Is it OK to take a Career Detour?

In today’s market, many people are challenged with making abrupt and unexpected changes in their chosen career path. We’ve all heard the recommendation, “use your existing network to get leads.” But … what happens if your path is obstructed for an indefinite period of time and these gaps are reflected in your resume? Is a career detour worth considering?

I reflected on the route my hubby, Rolly, navigated when having to change career paths. After a lengthy career as a self-employed cribber (back-breaking work to safely construct building foundations), he closed shop because he physically wasn’t able to do it anymore. Once all the paperwork was filed and his company officially shutdown, the reality of his situation set in. He didn’t like the idea of going on disability, but struggled with what he could do next and was getting a little down about not being as productive as he used to be. To be honest, he was lost.

A few weeks later, a friend mentioned our community was desperately in need of school bus drivers. Although this wasn’t something he’d considered before, he thought part-time work could fill a gap until he sorted out his next career move. After all, he was used to driving trucks with large trailers, so he put together a resume for the first time in over 20 years, which forced him to consider transferable skills for the first time in his employment history. He ended up getting the job (yes, they were in urgent need of new drivers), and took to bus driving with his usual enthusiasm; meeting an entirely new network of people in the process.

After completing a school year, a fellow bus driver asked if he would help bale hay over the summer. He was a little nervous about it, not having done this before, and wasn’t sure how physically demanding the work would be. After talking about his need for modified work and what was required, an agreement was struck. The possibility of learning something new and having a full-time job, even temporarily, was appealing. Over the summer as he got to know a few farmers in the area, in came requests for handyman services, which put his trade skills back into good use.

How did he manage to transition roles, without assistance from his existing network, to build a new future with his specialized needs? How can that help jump-start your next move?

Step 1: Take time to grieve

Right or wrong, most of us tend to blur the lines between what we do and who we are, so a job loss has an emotional impact. Give yourself time and space to come to terms with the loss and then move on. The key here is not to linger too long; that feeling of loss can cost you more emotionally than it should.

Step 2: Expand your network

Rolly is an extrovert, so meeting new people comes easily but being at home by himself during the day was very difficult. He was used to dealing with staff, other trades, suppliers, building managers, and foreman on a daily basis, many of which he considers friends. This network of people were still in a field he couldn’t actively be in anymore, so he wasn’t able to rely on them for job leads. He needed to find an interim self-made way to transition out of the house to something that would energize him again.

The good news is, whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or a bit of both, you can get to know new people by doing something of interest to you. Maybe that’s working part-time at a golf course or volunteering at the local food bank or animal shelter. Sharing a passion in this manner is a great way to make more connections, which may lead to an appealing prospect you hadn’t considered before.

Step 3: Consider new opportunities

Did you see the movie Yes Man starring Jim Carrey? He plays a person who’s had a major setback and becomes increasingly negative and isolated. He reluctantly accepts a challenge to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity or invitation as a way to open himself up to other possibilities, and ends up in some interesting situations.

I’m not recommending anything that extreme! The messaging here … Don’t be afraid to try something that brings new experiences or new possibilities, especially if it’s an area of interest or where you have transferable skills. Enthusiastically participating in new opportunities can boost growth and development on a personal and professional level, and get you noticed.

Step 4: This may be transitional and that’s OK

Although Rolly is not able to work at a pace or level that he once did, he has managed to carve out a niche of part-time odd jobs that consumes most of his day, and earned him the nickname, Odd-Job-Rolly!

Continuously learning while you consider your career says a lot about your character and highlights your strengths, knowledge and skills to a future employer.

If your career path is temporarily obstructed, consider a diversion or several if that’s what it takes. Meet new people, join new groups, try something you may not have considered in the past and enjoy the ride. Go ahead, impress hiring managers with your ability to accept detours on your path to fulfilling your career goals in whatever direction that may take you!

About the Author: Cheryl Vance currently works in the oil and gas sector as a manager of regulatory at a large international company, and is a freestyle thinker specializing in encouraging continuous improvement using unconventional ideas to generate strategies that influence positive growth and achievement.