PE-Backed Executives, or Operators, face career transition situations more often than any other type of business executive. Some of these executives have never before experienced job loss. Many PE-backed executives have been highly recruited – in their careers, in sports, in their education. Therefore, the experience of being voluntarily – or involuntarily – thrown into career transition mode can be stressful.
The Operators, LLC runs a Career Resource Council peer group that hosts a monthly discussion, led by Adriana L. Cowdin. Adriana is a former PE-Backed C-Suite executive, an experienced large corporate executive, and an entrepreneur. She has leveraged her corporate experience for over 25 years serving as an Executive Coach and is the founder of Be Bold Executive Coaching. In her experience coaching 5,000+ executives, she’s proven that her clients land 90 days faster and earn at least 10% more in compensation on average.
This article is a summary of the discussion that Adriana facilitated on the importance of health, wellness, and fitness during your career transition.
Seventy percent of job seekers experience stress during the job search process. Even more disconcerting, about twenty percent of executives report experiencing signs of depression and anxiety during career transitions. In other words, most people experience symptoms that negatively impact them and their potential for success. It is a self-fulfilling prophesy: If you are stressed about your career search, you will not perform well in aspects of your career transition process. Therefore, focus first on yourself, your health and wellness.
Connect regularly with your peers and your support group, including your family. Be honest about the situation, and be specific in asking for their support, proactively, during this challenging time. Those who report maintaining their social connections well during a job search are not only likely to be healthier, but they are fifty percent more likely to find a new job within six months!
It may make sense to collaborate with a cohort of peers who are entering career transition mode at roughly the same time. The Operators’ Career Resource Council can be quite helpful in this regard. Together, you can hold one another accountable, serve as mutual therapeutic supporters, share healthy recipes and even schedule “virtual” workouts with one another. Think of other ways to hold one another accountable and to be supportive.
Regular exercise can reduce depression significantly. During your career transition, choose physical activities that you enjoy, and that take you out of your headspace, to give you a mental break, as well. Scheduling regular workouts enables you to develop exercise as a habit when you most need it. Moreover, you may want to work out with a buddy – virtually or in person – to ensure accountability. PE-backed executives are often data junkies; so, you should consider monitoring, measuring or at least tracking fitness progress. There are plenty of apps for that!
Self-care is hard to define, as it is different for each person, but the idea is to pursue activities, hobbies and interests during your job search that are likely to relax and rejuvenate you. Build leisure time into your weekly schedule. Try new activities, or at least explore potential new hobbies. Embrace creativity with pursuits to take you out of your job search head space.
Practice mindfulness, meditation, and self-reflection during your job search. While this may sound intimidating to those who have never practiced meditation, you can start small. Regular, guided deep breathing exercises early in the morning or just before bed can become helpful habits. Stay present by focusing on the moment. Maintain awareness and mindfulness by observing sensations, thoughts, responses, and emotions – without judging yourself. Again, there are apps to assist you with meditation and mindfulness.
Be mindful of the potential for burnout in your career search. Take regular breaks throughout the day. Structure your “work” and ensure balance and boundaries. Doing so prevents burnout and frustration with the process of networking and searching for your next role. Establish boundaries and limits for yourself in your job search. Take regular breaks from the activities associated with career transition (networking, for example) and allow yourself time to relax and re-energize.
Stay organized to reduce stress. One of the best ways to do this is to create your own, personal, CRM. There are free options. Use the tool as a job search management system, with contacts, correspondence, attachments, and all relevant data all in one place to communicate with job leads.
Get enough sleep! When you are actively involved in your career, you may pay more attention to a specific bedtime. However, while in transition mode, you should have a consistent bedtime routine, as well, so that your body and your mind are in tune with your schedule and are ready to wind down and prepare for sleep.
Boost your confidence. It is easy to become discouraged, disappointed, even despondent during your career transition. It is all about maintaining a long-term perspective on yourself. You may want to place sticky notes on your mirror to review each morning with your accomplishments, achievements, strengths, and positive attributes. Visualize yourself succeeding in your job search process. Set smaller, achievable goals and cross them off the list as you accomplish them. Reflect on past successes and surround yourself with support and supporters.
It all comes full circle, to friends and family, and your professional support network. Be honest in your communications about your search – and leverage your support network. Be specific about your needs for support. Be open to feedback and seek alternative perspectives. Express gratitude, in addition to asking for help. Offer reciprocal forms of support to others.
Conclusion
Think about how well you are performing across the above recommendations. Is there one area you can knock out of the park? One area that is a clear and obvious area for improvement. Perhaps focus only on those two for the time being. But refer to this brief guide as your career transition continues. It may be helpful to experiment with the effectiveness of multiple strategies or process steps simultaneously. The success of your career transition may depend on how healthy you maintain your mind and body during this period!