Not ready for the slow lane

I'm an energetic and enthusiastic 53-year-old and expect to be working for another 10 years. But I need to have an idea about how to get some career progression; people seem to think all I want to do is coast to retirement. What I need is a new objective.

I was a physiotherapist for over 15 years, spent four years as a training and development manager and have been a general manager for a decade in two different specialties.

I have recently been appointed to a divisional manager role. Although I’m happy in the position, I think it might be a cul-de-sac post if I stay in it too long. I need to know where to look and how to prepare for the next move in a year or two.

I lost my mentor three years ago and haven't found an appropriate replacement. What should I be doing so I don't get bogged down It's not one I want to do for the rest of my career.


Jenny Rogers writes:
You say you’re energetic and enthusiastic so I’m curious about why people are implying that you are happy to coast to retirement. Address this issue head on as it may well create the path that leads to another job. Anyone in the job change market has to handle this delicately. If you go around scowling, constantly moaning about boredom, this is guaranteed to annoy your colleagues because it seems disloyal. On the other hand, if you do ‘cheerful workhorse’ all the time, then it may unintentionally convey the impression that you are perfectly happy.

I can’t advise you on what particular career move you need to make, but you say you have many skills and I’m wondering if maybe you are falling into the common trap of assuming that just because you have a skill it means you have to use it. You may have outgrown some skills – physiotherapy and training? Others may be emerging interests where your skills need to be developed.

Draw up a skills list and star what really interests you and double-star the development areas. Now draw up a parallel list of the areas in which you have credibility – maybe as a boss or a patient advocate? What does that suggest about the kind of job that you need? What does it suggest about how you should be growing your experience? Ask for 360 o feedback so that you have information about how others see you.

Armed with this insight you must now start networking. Go to conferences. Go to meetings that include people outside your own organisation. Never, ever say ‘Give me a job’. Instead, tell people about the kind of role you are looking for and ask for their advice about what is coming up that might have that profile. Ask what they think might suit you. Include your boss and/or chief executive in this process. In the meantime, make it clear that you are still enjoying your current job and enthusiastic about doing well in it.

Bryan Carpenter writes:
You have an impressive CV and you should have many choices. I agree that it is important not to get bogged down, and at this stage of your career it is probably time to move on and to capitalise on your wide range of experience.

I suggest you are now ready to go into a trust board-level post with a view to aspiring to become a chief executive in about three years or so. Your track record is ideal and to build on this in readiness, and to expose yourself to the pressures of very high level management, you should be looking to apply for posts as a director of operations, director of strategic planning or director of service delivery. This would certainly give you the necessary experience to complement what you have already achieved to date to fulfil your next but one job, which should you set your sights on now. Good luck.

Jan Sobieraj writes:
You seem to have a wealth of experience and expertise and you're right to be thinking about your development even though you've just got a new job. Thinking ahead will help you to perform better in your current role as well as prepare you for the next step.

Your main focus should, of course, be to deliver well against your current job description and objectives. When you and your manager can see that you are more than able, you can agree additional tasks outside of your current role. There are always projects and tasks that need doing and never enough willing volunteers with sufficient capacity.

You need an idea of what areas you can offer value in and how this might help you prepare for a new role that will prove attractive and practical. 

Developing a strong network and accessing a mentor will be useful, so ask your manager or a director to help you identify one. You will need to be clear about what sort of mentor you want and what the relationship will be. Finally, you will need to keep up to date by reading and attending leading edge training. 


Our Career MOT panel

• Bryan Carpenter is HR director of Bournemouth and Christchurch trust.
• Katy Gordon is an independent nurse consultant and qualified life coach.
• Sally Gorham is chief executive of Waltham Forest primary care trust.
• Hazel Henderson is Choosing Health lead for Wandsworth PCT and Smokefree NHS project manager for South West London strategic health authority.
• Keith Johnston is executive director of NHS Partners
• Jenny Rogers is an executive coach and director of Management Futures.
• Jan Sobieraj is chief executive of Barnsley Hospital Foundation trust.

Do you have issues – whether about you career, working life or general well being – that you need some expert advice on?

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