Clara Chorley

There's a really good chance, if you want something 'better' than you've had before - that you'll need to expand your network. LinkedIn is a fantastic and often under-utilized resource for this. Start with a list - who could hire you, who could give you advice, who could connect you. Get your people organized, and reach out one at a time - for a coffee, lunch, zoom. Save the goldstar people for when you're really clear, have your elevator pitch ready to go, and know why you're connecting. I will say that networking is The Hardest Part for most people. It matters that you have a strategy and an approach that feels authentic to you. Most of us aren't interested in being takers. Ask others, who're like you, what they've done & go test!

This stage is about Clarity: - Vision: what do you want? what skills do you want to do more of /less of, what impact do you want to have, how would you like this next opportunity to fit with your broader vision - include what & who are important in your life - who do you want to do it with? consider the qualities you need in future colleagues; eg. a non-empathic over-worked boss might be inspiring to start; but eventually that'll wear you down. - where do you want to do it? what type of org, what missions/populations do you care about, what industry or sector or type of business inspires you, what's the culture like Plan out your finances so you have a runway, and then clarify until you feel some energy about what you're going for!

Please only do this once you're clear about what you Want. One of the big depletors of confidence and energy is people doing work they're good at - and not enough work they enjoy. If you've been laid off you have an opportunity for a fresh start. Clarify what you want, identify the skills & experience that qualify you (remember transferrable skills) and go for it. Confidence is the hardest part of this. Whenever possible, don't allow your inner critic to push you towards 'business as usual' when you're ready for the next level.

I really believe this should come first (see #1 above). For most of us with 10 or more years experience there are many ways we can support positive technical change within our organization. With a clear picture it's easier to design a customized proposal that has a better chance being accepted. By learning the business first it's easier to: a) know which of your skills and possible solutions are most applicable; and b) who you need to ally with internally to support your change; and c) design and communicate a bespoke proposal. --> Learn the business --> Design your proposal --> Communicate your impact --> Collaborate with others

Now you have a clear picture of where your technical skills fit and who you need to ally with (see #1 above), next is to communicate your vision. In general, if a 12-year old can understand what you're describing, it's likely that a diverse group of stakeholders will, too. A framework to follow when preparing to share your ideas: - who'll be in the room? - what's most important to them? - how does my proposal help them get what they want? - how does my proposal solve a core problem they're facing? - what's my proposal & what skills do I provide that they currently don't have? And with literally anything you say, put yourself in the shoes of those listening and ask yourself: "Will this person understand what I just said?"

Always know the full picture before making any suggestions for solutions. Do all you can to understand the organization / department's goals, available resources, key progress-blocks, and solutions tried to-date. You'll do this while identifying key decision-making stakeholders and cultivating those relationships. Once you have this information it'll be easier to see clearly where opportunities exist and which of your technical skills would support progress.