Last updated 29.10.26
When my daughter, Jo, moved to a new flat in France, she shared a story with me. It’s a story about moving a sofa – an ordinary event that wouldn’t normally inspire. But this story highlights the generosity of others and the value of community and connection. And in the same way, these values are part of any career change.
A sofa and some unexpected help
Having just moved to her flat, Jo needed a sofa and found a second-hand one online for only 30 Euros. The seller assured her that the sofa wasn’t too heavy, and it would be possible for two people to carry it the mile and a half distance from her home to my daughter’s new abode.
So, delighted with her find and the very reasonable price, Jo recruited her flatmate to assist her. They quickly realised that the challenge was far larger than anticipated! The sofa turned out to be impossibly heavy, forcing them to stop for a rest after just 100 metres! As they picked it up again, determined to carry on, a passerby asked if they’d like some help. Jo replied with ‘no, please don’t worry, you’re not even going in our direction.’ But, having asked how far they were taking it, he said he was free for an hour and insisted on helping.
The three of them continued on but it was still quite a struggle, and another passerby observing this offered to help. Again, he was going in the opposite direction but insisted he’d be happy to join in and get the sofa to its new home.
At their next rest stop a van pulled up and Jo dared to ask the driver if he might be able to help them with the last half a mile. He was doing pharmaceutical deliveries and said he had one more to make and would then return and pick them up! This he did – the sofa was put into the back of the van, Jo and her flatmate and the 2 passersby all jumping in too. When the van doors shut, they were plunged into pitch black, and Jo wondered what on earth she’d done! However, five minutes later they were busy thanking the driver, offloading the sofa and carrying it up the stairs to its new home.
Already this story speaks to how kind and generous people can be, but it doesn’t end there.
Jo and her flatmate wanted to thank the two men who’d helped them and invited them to join them for a few beers. As they chatted, the two men talked about where they’d been going and what they were going to do for the rest of the day. One of them explained that he was currently homeless. The other immediately offered to put him up for the night, saying that he too had been homeless at one stage and would take him to an organisation that could help.
What began as a wildly optimistic furniture collection had brought together people who could help each other in ways none of them had expected.
Career conversations can lead somewhere unexpected
When you’re considering a career change, it’s easy to spend a lot of time trying to work it out by yourself. You might look at job adverts, think through the same options and dismiss ideas before you’ve had a chance to find out much about them.
Talking to other people can give you information and possibilities you wouldn’t find on your own.
One former client had been desperately unhappy in a job and was asked to leave before the end of his probation. As he worked out what to do next, he began asking friends, and friends of friends, about their work.
Those conversations led to him helping out a stamp dealer. Helping out became a job, and the job later became a business partnership.
He’d had no previous knowledge of stamp collecting or dealing. It would never have appeared on a list of careers he was considering. He discovered it through people.
You won’t always come away from a conversation with a job opportunity. You might learn what a role involves, find out about a route into a profession or realise that something you’d been considering wouldn’t suit you. All of that can help you decide what to explore next.
You don’t need to arrive with a career plan
The word “networking” can make this sound more formal than it needs to be. You don’t have to attend an event or introduce yourself to a room full of strangers.
Start with people you already know. You could ask someone about their work, tell a friend what you’re exploring or ask whether they know anyone you could speak to.
You can be honest about being at an early stage:
“I’m thinking about a change, but I haven’t worked out what that might look like yet. I’d love to hear more about what you do.”
Or, if you have something more specific in mind:
“I’m interested in finding out about working in this field. Would you have 20 minutes for a chat about how you got into it and what the work is like?”
Be specific about what you’d like to ask and how much time you’re hoping for, so the person knows what they’re agreeing to.
Ask for the help you need
Sometimes you need information. Sometimes you need someone to listen while you make sense of an idea, introduce you to a contact or come along to an event.
You might hesitate because you don’t want to bother people. Give them the choice. Explain what would help and leave them room to decline.
You can also ask:
“Is there anyone else you think it would be useful for me to speak to?”
That can take you beyond the people you already know, one conversation at a time.
Look for ways to help others too
You may have something useful to offer, even while you’re unsure about your own next move. You could share an opportunity, make an introduction or listen to someone else’s ideas.
It doesn’t have to be an exchange of favours. Take an interest, thank people for their time and, where appropriate, let them know what happened after your conversation.
Start with one person
Who could you talk to about something you’re curious about? You don’t need to know where the conversation will lead.
My Developing your network resource can help you think about who you know and where you might begin.
If you’d like support to explore a change, my Career change and direction coaching offers time to work through your ideas, consider possibilities and decide what you want to investigate.
