In this interview, Federico, a former Technology Enterprise Architect, shares his journey of realising the need for a career change after being stuck in the same role for over a decade.
Federico explains how he discovers both his strengths and fears, and how to handle them to find his ideal career path and how he feels fulfilled and happy in his new career as a Product & Partnerships Director.
Through his experience, you will learn:
- How to identify when you need a career change
- How to overcome challenges and land the job you want
Here are two things you will learn from Federico’s change of career:
- The importance of seeking professional advice when you are considering a career change.
- How your unique blend of gifts helps you land a job that makes you feel alive and fulfilled.
Ciao Federico, great to see you again!
Could you please tell us what’s your career now and what were you doing before?
I am now a Product & Partnerships Director.
I was a Technology Enterprise architect before.
What made you think you wanted to change your career? And when you realised a change was needed, did you already know what you wanted to do? Or did you have no idea what else you could do?
I was stuck in a banking career role in technology services for more than 10 years, the pandemic and the rhythm of working from home without any human contact with colleagues made me realise that I was not in the right role for my personality and my skill potential.
One day something clicked and I understood that I was in a stale career pattern with not much progression where I could not express my creativity, my communication skills or my innovative nature, in a nutshell, I could not be the real me.
These feelings were growing each day and I saw no real possibility to change my role without giving up my current comforts and lifestyle. After months of contemplating what to do to change my career, I decided to seek professional advice and understand if I could really do something about or accept my current career path.
How did you find out what was your ideal career if you had no idea?
Browsing the internet, I found Bruna De Palo's website and I scheduled a Taster Session with her.
After a positive chat, I decided to give it a go with Bruna’s methodology. Together, Bruna took me through an introspective journey, helping me to realise what skills (inside and outside my role at the time) I had that could bring out the best of me in a professional career path. She also helped me to apply for roles to match those skills and after a few months I have found myself a new job!
I have found a role in Product where my blend of creative, commercial, communication and technical skills are used every day to shape new propositions and manage complex products in the financial sector. I am no longer bound to fit into a technical environment but rather, I'm using my technical and personal skills to evaluate solutions, and propositions and commercialise products.
When you decided to change your career, what obstacles and challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
The first obstacle when changing your career is pitching yourself for a job where you’re not comfortable extensively talking about the experience in that role. Then work towards salary expectations and where potentially you need to find some training before applying for the role.
Another challenge is market saturation for a specific role where unique and competitive skills, alongside extensive experience, are always the top three categories requested from a new candidate.
Please describe the steps you’ve taken to land the new job:
I did training and I have done the extensive study for the role I wanted (luckily the pandemic has helped in finding time whilst isolating at home). I have created a new image for myself on both my CV and LinkedIn profile, where I have highlighted experiences and career paths I wanted to show to potential job hunters and described my unique and competitive skills.
How did working with Bruna help you?
As described above, Bruna helped me discover what are my strengths and fears are and how to handle them so that I can decide which one I should listen to whilst looking for a new career opportunity.
Bruna made me realise that often we get into a career mainly because of certain circumstances in life and we’re convinced this is the right path for us (whilst being busy building our life outside work). Often we reach a plateau and those on the wrong path start to realise that changing (even if difficult) is possible.
Bruna helps you to rediscover who you are, and then use those findings to develop a career change plan with the highest potential to make you feel alive at work.
In what way did Bruna help you get unstuck?
She helped me realise that the right career isn’t dictated by my CV, rather the projection of my gifts and getting to know them helped me find my ideal path.
Describe three or more things you enjoyed about the process of working with Bruna.
- Bruna is very knowledgeable and open-minded.
- We share the same cultural background, she quickly understood my mindset and the challenges I faced in my early career.
- Bruna has a great methodology for exploring the inner self: she helps you rediscover who you are first and then use those findings to develop a career change plan with the highest potential to make you feel alive at work. Her experience in exploring the market, networking and demonstrating your value to employers during the application process helped me throughout the journey.
How do you feel in your new career path? What benefits are you experiencing in terms of happiness, aliveness, fulfilment, finances, mood and so on?
I feel fulfilled, I can express my creativity and my social skills and use my commercial acumen for new products, propositions and services for the greater good of everyday people’s life.
My mood has also changed, I am happy to go to work and I finally contribute to something that makes me feel proud. I would have never discovered that being in Product would have been the right career path for me.
What is the major benefit in your life from this career change?
Happiness, fulfilment and waking up every morning wanting to go to work.
Thinking about the future, would you consider using a Career Coach again to progress or change a part of your career? Explain your reasoning.
If I am stuck again, yes. I think I am good for now.
On top of your career change, in what way this coaching journey helped you grow in other areas of your personal life?
I have learnt how to get the best out of any situation, analysing what I am good at and what action I can take to change outcomes. Being fulfilled at work also helped in my personal life, I am really able to enjoy my weekend knowing that I have a job and a career path with a clear purpose.
What have you learned about yourself through coaching with Bruna?
I have a lot of qualities (gifts) I thought were not something special I could build a career upon.
Finally, what is your top tip for people who are stuck in the wrong career?
We spend a considerable amount of time at work, and being fulfilled at work can really help feeling better about ourselves and the people around us. Get to know yourself, work a possible career path and try a change. You won’t regret it.
Thank you very much Federico, your insights are priceless!
In conclusion:
If you too, like Federico, feel the need to change your career and land a job that makes you feel alive every day, you may need to rediscover who you are today and take it from there.
Book a Taster Session to see how my methodology helps you reconnect with who you are and find a career that resonates with your nature.
