they start looking; and 2. People who want to jump into the midterm elections.
Here are some of my overall thoughts for the first group:
Don’t wait to start looking. Finding a new job takes way longer than you think, and experience is that with everyone working remotely these days, the hiring process is dragging on even more. To put numbers on it, it’s typical to wait 8-12 weeks after your first round interview to get a job offer. So while you might hold off on submitting applications, you might set up networking and outreach meetings to start getting a sense for which organizations are expanding or in transition.
Prioritize networking over the job sites. If you have 10+ years of experience, it’s unlikely you’ll find your next adventure through LinkedIn. Most of the people I talk to find jobs through word of mouth and networking. You still might see the posting on Idealist or LinkedIn, but even before the posting appears, you'll read about the organization expanding due to an influx of funding.
It’s OK to have a runway. Because I’ve seen hiring managers wait for candidates they’re enthused about, I wouldn't worry too much about finding and starting a job immediately. It’s OK to apply for jobs now that are looking for someone to start ASAP and negotiate a later start date. As you know, once you have an offer on the table, you have all the power in the relationship. It's way easier for the organization to hire a consultant to bridge the gap than it is to run another search. And with side hustles being hip and now and everyone working from home, it’s easier to negotiate a long onboarding runway. Perhaps you start at 25% in July, 50% in August, and 100% in September.
For those of you that are looking for campaign jobs for this fall’s midterm elections, here are my thoughts:
Update your resume now. More and more campaigns and advocacy groups have started to staff up, so make sure your application materials are up to date and you are checking the key job boards regularly for opportunities. Most campaigns will hire their leadership by Memorial Day and try to be fully staffed by August 15.
Make it easy for recruiters to find you. I use Indeed and GainPower when trying to hire short-term campaign staff. To make it easy for a recruiter to find you on Indeed, make sure you've included the cities you're willing to be based. For GainPower, make sure your resume and contact information are up to date.
Consider moving to a swing state. As someone who used to travel all over the country, and now has two kids that keep me grounded in Boston, I look back fondly on my go-where-the-fight-is lifestyle. If you can pick up and move, consider doing it. Now is the time to connect with friends and family in those states and check out guest room availability.
Follow the money. Look at what campaigns people are funding as a way to figure out who is hiring. For example, there’s lots of money going into climate and reproductive justice right now.
Speaking of jobs, here are the 90+ jobs we’re looking to fill right now, and here are a few I want to highlight:
Chief Operating Officer at Way to Win; $185,000-$240,000; Remote.
Associate Director at GreenLight Fund Boston; $80,000-$90,000; Boston.
Director of Politics and Policy at United for Respect; $95,000-$120,000; Remote (Washington, D.C. preferred).
Now, onto housekeeping!
NRG Consulting is offering coaching programs to folks on the job hunt, whether you’re an entry- or senior-level candidate. Check out the programs we’re offering on our website, and get in touch with us.
If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! Also, if you have feedback or an idea for a future newsletter topic, shoot me a note.