10 lively online groups for career changers
Dear reader, if you’re a regular here, you’ll know that one of my career change coaching mantras is ‘get off Google and go out into the real world.’
If you work with me, I’ll help you get curious and get your hands dirty. I’ll nudge you towards starting career change conversations that can change something or sometimes everything.
I’ll encourage you to set up your support team and find your tribe. Mostly this means meeting with actual humans, including generous-spirited strangers prepared to share their career stories and confirm your best hopes or worst fears about careers you think you might like. They may also point you at promising leads and away from pitfalls.
Find like-minded people online
That said, when it comes to finding your tribe, the internet has its uses. There are loads of vibrant, clever online communities that can help you grow the knowledge and connections you need to change careers. As these Facebook focused guidelines point out, you’ll reap what you sow in online, just as you do face to face.
If you’re keen to connect to like-minded career changers online, here are some places I recommend. Only two of these online recommendations are directly connected with changing careers. But any of them could connect you to sparky ideas or people or events or courses. All of them are potential sources of career change conversations and opportunities to share your enthusiasm, air your fears and ask and answer heaps of questions.
Career changers who need a nudge
If you feel that that life is too short to be unhappy at work, but you’re stuck for a way to make changes.
Visit: Careershifters a UK based, global powerhouse of career change inspiration and training. Join their online community.
Check out: Escape the City for career change tools. training. stories aimed at promoting great escapes and a job board featuring inspiring, different roles.
Small business owners
If your career change has made you a micro-entrepreneur and you’re looking for inspirational others and loads of resources to help you grow.
Visit: Flying Solo, an Australian resource site and online community for micro business and freelancers.
Listen to: the Flying Solo podcasts – great stories and sound advice.
Women in business
If you’re looking for some savvy support to boost your career, grow your business, or realise your leadership aspirations.
Visit: Mentor Walks Australia if you can get to one of these seven places and sign up for an hour of (socially distanced) walking and talking with a senior professional woman in your field.
Check out: Business Chicks an online community with a program of real-time events. Business Chicks connects, supports and celebrates women working at every level of public and private enterprise.
Join: League of extraordinary women - enough said!
Virtual Networkers
Visit: Shapr a web-based networking site dedicated to getting as many people as possible into the habit of meeting one new person a week.’
Multipotentialites
If you’re naturally and happily drawn to dozens of different careers, maybe you’re a multipotentialite (multipod for short).
Visit: Puttylike a resource website established by champion multipod Emilie Wapnick where you can apply to join The Puttytribe.
NOTE: There is currently a waitlist for places.
Watch: Emilie Wapnick’s TED talk Why some of us don’t have one true calling.
Think you could be a multipod? If you’re prepared to share your name and email, you can take the quiz.
Introverts
If you need loads of quiet down time to reflect and recharge, you may be an introvert like me.
Visit: Quiet Revolution created by introvert advocate Susan Cain, author of ‘Quiet - The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking’.
Watch: Susan’s original TED talk and her ‘Blueprint for a quiet revolution’.
Wondering if you’re an introvert? Try the quiz.
Looking for locals who share your interests
Visit: Meetup, a global online service for setting up real-time events. You can join as many meetup groups as Meetup groups as you like, to learn something new or do something you love. You can also start a group to attract interested others who share your leisurely or professional passions.
Share great sites
If a great mentoring or networking event or website or app helped you change careers, I’d love to hear from you so I can add it to this list.
By Jo Green, Career Change Coach
I know that when you find what you love, heart and soul, your life changes. I work every day with people who are reshaping their current careers, starting new enterprises or searching for a new direction. Basically I help people who don’t like their job to figure out what to do instead!
As a Careershifters and Firework Advanced Certified Coach and experienced career changer myself, I can help you figure out what fulfilling work looks like for you.
