I’ve often written about career advice. After talking to several people in transition while I was at the CHIME 2022 Fall Forum last week, I decided it’s a good time to revisit the topic. Here are some of those
interactions – anonymized of course – followed by my general advice given the common themes:
- I asked a colleague who I knew was unhappy with their situation a few years ago how things are going these days. I got the same response as before – still unhappy. I say, time to do something about it. No one should stay in an organization or position where they are truly unhappy if there are options out there.
- I met a CIO whose position was eliminated due to a merger. While actively looking for the next position, there are concerns that lacking Epic experience at the CIO level is an obstacle. Yes, there are benefits to having worked with a particular vendor and understanding the challenges and issues with their products and services but as I like to say, the CIO is not doing report writing in the tool so in the end, does specific vendor experience matter?
- I met a CIO who is concerned about ageism. Will they be given a chance if they are 60 years old? There are laws against age discrimination but unfortunately, we know it’s a reality. I say go for it and focus on your experience.
- I spoke with someone who is mid-career and unhappy in their current organization given cultural issues and limited opportunities. They are actively looking at a wide range of options as they should be.
- I got an email from someone at a vendor whose position was eliminated and wanted help networking. I connected that person with someone who is well connected in that specific part of our industry.
- I spoke to a couple CIOs who have retirement dates set. They will be thinking about the next chapter and whether to go cold turkey or stay involved in some way. The beauty of that phase is you can pick and choose, say “yes” to what you are passionate about and “no” to what you no longer want to do.
- I spoke to a CIO who isn’t ready to retire but is open to working less and considering alternatives. This may be a growing trend after the pace and demands of the past few years.
And I spent time with some of the people I have formally coached in recent years. Hearing how they are doing and seeing how they have grown in their roles and careers is very rewarding. I’m honored that I helped in some small way.
There were several panel opportunities where people could pick up career advice between the women focused sessions sponsored by the CHIME League of Women, the next generation leaders panel as part of the DEI Retreat, and the track session panel on the evolving role of the CIO. While transitions and career moves take many forms and can be for different reasons, there are common themes and advice I like to reinforce. Here goes:
- Own your own career – solicit and listen to the advice of others, but in the end remember that you own it.
- Be open to the possibilities – with so many start-ups, mergers, new technologies, and new roles being defined, the possibilities are many so don’t confine yourself to only what you’ve done and is in your comfort zone.
- Know what matters to you – don’t just focus on title and money but consider the organization, culture, the work, and scope of responsibility. For the quantitative folks, make a grid of your criteria and assign a weight value to each then score each opportunity against it.
- Network, network, network – everyone you know knows a few more people who could potentially be helpful. Proactively and respectfully work your network.
- Don’t burn bridges – it’s a small world of health IT so you will inevitably run into people who either know you or have heard of you.
- Maintain a positive attitude – the job search is hard. I know first-hand the ups and downs of it. Sustain a positive attitude and take a break from it when you need to.
- Be confident – this goes hand in hand with the positive attitude. Self confidence in deciding to go for a position, how you show up for the interviews, and how you negotiate your salary is critical.
- Ensure your spouse or partner are on the same page regarding relocation – you’re in it together so don’t apply for a position in a location that you’d never seriously consider moving to.
- Be professional – always present yourself as the consummate professional whether at work, online, or in business interactions after hours.
And pay it forward. Just as others help you, be there when others need your help.
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