Think archaeologically – how to unearth your new career
There are heaps of useful metaphors for career change. Sometimes it’s like solving a jigsaw puzzle. Other times it’s like realising a grand design.
If your career change puzzle is missing some key bits or your grand design has lost its lustre, maybe it’s time to get archaeological.
Could digging in uncharted territory unearth new career change opportunities?
Take your search beyond your career change comfort zone. Some skilful left-field digging could uncover some intriguing options and reduce your odds of reliving your career change history.
Find your site
Adapt some of archaeology’s top tools to help you decide where to dig:
Remote sensing - pay attention to topics, people, and events that spark your interest. Note the things that:
ping your radar
push you onto your soapbox
swell your pile of bedside reading
Watch for a shift in your ‘attention bias.’ That’s jargon for suddenly finding yourself surrounded by events, people, and career opportunities connected to stuff that’s on your mind.
After two weeks, analyse your sparky data to pinpoint places to explore.
Legends and local intel - archaeologists work with written and oral history, including legends. Ask yourself:
What makes me a legend?
What do people rely on me to do?
What do I love enough to do for free?
Which of my superpowers do I use at work even though they’re outside of my job description?
Ask colleagues, clients, friends, and family where they reckon your skills and strengths could take you.
Fieldwalking - define your terrain.
What kind of working environment supports you? What are you itching to change? What couldn’t you do without?
Map key features of your current territory to help set your boundaries for your new one.
Your mission is to find out how far afield your career change search should take you.
Ideally, places you’ve previously considered too distant or exotic will find their spot in your plan.
Now get your boots on and pick up your spade.
Break new ground
Branch out from something you already enjoy doing. Mind map careers in your interest areas with someone from your career change cheer squad.
Then head out into the real world and give it a go.
If you love presenting new ideas to groups, offer to work with community groups championing causes that you support.
If research on market trends for your favourite products takes you into the zone, talk to makers and distributors about a volunteer role.
If you’re stuck for a start point, try this.
Pick the most exotic and intriguing careers that spark your curiosity and dig in. Research the hell out of them.
Start with Google but don’t get trapped there.
Follow your virtual leads to find real humans. Ask them to share their experience in a field that some remote corner of your ‘career change brain’ fancies.
Struggling to find ‘intriguing possibilities’? Here are some green jobs you’ve probably never heard of.
Breaking new career ground expands your thinking about what’s possible. If digging around in unlikely fields shows you how much you don’t want to be there, that’s great.
Maybe you’ll turn up your next brilliant career. Maybe you won’t. Whatever the result, a little career change archaeology makes you better informed and braver about exploring what comes next.
Ready to unearth your new career? Book a chat.
Hi, I’m Jo Green, a Career Change Coach.
I help thoughtful professionals who feel stuck or unfulfilled in their work find a clearer direction and move into work that feels meaningful and aligned with who they are.
Since 2016 I’ve supported hundreds of people to reshape their careers – whether that means changing roles, starting something new, or finding work that contributes more positively to people or the planet.
If you're thinking about a career change and want structured support, you can learn more about my career change coaching here.
Or you’re welcome to book a free 20-minute consultation to talk about where you’re at and whether coaching could help.
