Update! Now taking bookings for a 2 hour career change webinar – together we build your own personalised change roadmap for getting into the change management field. Contact me for more details.
Over the last decade we’ve certainly seen some increase in organisations understanding they have to get better at change management. With this growth in awareness comes increased exposure for those not working in change management to people with the titles of change leads, change manager, change analyst, change communications officer.
In 2010, the question I got the most was – how can I learn more? Now the question is: how do I get a job in change management? So in the spirit of building a community of quality change management folks, here’s my .02 AUD
- You’re going to need knowledge, skills and attitude. How do you rate on all three?
- Do a change management stock take – what are your particular strengths and skills that will add value to you a change management project or a change management problem?
- Think about where you are best positioned – should it be a sideways step into the same industry? Does your background lend itself to a particular type of change?
- Can you take your existing background and translate it in change jargon? How proficient are you in speaking the language of change and then explaining things in common sense language.
- Think about what is the best level to pitch yourself at – if you want to be positioning as an experienced change manager, I’d say you need to tick off at least 7 of these 10 requirements. Otherwise, think about change analyst, or junior change manager roles. Hint – CMI can be very useful in understanding the requirements of an entry level change manager
- Make time to see the specialised change management recruiters – in the Australian market try Ampersand, Allegra, Cubic Consulting, Momentum Search, ChangeWorks Consulting and SHK . Run your resume past them and get their thoughts on how you would fit in their client roles.
- Spend some time trawling through the change management roles on SEEK – what do they have in common and how do they differ? What don’t you have that you would need to feel confident applying?
- Consider some of the change management accreditations or memberships – PCI, PROSCI, CMI or or one of the APMG providers. By themselves, none will make you a good change manager. You need experience for that, but they will help you make it through a screening process that filters for accreditation. They will also give you confidence with a model to use and support from the vendors and your cohort who do the courses as well.
- Use your non-change management network. People “buy” off people they like and trust. You may find it easier to land a change management role with some-one you have worked with before, because they trust you. When you have clarity on what you can offer then reach out to your network and let them know of your intentions and how they can help.
But on behalf of all the experienced practitioners and recruiters who have freely given of their time and thoughts on how to help you into the next role: reciprocate
- Give referrals to the recruiters who were nice to you and showed you the way
- Recommend the experienced practitioners who helped you to your network – pass on leads if you hear of them for contracting, consulting and permanent roles.
- If you are out of your depth – ask for help. We’d rather that than the profession get a bad name.
- Put some time into volunteering for the community: eg IABC, CMI, the Change Management Professionals. You gotta give to get!
Hi Jennifer,
I think that this is an interesting topic. My view is that it is important to get into change management for the right reasons. One should have a real interest and aptitude for change management to begin or continue a career in this space.
Also, look inwardly and be honest with yourself. How can you improve? A good Change Manager is certainly not resistant to change…
I agree Alan. I’ve been a informal change champion for many many roles over the years as my position of EA and after completing my Prosci Certification I am eagerly pursuing roles in this area. You definitely have to want to be in this industry for the right reason with plenty of patience!
HI Jennifer
I have been in the education spectrum for now 12 years, Where it has come to a point where I need to do something else. I have thought about my strengths and weaknesses and I have had added experience in working in the corporate sector of training and development. I thought that going into change management would be a good fit as I am a people person and I would like to help organizations make a positive change. My problem is though how do I change into it myself
Hi Jennifer,
Excellent, succinct post that highlights important points. One of my most recent bug bears is that organisations are now recruiting for Change and Communications Managers, expecting one person to do the whole lot, regardless of the change size. I’m a change communications manager/specialist with a deep understanding of change management principles, but the two roles, while linked, are not the same and I’ve found myself in roles expecting it all – engagement, analysis, strategy, planning, tactical calendars etc etc … and offering no support to get the work done or the communications delivered.
I now don’t accept a position unless I’ve ascertained whether there’s a team in place and what is expected from me, otherwise, in more cases than not, you are being set up to fail – not because of some sinister intention, but generally due to lack of requirements understanding by the organisation.
My advice to add to this is when deciding whether to go into change management, it’s vital to make sure you really know what it means and how it differs from change communications and even, in some cases, business analyst roles – they’re important to each other for change success, but each stream requires different skillsets and mindsets.