APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions and meets an inspirational CEO.
Here she gives a reader advice on changing careers after two decades as a civil servant.
Q) I’m stuck at a major crossroads, with no idea how to move forward.
I’ve spent 20 years as a civil servant and have loved making a difference to colleagues and our communities.
I’ve got as far as I think I can and would like to take the leap into consultancy – but I’m terrified of failure.
I fear there’s a saturated market full of leadership consultants, that I’m too old at 40 to make this change, and that I will be losing a secure wage.
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How do I get over the fear and move forward?
Sarah-Jayne, via email
Karren says: . It’s normal to feel fear when considering a major career change, but if we let fear stand in our way, we miss out on so many opportunities.
There are things that you can do to minimise risk, though.
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The consultancy market can be competitive, so first identify your expertise and how you will stand out from the crowd.
Write a detailed business plan that includes your goals, how you will recruit clients, services you’ll provide, marketing strategies and financial projections.
Having a well-thought-out framework can alleviate some of your fears and give you a clear roadmap.
Next, leverage your existing contacts.
Attend industry events, workshops and seminars to expand your network.
Also, you don’t have to leave your current role immediately – you could start by taking on consultancy projects part-time or on a freelance basis.
This will give you a financial safety net during the initial stages of your consultancy journey.
Finally, don’t let age be a barrier.
You still have decades of your career left, so you need to love what you do.
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With age comes experience – and that cannot be bought!
- Got a careers question for Karren? Email [email protected]
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