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Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers -- and Seize Success
Are you stuck in an unsatisfying job or feel like you’re in the wrong profession? An industry that just isn’t a fit? Don’t just settle but succeed in the right career!
Get unstuck and land a new career—one you’re genuinely passionate about. Switchers helps you realize that dream. Written by celebrated career coach and psychologist Dr. Dawn Graham, the book provides proven strategies that will get you where you want to go.
The first step is to recognize that the usual rules and job search tools won’t work for you. Resumes and job boards were designed with traditional applicants in mind. As a career switcher, you have to go beyond the basics, using tactics tailor-made to ensure your candidacy stands out.
In Switchers, Dr. Graham reveals how to:
Understand the concerns of hiring managers
Craft a resume that catches their attention within six seconds
Spotlight transferable skills that companies covet
Rebrand yourself—aligning your professional identity with your new aspirations
Reach decision-makers by recruiting “ambassadors” from within your network
Nail interviews by turning tough questions to your advantage
Convince skeptical employers to shelve their assumptions and take a chance on you
Negotiate a competitive salary and benefits package
Packed with psychological insights, practical exercises, and inspiring success stories, Switchers helps you leap over obstacles and into a whole new field. This guide will help you pull off the most daring—and fulfilling—career move of your life!
Get unstuck and land a new career—one you’re genuinely passionate about. Switchers helps you realize that dream. Written by celebrated career coach and psychologist Dr. Dawn Graham, the book provides proven strategies that will get you where you want to go.
The first step is to recognize that the usual rules and job search tools won’t work for you. Resumes and job boards were designed with traditional applicants in mind. As a career switcher, you have to go beyond the basics, using tactics tailor-made to ensure your candidacy stands out.
In Switchers, Dr. Graham reveals how to:
Understand the concerns of hiring managers
Craft a resume that catches their attention within six seconds
Spotlight transferable skills that companies covet
Rebrand yourself—aligning your professional identity with your new aspirations
Reach decision-makers by recruiting “ambassadors” from within your network
Nail interviews by turning tough questions to your advantage
Convince skeptical employers to shelve their assumptions and take a chance on you
Negotiate a competitive salary and benefits package
Packed with psychological insights, practical exercises, and inspiring success stories, Switchers helps you leap over obstacles and into a whole new field. This guide will help you pull off the most daring—and fulfilling—career move of your life!
267 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2018
330 people are currently reading
1260 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
December 18, 2018
This is a book about changing careers - not picking careers but moving from professional work in one area where one has developed experience and had some success to starting a career in another area where one has little or no professional experience. That there is a strong demand for making such switches is clear to anyone working with young professionals today. The difficulties in making such a switch are large and new graduates are seldom aware of how their career choices at some point can significantly narrow their possibilities for moving into other areas as their circumstances and interests evolve. People can and do get stuck - or at least feel that way.
Dawn Graham has written a very effective book offering guidance to those finding themselves pondering a switch. This seems to be based on her corporate HR experience, her blogging, and her work with the Executive Education group at Wharton. She has thought very hard about this problem and has a lot to say about it.
I generally do not recommend business trade books. The genre as a whole is notorious for being overpriced and for providing much less value than promised. I will make an exception here.
Dr. Graham’s book clearly explains the problem and is well oriented to the difficulties that many people face in considering new careers. She does a good job at discussing the situation from the position of the switcher but also from the perspective of the hiring manager considering whether to give the switcher any time and consideration. She is fully up to date with the critical role of social media in the search process and does a good job explaining how new media play a role in modern job searches. She provides helpful and realistic advice to the people who are dissatisfied with their situations and trying to figure out how to change. She does not promise easy answers and does not come across as pushing the latest gimmick. If someone reads this book carefully and tries to follow her advice, I suspect they will be helped by it and grow professionally.
The book has its share of trade business formatting, reiteration and repetitions, and checklists for readers to periodically review. But the book has an additional advantage that most other business trades, especially on career, seem to lack. The author has something useful to say and know how to communicate her message well.
You cannot expect much more from a book like this. It is well done. I hope that Dr. Graham applies herself in future work to related sorts of career change problems, for example changing careers when one is over 45 (sometimes well over) or changing careers when one needs to learn some new technical skills along the way such as coding. These are distinct areas from the focus of this book, however, and deserve separate treatments.
Dawn Graham has written a very effective book offering guidance to those finding themselves pondering a switch. This seems to be based on her corporate HR experience, her blogging, and her work with the Executive Education group at Wharton. She has thought very hard about this problem and has a lot to say about it.
I generally do not recommend business trade books. The genre as a whole is notorious for being overpriced and for providing much less value than promised. I will make an exception here.
Dr. Graham’s book clearly explains the problem and is well oriented to the difficulties that many people face in considering new careers. She does a good job at discussing the situation from the position of the switcher but also from the perspective of the hiring manager considering whether to give the switcher any time and consideration. She is fully up to date with the critical role of social media in the search process and does a good job explaining how new media play a role in modern job searches. She provides helpful and realistic advice to the people who are dissatisfied with their situations and trying to figure out how to change. She does not promise easy answers and does not come across as pushing the latest gimmick. If someone reads this book carefully and tries to follow her advice, I suspect they will be helped by it and grow professionally.
The book has its share of trade business formatting, reiteration and repetitions, and checklists for readers to periodically review. But the book has an additional advantage that most other business trades, especially on career, seem to lack. The author has something useful to say and know how to communicate her message well.
You cannot expect much more from a book like this. It is well done. I hope that Dr. Graham applies herself in future work to related sorts of career change problems, for example changing careers when one is over 45 (sometimes well over) or changing careers when one needs to learn some new technical skills along the way such as coding. These are distinct areas from the focus of this book, however, and deserve separate treatments.
July 13, 2018
Dawn Graham’s Switchers is a must read for anyone thinking about making a big career change, or even a small one!
A licensed psychologist, Doctor Graham knows all of the emotional baggage and survival instincts holding us back from landing the job of our dreams. She gives straightforward, easy to digest examples of how we can change our mindset and succeed.
Graham also shares her experience working with recruiters, hiring managers, and decision makers. She discusses not only what is going on inside of their heads when deciding whether or not to give you a chance, but also goes over key strategies on how you can help them overcome their doubts about hiring you.
Switchers provides everything you need to start mapping out your career change, from figuring out what your transferable skills are, to coming up with a solid plan A, to having ready answers to hiring managers questions about pain points hampering your target organization’s ability to succeed.
I won’t be surprised if Switchers becomes industry standard reading. Buy your copy of Switchers today!
A licensed psychologist, Doctor Graham knows all of the emotional baggage and survival instincts holding us back from landing the job of our dreams. She gives straightforward, easy to digest examples of how we can change our mindset and succeed.
Graham also shares her experience working with recruiters, hiring managers, and decision makers. She discusses not only what is going on inside of their heads when deciding whether or not to give you a chance, but also goes over key strategies on how you can help them overcome their doubts about hiring you.
Switchers provides everything you need to start mapping out your career change, from figuring out what your transferable skills are, to coming up with a solid plan A, to having ready answers to hiring managers questions about pain points hampering your target organization’s ability to succeed.
I won’t be surprised if Switchers becomes industry standard reading. Buy your copy of Switchers today!
July 12, 2018
Next Career Unclear? Prepare Yourself to Navigate Uncharted Waters
Sticking with the same career is no longer the norm. It's a contemporary challenge affecting employees and employers alike! All job seekers, especially those changing vocational lanes, need proven insights and practical advice for navigating the uncharted waters of any career change. Dawn Graham, in her new book Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers—And Seize Success, gives readers clear practical guidance from cover to cover and demystifies what's required to become a top candidate in the eyes of hiring managers. If you're wondering (or know for sure) that it's time for a shift, Switchers won't lay a job in your lap, but Dawn's perspective will equip you to discover, discern, and decide the way forward with confidence.
Sticking with the same career is no longer the norm. It's a contemporary challenge affecting employees and employers alike! All job seekers, especially those changing vocational lanes, need proven insights and practical advice for navigating the uncharted waters of any career change. Dawn Graham, in her new book Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers—And Seize Success, gives readers clear practical guidance from cover to cover and demystifies what's required to become a top candidate in the eyes of hiring managers. If you're wondering (or know for sure) that it's time for a shift, Switchers won't lay a job in your lap, but Dawn's perspective will equip you to discover, discern, and decide the way forward with confidence.
Read
June 28, 2018For someone who switched careers, like me, there are few books out there written for the different perspective of how we face the job market. I found Switchers by Dawn Graham to be full of wisdom and insight about how career switchers can approach a job hunt, and see themselves as potential employers see them. Highly recommended.
July 31, 2018
This book is more designed for those interested in switching careers in the middle of their professional life as opposed to retooling for a different career in retirement. It gets a bit redundant in places, but there are some helpful hints about redrafting resumes, interviewing, and negotiating the offer.
December 2, 2018
Really excellent guide for switchers, people switching roles or industries or both, and non-switchers. Clear advice on clarifying your plan a, committing to plan a, and crafting your value proposition in the interview, resume, and cover letter.
September 25, 2018
A dull read with a lot of advice we've heard from other books.
January 18, 2020
Fantastic advice with action steps. Highly recommended career planning guide! Not just for switchers in my opinion.
September 28, 2020
I picked up this book after viewing the author’s TED talk (“Your Next Job Is One Conversation Away,” presented at TEDxJHUDC). In that video, she made a simple yet revealing point about engaging with those already around you and being open to the opportunities that might arise from relationships that aren’t traditionally considered to be in the scope of a professional network. I looked up more information about Dr. Graham and learned that she had written a book for people considering career “switches.” As someone who had recently made a career switch into a job that I expected would be a landing pad while I set up for another re-direct, I decided to give this oft-avoided genre a try.
Certainly, this book exhibits some of the drawbacks associated with its peers. Guidance is never applicable to all imaginable circumstances and encouraging approaches that require both boldness and nuance inevitably creates the appearance of contradictory advice. To be honest, the majority of this book is applicable to anyone making a job change, let alone altering an entire career trajectory. However, while I didn’t walk away from this book ready to jump off my couch and “seize success,” the book did present some fresh perspective on the job search process and how to evaluate one’s desired career path. The initial chapters are the ones that are perhaps most specific to “switchers,” and highlight the need to be reflective and specific in building up to a career switch. I also found the sections on networking to be useful, as the author provides clear and actionable examples of how to incorporate various degrees of networking into one’s career management.
This book was a quick read and an appreciated refresh in considering career planning and maintenance for any stage of the process. While the book may contain much of the requisite job search information already known to many in its target audience, the author does provide original and contemporary suggestions on how to approach networking, communicating with hiring personnel, interviewing, negotiating, and even time management. In conjunction with the aforementioned TED talk, this book would be a beneficial reference for those considering making a big move or even just wanting to re-engage with their career development.
Certainly, this book exhibits some of the drawbacks associated with its peers. Guidance is never applicable to all imaginable circumstances and encouraging approaches that require both boldness and nuance inevitably creates the appearance of contradictory advice. To be honest, the majority of this book is applicable to anyone making a job change, let alone altering an entire career trajectory. However, while I didn’t walk away from this book ready to jump off my couch and “seize success,” the book did present some fresh perspective on the job search process and how to evaluate one’s desired career path. The initial chapters are the ones that are perhaps most specific to “switchers,” and highlight the need to be reflective and specific in building up to a career switch. I also found the sections on networking to be useful, as the author provides clear and actionable examples of how to incorporate various degrees of networking into one’s career management.
This book was a quick read and an appreciated refresh in considering career planning and maintenance for any stage of the process. While the book may contain much of the requisite job search information already known to many in its target audience, the author does provide original and contemporary suggestions on how to approach networking, communicating with hiring personnel, interviewing, negotiating, and even time management. In conjunction with the aforementioned TED talk, this book would be a beneficial reference for those considering making a big move or even just wanting to re-engage with their career development.
March 11, 2021
This has very good information. How good will depend on the relevance. This book is almost entirely aimed towards people wanting to switch from one career to another...solely as an full-time employee in the corporate world. If you're looking to get into becoming anything with "manager" in the title for a company with a stock index, then this book is probably a valuable resource. There are no examples given of establishing yourself as an entrepreneur or other small combinations. That said, the thing that impressed me the most and I think has more widespread value for this book are the numerous examples of mindset. Dawn Graham has some simple, persuasive, and effective tactics for dealing with "finding the time", imposter syndrome, rebranding, networking, handling social media, and other aspects that are essential for almost any well-paying career.
July 23, 2020
some good advice but makes some pretty big assumptions about the listeners. like already making ~75,000$+/year, and can just use their time however they want, the old, if it's really important to you, you'll make time to do it, argument.
May 23, 2025
To become a successful Switcher, stop defining yourself by your job title or by the company you work for, and start describing yourself in terms of the value you add to your audience.
WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?
- Packed with psychological insights, practical exercises, and inspiring success stories, Switchers helps you leap over obstacles and into a whole new field.
CAREER MANAGEMENT
- career management is a fluid and ongoing process that includes regular networking and brand building, gaining new skills and experiences, and continuously evaluating the market to ensure the value you offer remains current.
YOU CAN’T EXPECT THOSE IN A NEW FIELD TO AUTOMATICALLY SEE YOUR WORTH
- He did the work for hiring managers instead of relying on them to figure out how his background might contribute.
- Make it simple for the hirer to see the connection between the skills you bring and the bottom line for the company. Her gut will interpret that feeling as relief because her problems will soon be solved. Her brain translates that into the conclusion “hire this person!” Add a positive attitude and likability, and you’re golden!
- Your task as a Switcher is to first show a hirer you have the core skills to do the job, and second to use your differentiators as leverage to show your unique advantage.
SWITCHING FIELDS REQUIRES SACRIFICE, CHANGE
- Switchers are excited to make a major change, but many aren’t so jazzed about the sacrifices that often come with it—like taking a salary cut, dropping levels on the organizational chart, or relocating to another city.
- As Switchers, we need to get real with ourselves first. We must acknowledge that many parts of our current careers that we like—such as salary, title, or status—will change.
- Tony Robbins summed it up nicely when he said, “A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”…we need to actively fight our established habits to change.
LOSS
- To change is to lose—and humans hate loss. We hate it so much there’s a psychological term for it. Loss aversion refers to people’s tendency “to feel losses more deeply than gains of the same value.”
- As Dan Ariely pointed out, “We commonly overvalue what we have and consider giving it up to be a loss. Losses are psychologically painful.”…But it’s important to remember that loss is a risk in any investment equation.
- Most people assume that a hirer’s primary goal is to choose the best candidate, but initially the hirer is more motivated to avoid loss.
- On a final note, since loss is a more powerful motivator than gain, if you find your enthusiasm waning, try reframing your job switch as a loss. What will you lose if you don’t make this change?
IMAGINE NEW POSSIBILITIES
- Zen Buddhist monk Shunryu Suzuki taught that “in the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”
GETTING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
- For the next thirty days, do something new each day that falls outside your comfort zone or natural habits.
MUST-HAVES
- But many of us haven’t thought hard about what we must have in our new careers to be happy…Most of us have very few, if any, true non-negotiables.
APPLICATION TIPS
- For career Switchers, applying online isn’t typically an option and you may not have the right keywords in your resume’s previous experience. You must begin with rebranding, not just as far as a resume goes, but extending to every aspect of your professional identity.
- Many overestimate the value of graduate degrees when it comes to switching careers.
UNDERSTAND THAT BEING A ‘SWITCHER’ IS SEEN AS A RED FLAG
- Every job seeker raises some red flags for hiring managers. It could be a gap between jobs, a layoff, or too many short stints…being a Switcher is a major red flag.
FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
- Targeted Career Goal + Hard Work + Unknown Factor = Success
- The “unknown factor” in this equation is luck, timing, contacts, or something else altogether. You might not find that reassuring because it means your future depends, in part, on something beyond your control. But to succeed, you must both work very hard and have faith that the unknown factor will come along if you persist.
HAVE A PLAN ‘A’
- Hindu scripture The Bhagavad Gita, “We are kept from our goal not by obstacles, but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”
- As Confucius teaches us, “If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.”
THOUGHTS ON “FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION”
- You likely have many passions, and they can shift over time…Sometimes your passion is best left as a hobby.
- While “follow your passion” is a great motto for life, for your career I recommend following your professional energy, which will never lead you astray. In the words of Mike Rowe, “Don’t follow your passion, but always bring it with you.”
YOUR ‘BRAND BANK’
- Steve Jobs was a believer in the concept of a “brand bank,” likening the building of a company’s brand to deposits and withdrawals in a bank account. Positive interactions with customers contribute to the brand and negative interactions detract from it.
- In an organization, building a positive reputation and expertise leads to better opportunities.
YOUR ‘UNIQUE SELLING POINT’ AND ‘BRAND VALUE PROPOSITION’
- A key part of your brand is your USP (Unique Selling Point), which differentiates you from others with similar skills in a way that is of value for your audience. Your BVP (Brand Value Proposition) describes how you solve your audience’s pain points. It’s also your guidepost for how you choose to express your brand.
YOUR ‘CAREER STORY’
- As a Switcher, your task is to convince the employer or your network that your career decision is well thought out, you’ve already demonstrated a commitment, the move fits into your grander career plan, and you understand your growth edges and have a plan for closing these gaps. A convincing Career Story should be: • attention-getting • compelling • logical • genuine
NEED TO NETWORK
- One primary problem is that, by most estimates, about 80 percent of available jobs are never posted publicly, especially mid-level to senior-level roles.
- According to research, referrals are the number one source of hiring volume and quality for employers.
- Once you have a clear Plan A and solid Brand Value Proposition (BVP), make networking the first step in your process and submitting your resume the second step.
- Starting an engaging conversation (not getting a job) should be your primary goal.
UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE ISN’T FAIR
- Remember: Life isn’t fair and it pays to be prepared for anything.
*** *** *** *** ***
GOOD QUOTES
- Maya Angelou, “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”
- Dale Carnegie, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
- Zig Ziglar, ”You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”
*** *** *** *** ***
BONUS
- Growth and fixed mindsets: https://youtu.be/M1CHPnZfFmU?si=Jjit_...
- Embracing rejection: https://youtu.be/-vZXgApsPCQ?si=KQjnE...
- The author, Dawn Graham, and the importance of networking: https://youtu.be/6DTWDvp4KcE?si=B0vXS...
- Einstellung Effect: https://youtu.be/w2Tsl9QqQPU?si=EdhxH...
- Story behind ‘Stockholm Syndrome’: https://youtu.be/VFWa2s2xK1k?si=PT7nG...
- ‘Lima Syndrome’ (when hostage takers fall for their captives): https://youtu.be/uU4ZiF8FUgk?si=DADaZ...
- Imposter syndrome: https://youtu.be/ZQUxL4Jm1Lo?si=qY4l6...
WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?
- Packed with psychological insights, practical exercises, and inspiring success stories, Switchers helps you leap over obstacles and into a whole new field.
CAREER MANAGEMENT
- career management is a fluid and ongoing process that includes regular networking and brand building, gaining new skills and experiences, and continuously evaluating the market to ensure the value you offer remains current.
YOU CAN’T EXPECT THOSE IN A NEW FIELD TO AUTOMATICALLY SEE YOUR WORTH
- He did the work for hiring managers instead of relying on them to figure out how his background might contribute.
- Make it simple for the hirer to see the connection between the skills you bring and the bottom line for the company. Her gut will interpret that feeling as relief because her problems will soon be solved. Her brain translates that into the conclusion “hire this person!” Add a positive attitude and likability, and you’re golden!
- Your task as a Switcher is to first show a hirer you have the core skills to do the job, and second to use your differentiators as leverage to show your unique advantage.
SWITCHING FIELDS REQUIRES SACRIFICE, CHANGE
- Switchers are excited to make a major change, but many aren’t so jazzed about the sacrifices that often come with it—like taking a salary cut, dropping levels on the organizational chart, or relocating to another city.
- As Switchers, we need to get real with ourselves first. We must acknowledge that many parts of our current careers that we like—such as salary, title, or status—will change.
- Tony Robbins summed it up nicely when he said, “A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”…we need to actively fight our established habits to change.
LOSS
- To change is to lose—and humans hate loss. We hate it so much there’s a psychological term for it. Loss aversion refers to people’s tendency “to feel losses more deeply than gains of the same value.”
- As Dan Ariely pointed out, “We commonly overvalue what we have and consider giving it up to be a loss. Losses are psychologically painful.”…But it’s important to remember that loss is a risk in any investment equation.
- Most people assume that a hirer’s primary goal is to choose the best candidate, but initially the hirer is more motivated to avoid loss.
- On a final note, since loss is a more powerful motivator than gain, if you find your enthusiasm waning, try reframing your job switch as a loss. What will you lose if you don’t make this change?
IMAGINE NEW POSSIBILITIES
- Zen Buddhist monk Shunryu Suzuki taught that “in the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”
GETTING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
- For the next thirty days, do something new each day that falls outside your comfort zone or natural habits.
MUST-HAVES
- But many of us haven’t thought hard about what we must have in our new careers to be happy…Most of us have very few, if any, true non-negotiables.
APPLICATION TIPS
- For career Switchers, applying online isn’t typically an option and you may not have the right keywords in your resume’s previous experience. You must begin with rebranding, not just as far as a resume goes, but extending to every aspect of your professional identity.
- Many overestimate the value of graduate degrees when it comes to switching careers.
UNDERSTAND THAT BEING A ‘SWITCHER’ IS SEEN AS A RED FLAG
- Every job seeker raises some red flags for hiring managers. It could be a gap between jobs, a layoff, or too many short stints…being a Switcher is a major red flag.
FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
- Targeted Career Goal + Hard Work + Unknown Factor = Success
- The “unknown factor” in this equation is luck, timing, contacts, or something else altogether. You might not find that reassuring because it means your future depends, in part, on something beyond your control. But to succeed, you must both work very hard and have faith that the unknown factor will come along if you persist.
HAVE A PLAN ‘A’
- Hindu scripture The Bhagavad Gita, “We are kept from our goal not by obstacles, but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”
- As Confucius teaches us, “If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.”
THOUGHTS ON “FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION”
- You likely have many passions, and they can shift over time…Sometimes your passion is best left as a hobby.
- While “follow your passion” is a great motto for life, for your career I recommend following your professional energy, which will never lead you astray. In the words of Mike Rowe, “Don’t follow your passion, but always bring it with you.”
YOUR ‘BRAND BANK’
- Steve Jobs was a believer in the concept of a “brand bank,” likening the building of a company’s brand to deposits and withdrawals in a bank account. Positive interactions with customers contribute to the brand and negative interactions detract from it.
- In an organization, building a positive reputation and expertise leads to better opportunities.
YOUR ‘UNIQUE SELLING POINT’ AND ‘BRAND VALUE PROPOSITION’
- A key part of your brand is your USP (Unique Selling Point), which differentiates you from others with similar skills in a way that is of value for your audience. Your BVP (Brand Value Proposition) describes how you solve your audience’s pain points. It’s also your guidepost for how you choose to express your brand.
YOUR ‘CAREER STORY’
- As a Switcher, your task is to convince the employer or your network that your career decision is well thought out, you’ve already demonstrated a commitment, the move fits into your grander career plan, and you understand your growth edges and have a plan for closing these gaps. A convincing Career Story should be: • attention-getting • compelling • logical • genuine
NEED TO NETWORK
- One primary problem is that, by most estimates, about 80 percent of available jobs are never posted publicly, especially mid-level to senior-level roles.
- According to research, referrals are the number one source of hiring volume and quality for employers.
- Once you have a clear Plan A and solid Brand Value Proposition (BVP), make networking the first step in your process and submitting your resume the second step.
- Starting an engaging conversation (not getting a job) should be your primary goal.
UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE ISN’T FAIR
- Remember: Life isn’t fair and it pays to be prepared for anything.
*** *** *** *** ***
GOOD QUOTES
- Maya Angelou, “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”
- Dale Carnegie, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
- Zig Ziglar, ”You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”
*** *** *** *** ***
BONUS
- Growth and fixed mindsets: https://youtu.be/M1CHPnZfFmU?si=Jjit_...
- Embracing rejection: https://youtu.be/-vZXgApsPCQ?si=KQjnE...
- The author, Dawn Graham, and the importance of networking: https://youtu.be/6DTWDvp4KcE?si=B0vXS...
- Einstellung Effect: https://youtu.be/w2Tsl9QqQPU?si=EdhxH...
- Story behind ‘Stockholm Syndrome’: https://youtu.be/VFWa2s2xK1k?si=PT7nG...
- ‘Lima Syndrome’ (when hostage takers fall for their captives): https://youtu.be/uU4ZiF8FUgk?si=DADaZ...
- Imposter syndrome: https://youtu.be/ZQUxL4Jm1Lo?si=qY4l6...
November 17, 2018
This handbook could easily become the new bible for career management as we almost certainly will be called upon to seek new employment and/or change careers during lives. Dr. Dawn offers professional, practical, and precise steps we can take to manage our career or find a new one. She offers a helpful summary at the end of each chapter and even provides scripts we can practice to give confidence when we are "live." I highly recommend this book not only for the currently employed but also for those soon to enter the job market. It would be a terrific gift for a recent grad as so many schools never address the important skill of career management. Thanks to Dr. Dawn, we all now have a guide through the maze. It's a book to buy, keep, and read often.
November 18, 2019
I'm really starting to wonder about the reviews on this site. All the 4/5 star reviews led me to believe this would be a valuable resource. I thought it was a complete waste of time. If you are a 'career switcher', you already have a career - which means you already know 85% of what's in this book. And the other 15% is common sense and quotes from other 'experts'. Full of repetition.
Unfortunately, I found almost nothing useful, certainly not enough to justify the time and money spent. You're better off talking to someone you know who's made a career switch.
Unfortunately, I found almost nothing useful, certainly not enough to justify the time and money spent. You're better off talking to someone you know who's made a career switch.
September 4, 2019
Timely and just the book at just the right time for me. It's not easy switching jobs later in life, and especially switching careers as well. But Ms. Graham has great advice to help you formulate a game plan. Anticipating what the talent acquisition folks are looking for (and filtering out) is a great help in this "game".
September 10, 2019
Good book, and not just for Switcher. The author does a strong job of explaining the hiring process, the players, and the motivations. I took away some tips on thinking about goals and how to portray yourself in networking and interviewing environments. Recommended for anyone interested in the topic, which should be most people.
September 10, 2019
Great for those who need practical guidance to switch careers. It's not meant to be an inspirational book.
I had to read this for a class I was teaching to get perspectives from non entrepreneur side.
I had to read this for a class I was teaching to get perspectives from non entrepreneur side.
January 18, 2022
Repetitive at times. Glosses over/ shows a lack of awareness for varied life circumstances. If you are a middle aged, middle class white woman with 3 kids, a husband who likes to golf, and a regular table at Chili's, this book will resonate with you. Anyone else, I'd get the cliff notes.
November 28, 2018
Based on a quick skim, seems like a solid book with great strategies on changing careers. Very tangible doable steps to pursue.
February 10, 2019
Got me through my interviews with good pointers.
June 6, 2019
As someone switching from academics to a different academic field this book was useful to my circumstances about 70% of the time. Great info about interviews and creating a cohesive story.
March 27, 2020
Good guide. Easy read. Left me with some good things to think about.
August 23, 2019
"While 'follow your passion' is a great motto for life, for your career I recommend following your professional energy" (58)
I feel that this book is the perfect support for those who have no idea how to change into something different for their profession. As a Millennial, I find this is becoming more common with our generation. For me, I had four different majors in college, went to graduate school for none of those, worked with that degree for five years, and have recently switched into a different role at the same company. I have the itch to see what else is out there that will satisfy my career mind. I used to think that I worked to live but I am learning that it bounces back and forth with living to work.
I took numerous pages of notes since it lays out action steps at the end of each chapter and points of reflection. It starts out with an inventory to determine whether you are ready to take that step (ie. risk). There are a lot of factors that go into this decision, some of which may depend on family, current finances, and other aspects of life. It is a great exercise to put your non-negotiables down on paper. The question I appreciated Graham asking was "Where can I build in temporary sacrifices?" The focus on temporary is critical since the long-term happiness and success is worth it. My spending money on fancy coffees or eating out occasionally could be an area where I pull back.
Since I love taking classes, I wondered how getting another degree factors in to switchers gaining success in the job search process. False. Experience like volunteering and interning rule over education. Something else that is on my mind as I consider this is the concept of loss aversion.
"We hate to lose the time, money, and energy we've already invested to start over" (22)
A scary thought for sure, thinking that what I've done up until the switch is a waste potentially? A positive spin on that is that it is lived experience. They are like seasons, they are there for as long as we need them to be and then before you know it, the next one is here.
This book made me reflect deeply about where I am professionally and where I would like to go. My next steps moving forward are the following, thanks to Switchers:
Map out the pros and cons of a career switch
Research the market I'm interested in
Use my network. ASK FOR HELP!
Make a list of 'what ifs' (ie. fears) and how to address them
Weigh how important money is compared to a job change
Join industry associations, attend conferences, and post on industry social media sites
Research my brand and craft my career story
"What will I lose if I don't make this change?"
Read Switchers if you like the themes of:
Career advice
Job searching
Networking
Interviewing
I feel that this book is the perfect support for those who have no idea how to change into something different for their profession. As a Millennial, I find this is becoming more common with our generation. For me, I had four different majors in college, went to graduate school for none of those, worked with that degree for five years, and have recently switched into a different role at the same company. I have the itch to see what else is out there that will satisfy my career mind. I used to think that I worked to live but I am learning that it bounces back and forth with living to work.
I took numerous pages of notes since it lays out action steps at the end of each chapter and points of reflection. It starts out with an inventory to determine whether you are ready to take that step (ie. risk). There are a lot of factors that go into this decision, some of which may depend on family, current finances, and other aspects of life. It is a great exercise to put your non-negotiables down on paper. The question I appreciated Graham asking was "Where can I build in temporary sacrifices?" The focus on temporary is critical since the long-term happiness and success is worth it. My spending money on fancy coffees or eating out occasionally could be an area where I pull back.
Since I love taking classes, I wondered how getting another degree factors in to switchers gaining success in the job search process. False. Experience like volunteering and interning rule over education. Something else that is on my mind as I consider this is the concept of loss aversion.
"We hate to lose the time, money, and energy we've already invested to start over" (22)
A scary thought for sure, thinking that what I've done up until the switch is a waste potentially? A positive spin on that is that it is lived experience. They are like seasons, they are there for as long as we need them to be and then before you know it, the next one is here.
This book made me reflect deeply about where I am professionally and where I would like to go. My next steps moving forward are the following, thanks to Switchers:
Map out the pros and cons of a career switch
Research the market I'm interested in
Use my network. ASK FOR HELP!
Make a list of 'what ifs' (ie. fears) and how to address them
Weigh how important money is compared to a job change
Join industry associations, attend conferences, and post on industry social media sites
Research my brand and craft my career story
"What will I lose if I don't make this change?"
Read Switchers if you like the themes of:
Career advice
Job searching
Networking
Interviewing
July 30, 2018
This doesn't exactly apply to my situation, but it does a little bit. Or it might in the future. Some of this advice has been written before (basics of getting a job, networking, negotiating salaries). Some of it was not immediately obvious to me (your second-level connections are the most useful (because your first-level connections know all the same stuff you do)).
Only one sentence made me gag: "Your brand is a feeling (remember how much weight others give to emotions in decision making) people have when reading your emails, viewing your social media, listening to your ideas in meetings, watching how you handle stress, observing who you associate with, and noticing how you present yourself." p93
One piece of advice I don't know if I believe. "When you get back in touch with your weak ties to reestablish the connection, your first communication should not be a request." p161 I feel like there are precious other reasons to suddenly reconnect with somebody out of the blue (unless you're moving back into the same area), and I would rather have an old acquaintance ask for something directly instead of pretending that they randomly want to be my friend again all of a sudden. If our last contact was positive, I'll probably say yes, even if that last contact was a while ago. I'm sure the ideal is to keep up with a large number of contacts (your "network") all the time and then you can ask them for help when you need it without looking like a schmuck. But what about those of us who feel drained by interpersonal interaction? My ex had a great network because he was always keeping up with his contacts, and I was so exhausted by being dragged around on his social calendar that I nearly went to sleep on the floor in the middle of the evening at the home of a couple we were seeing for dinner.
Anybody have thoughts on this one?
Only one sentence made me gag: "Your brand is a feeling (remember how much weight others give to emotions in decision making) people have when reading your emails, viewing your social media, listening to your ideas in meetings, watching how you handle stress, observing who you associate with, and noticing how you present yourself." p93
One piece of advice I don't know if I believe. "When you get back in touch with your weak ties to reestablish the connection, your first communication should not be a request." p161 I feel like there are precious other reasons to suddenly reconnect with somebody out of the blue (unless you're moving back into the same area), and I would rather have an old acquaintance ask for something directly instead of pretending that they randomly want to be my friend again all of a sudden. If our last contact was positive, I'll probably say yes, even if that last contact was a while ago. I'm sure the ideal is to keep up with a large number of contacts (your "network") all the time and then you can ask them for help when you need it without looking like a schmuck. But what about those of us who feel drained by interpersonal interaction? My ex had a great network because he was always keeping up with his contacts, and I was so exhausted by being dragged around on his social calendar that I nearly went to sleep on the floor in the middle of the evening at the home of a couple we were seeing for dinner.
Anybody have thoughts on this one?
Read
December 28, 2022know where you want to go—you just need a road map for getting there.
adopting an internal “locus of control.”
Those who lean toward an external locus of control are likely to blame outside forces for their circumstances, credit random luck for their successes, and feel powerless when facing challenging situations.
People who attain success work with what does happen, not with what should happen. Sure, a company should contact you after an interview to say they are moving forward with another candidate, but sometimes they leave you hanging.
Switchers are excited to make a major change, but many aren’t so jazzed about the sacrifices that often come with it—like taking a salary cut, dropping levels on the organizational chart, or relocating to another city.
salary, title, or status—will change
Ask yourself, “What are my true non-negotiables?”
we all have a list of wants a mile long
Tony Robbins summed it up nicely when he said, “A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”
The human brain is amazingly advanced in many ways, but it’s also incredibly outdated in other ways. Many of the functions that were designed to protect the survival of our species in the caveman days, for better or worse, still influence our behavior today.
“What if I can’t do the job?” “What if the team doesn’t like me?” “What if I make the wrong choice?” “What if I fail?” This keeps us in a state of mild anxiety and robs us of our ability to muster the courage and energy to change.
TO PERSUADE A BABY bird to leap from the nest takes a lot of coaxing, withholding food, and creative methods.
The security of the “nest”—which comes as familiar routines, lifelong habits, perceived obligations, and the comfort of a steady paycheck—is extremely seductive.
In the words of Frederick Wilcox, “You can’t steal second base and keep one foot on first.”
adopting an internal “locus of control.”
Those who lean toward an external locus of control are likely to blame outside forces for their circumstances, credit random luck for their successes, and feel powerless when facing challenging situations.
People who attain success work with what does happen, not with what should happen. Sure, a company should contact you after an interview to say they are moving forward with another candidate, but sometimes they leave you hanging.
Switchers are excited to make a major change, but many aren’t so jazzed about the sacrifices that often come with it—like taking a salary cut, dropping levels on the organizational chart, or relocating to another city.
salary, title, or status—will change
Ask yourself, “What are my true non-negotiables?”
we all have a list of wants a mile long
Tony Robbins summed it up nicely when he said, “A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”
The human brain is amazingly advanced in many ways, but it’s also incredibly outdated in other ways. Many of the functions that were designed to protect the survival of our species in the caveman days, for better or worse, still influence our behavior today.
“What if I can’t do the job?” “What if the team doesn’t like me?” “What if I make the wrong choice?” “What if I fail?” This keeps us in a state of mild anxiety and robs us of our ability to muster the courage and energy to change.
TO PERSUADE A BABY bird to leap from the nest takes a lot of coaxing, withholding food, and creative methods.
The security of the “nest”—which comes as familiar routines, lifelong habits, perceived obligations, and the comfort of a steady paycheck—is extremely seductive.
In the words of Frederick Wilcox, “You can’t steal second base and keep one foot on first.”
June 8, 2018
Given the numerous opportunities that have arisen from globalisation and the internet switching careers has become more of a norm. According to statistics, most Americans will spend around five years of their lives in some type of job search activity. Further, the numbers also say that one is likely to hold eleven different positions in the course of your career, and each job search might take six months or longer.
Enter Dawn Graham, a celebrated career coach with her book Switchers: How Smart Professionals Switch Careers and Seize Success. Dr Graham outlines the process of making a shift from different functions (functional shift), industries (industry shift) and even locations to attain their desired careers. From her experience as a former recruiter, licenced psychologist and an expert radio host, Dr Dawn addresses the internal and external barriers that professionals encounter. She recommends that switchers should focus on an empowered approach of the 4 Rs: responsibility, reality, risk and resilience in order to ease the job search journey. In addition, she advocated for continuous career management which includes regularly updating one's resume, micro-networking and learning in order to make to make career switch more seamless and organic.
Throughout the book, Dr Dawn helps the reader to make an informed mind shift in this journey which she terms as one of the greatest barriers in this process, She also helps the reader to see the recruiters and hiring managers perspective so that the reader can be a fit for their prospective employers.
Switchers fills a need in the self-help (sub-)genre by compiling timely and practical information into an accessible form. This book would be a great resource for anyone thinking of making a career jump or someone fine-tuning their career plans.
Enter Dawn Graham, a celebrated career coach with her book Switchers: How Smart Professionals Switch Careers and Seize Success. Dr Graham outlines the process of making a shift from different functions (functional shift), industries (industry shift) and even locations to attain their desired careers. From her experience as a former recruiter, licenced psychologist and an expert radio host, Dr Dawn addresses the internal and external barriers that professionals encounter. She recommends that switchers should focus on an empowered approach of the 4 Rs: responsibility, reality, risk and resilience in order to ease the job search journey. In addition, she advocated for continuous career management which includes regularly updating one's resume, micro-networking and learning in order to make to make career switch more seamless and organic.
Throughout the book, Dr Dawn helps the reader to make an informed mind shift in this journey which she terms as one of the greatest barriers in this process, She also helps the reader to see the recruiters and hiring managers perspective so that the reader can be a fit for their prospective employers.
Switchers fills a need in the self-help (sub-)genre by compiling timely and practical information into an accessible form. This book would be a great resource for anyone thinking of making a career jump or someone fine-tuning their career plans.
December 24, 2023
This book took me a while to read, but not sure if the content got stale or if it was my job search gaining traction. Regardless, the book does have good information for the present day job seeker via the author's "mistakes/lessons". One mistake of job switchers is to listen to traditional job search advice. Today's world is much more complex. If planning to switch jobs one should enhance their LinkedIn account at least a year in advance, etc. Lesson 2 is thinking that more education is a magic bullet. Wrong. More education debt is not going to enhance one's job opportunities in most cases. Mistake 3 is ignoring your network. How do you get a job interview? Knowing someone on the inside of the organization who is in a position of power. Overall a good book that helped me think about my post-Army career.
April 27, 2025
Super well-written and an enlightening read! The fact that not everyone enjoys their jobs 100% all the time, this book gave me hope that I can switch my career. But unfortunately in the real world that's hard to do as employers don't see you and definitely don't care about taking a chance on anyone, let alone a switcher. Dawn Graham makes it clear the world is not fair, and thinking it will ever be is an elusive dream. I liked the advice on networking and putting yourself out there as 60 to 80% of jobs are landed through contacts. Getting a career mentor would be the last resort, but there's still no guarantee you'll get the job. The job market is horrendous and optimism for the course is key.
January 9, 2022
If you are considering a job change or an entire career transition, you MUST have this book by your side. It is chock full of great advice, exercises, and worksheets that will take you through the whole
process. As a long-time career coach myself, I know the steps, the challenges, and the best strategies for making the smart decisions to get your career on the right track. It is all in here in this book. I have read a lot of career books and this one is at the top of my list. A great go-to resource for anyone seeking to up their career game.
process. As a long-time career coach myself, I know the steps, the challenges, and the best strategies for making the smart decisions to get your career on the right track. It is all in here in this book. I have read a lot of career books and this one is at the top of my list. A great go-to resource for anyone seeking to up their career game.
January 13, 2023
This was a good read on career switching.
Some notable points I took away were re crafting your BVP (essentially your USP) and your career story (your "why").
Rather than emphasising you are a career switcher, use phrases such as "broadening my impact", "expanding my career to the next level".
On answering "Tell me about yourself" questions:
1. Opening statement
2. Career highlights
3. Relate your achievements to how it can address needs of role you are applying for
4. Include your BVP/USP
5. Close with why you are excited about the role.
Some notable points I took away were re crafting your BVP (essentially your USP) and your career story (your "why").
Rather than emphasising you are a career switcher, use phrases such as "broadening my impact", "expanding my career to the next level".
On answering "Tell me about yourself" questions:
1. Opening statement
2. Career highlights
3. Relate your achievements to how it can address needs of role you are applying for
4. Include your BVP/USP
5. Close with why you are excited about the role.
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