Career Coach Kathy Caprino shares how, when and why to make a major career transition with the members of Connect: Professional Women’s Network. To learn more about the Connect group and join for free, visit http://www.linkedin.com/womenconnect.

1. BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Ready for a New Career?
Career Coach Kathy Caprino shares how, when and why to make a
major career transition with Connect: Professional Women’s Network.

2. Meet Kathy Caprino!
Kathy is a women‘s career coach, author, speaker
and leadership trainer, as well as the founder of Ellia
Communications, Inc. and The Amazing Career
Project, all dedicated to helping women advance,
thrive and reach their highest potential in business
and professional life.
In addition to her book Breakdown, Breakthrough,
Kathy is a also a contributor to Forbes, AARP‘S Life
Reimagined for Work and Huffington Post. Her
weekly career video blog Work You Love addresses
key topics and trends around women‘s career
transitions, success and growth, leadership, and
more.
Kathy recently answered questions from the members
of Connect: Professional Women‘s Network.
Here is some of her most popular advice!

3. ACCORDING TO LINKEDIN + CITI’S
TODAY’S PROFESSIONAL WOMAN REPORT:
The average professional
woman expects to have eight
different jobs over the course
of her lifetime.

4. Make finding a new career your top priority. ―If you don‘t have
time to research new careers, you don‘t have time to build a new
career. It‘s a large undertaking and, in order to achieve it, you‘ve
got to give it your all. To do what we want in life, we have to
prioritize it FIERCELY!‖

5. Wondering where to start? Try the beginning. ―Think about all the jobs
you‘ve had since high school -- what you loved, hated and would never do
again. Think about everything that people have commented on and said ‗Wow,
she‘s amazing at that!‘ Then break those down into definable skills, and think
about careers or areas that might utilize them.‖

6. ACCORDING TO LINKEDIN + CITI’S
TODAY’S PROFESSIONAL WOMAN REPORT:
Women are more likely
than men to make several
career transitions as they
progress toward their goals.

7. Research, research, research. ―Once you‘ve identified your top
options, do as much online and offline research as possible. Google,
follow folks in the field on LinkedIn, interview and shadow people
established in the line of work, and follow the industry‘s movers and
shakers on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.‖

8. Be proactive in your transition. ―You have to let others know of your great
work and what you want. Rather than applying to open postings, determine the
30 companies you‘d love to work for, and network with fierce commitment. It‘s
PEOPLE who will help you get great work.‖

9. Don’t set yourself up for failure. ―As much as you want to quit your job to focus
on finding a new career, don‘t do it unless the job is intolerable and you can‘t
bear it. The stress of not earning money crimps the process of career change.
Plus, it‘s much harder to get work when you‘re out of work.‖

10. ACCORDING TO LINKEDIN + CITI’S
TODAY’S PROFESSIONAL WOMAN REPORT:
More women than men are
employed in careers that differ
from what they thought they
would do when graduating from
college (45% versus 36%).

11. Think hard before you launch your own business. ―This is not a
step to be taken lightly. It requires more courage, risk-acceptance,
commitment, self-motivation and work than most people imagine.‖ As
a first step, check out Kathy‘s free resources about building
entrepreneurial success on her Forbes blog, Career Bliss.

12. If you’re switching to freelance or consulting, build a nest egg.
―While you can take small, unrelated jobs to pay the bills, save
enough to launch your new career so you can focus 100 percent of
your time, efforts, marketing, networking, etc. on this new direction.‖

13. ACCORDING TO LINKEDIN + CITI’S
TODAY’S PROFESSIONAL WOMAN REPORT:
Women are more likely than men to think
that they‘ll work in a totally different
industry or at a different company in 10
years (30% versus 19%).

14. Relocating? Prepare to work twice as hard. “The best way to find work
that‘s not in your area is through extensive networking, not applying to
positions cold. Tap your network for warm leads, and find a way to make
personal-contact inroads with people in that region—travel there frequently
for conferences, trainings and network association meetings.‖

15. Be patient. “Career change does not happen overnight. It‘s a
process, and the most successful career changers have done
extensive inner and outer work to realize what they are capable of,
and build the courage to honor their top priorities, and believe in
themselves without reservation.‖

16. 5 Steps to Successful Career Change
1. Step back for an empowered perspective. Determine
2.
3.
4.
5.
which directions are the most compelling and, just as important, the
most viable.
Let go—of the thinking, patterns, and behaviors that keep you
stuck. Look for repeating negative patterns in your life, as well as
limiting beliefs and mindsets.
Say yes to your compelling visions. Identify concretely
what amazing success and reward looks like for you specifically.
Explore it and try it on. Truly consider the top three directions
you‘re excited about, and ―try them on‖ as thoroughly as you can.
Create a smart plan to make it happen. Create a 3-month,
6-month, and 12-month plan, with specific, measurable, achievable,
realistic, and timely goals—and someone in your court to keep you
accountable.

17. Additional Resources
Today‘s Professional Woman Report – a national survey conducted by
LinkedIn and Citi, inspired by the Connect group
Ellia Communications – Kathy Caprino‘s company, devoted to helping
women thrive in their careers.
Work You Love -- Kathy‘s weekly video blog addressing key topics and
trends around women‘s careers.
Career Path Self-Assessment -- Online tool to help you determine your
new career path.
Amazing Career Project -- A 16-week program to help you structure your
journey to your new career.
Career Path Self-Assessment -- Online tool to help you determine your
new career path.
Career Bliss -- Kathy‘s blog for Forbes, focusing on women and careers.

18. Join the conversation!
Connect: Professional Women’s Network, Powered by Citi, is an
online community on LinkedIn that helps women achieve the
careers they want and discuss the issues relevant to their success.
For more great insights from Connect members, check out
the discussion: I'm Career Coach Kathy Caprino, Here to Answer
Your Questions and When Is It Time To Move On?
Visit linkedin.com/womenconnect for
more information and to join the group!
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