Travis Van Osprey, formerly in construction, now thrives in the toy and game industry. He discusses how networking with unexpected contacts led to his career change. He highlights the 'social Goldilocks' method of engaging with others, illustrating how numerous conversations can unveil hidden opportunities. Travis shares insights on job negotiations and the importance of seeing your career as a holistic journey. His story is a testament to the power of connectivity and proactive exploration in achieving fulfilling work.
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Quick takeaways
Networking and informal conversations can uncover career opportunities that are not visible on traditional job boards.
Self-awareness and alignment of personal values with career goals are essential for finding fulfillment in a new role.
Deep dives
The Importance of Networking
Networking plays a crucial role in career transitions and discovering new opportunities. Awkward connections made through informal conversations can lead to unexpected career paths, suggesting that the ideal job isn't always found through conventional means like job boards. Instead, personal connections with colleagues, parents, or even neighbors can illuminate paths to fulfilling work. The emphasis is on being proactive and reaching out to anyone within one's network to explore potential roles and industries.
Navigating Career Change
Transitioning from one career to another often comes with challenges, as illustrated by Travis's journey from cabinetry to the playground industry. Despite years of experience, he felt unfulfilled and realized he needed a significant change. Equipped with newfound clarity from coaching sessions, he identified the desire to work in a role incorporating 'play'. This self-awareness, paired with constructive feedback and intentional conversations, allowed him to explore various career paths meaningfully.
Trial and Error in Job Searching
Job searching requires perseverance, creativity, and sometimes a bit of trial and error. Active exploration of different roles led Travis to valuable insights about his preferences and strengths, particularly through conversations about product marketing. He utilized online resources, including courses and networking events, to adapt and refine his career goals continually. These steps not only expanded his professional knowledge but also helped him network effectively with industry professionals.
Defining Success in a New Role
Recognizing that ideal career conditions encompass more than just salary is key to finding satisfaction in a new position. Travis examined his new role against his ideal career profile and found meaningful alignment in aspects like job fulfillment, work-life balance, and direct engagement with the community. Although the financial aspect did not fully meet his expectations, he valued the overall emotional and professional benefits. This holistic approach to defining success underscores the importance of aligning one's work with personal values and interests.
Your ideal role isn’t hiding on a job board, just waiting for you to enter the perfect search term. Actually... It's probably even closer than that. Maybe not one Google search away, but through a past coworker, a fellow parent from your kid's sports league, or maybe even your neighbor. Your ideal role is likely just a few conversations away!
In this episode, Travis shares how a breakthrough with his career coach led him to have unexpected conversations with many people in his network, and ultimately to his new, exciting role
What you’ll learn
How to reach out to your network and leverage your social circle to uncover new opportunities
How Travis reflected on his interests to identify the industries he should explore
How creating an ideal career profile can help you evaluate if roles are right for you (and make sure you don't settle)