Finding a new career can be a daunting task. About half of employed Americans say their career is tied to their sense of identity. Leaving one job for another means a shakeup in daily routine, sense of community and countless other aspects of life.
Laneice Runnels estimates she’s helped thousands of Wisconsinites through career transitions in her role as workforce director in Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington Counties for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
“It’s really about having the courage to speak about it, think about it and to move forward,” Runnels said. “We have to remember that this is a process, right? It’s not going to happen overnight, but if you’re willing to do the work, you don’t have to do it alone. That’s what we’re here for.”
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There are more than 57,000 jobs posted on the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Job Center website. Runnels said that’s a good place to start.
Runnels recently joined WPR’s “The Larry Meiller Show,” where she talked with host Lee Rayburn about the tools you need to grow or start your career.
The following interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
Lee Rayburn: If I were to consider changing careers, where would I even begin?
Runnels: Making a career change is a powerful step towards shaping the future that you want. I would start by reflecting with what truly matters to you. Look at your strengths, your interests, your values and your long term goals.
Ask yourself: What energizes you? Ask yourself: What skills do you really enjoy using? Also, look at what do people constantly tell you you’re good at? Or, what do people constantly ask you to do? This self-reflection can be your roadmap.
Once you have taken this time to reflect, start exploring career options. Of course, I’m going to talk a lot about the Job Center of Wisconsin, which is our exchange system that we use to post our jobs, and a whole bunch of resources.
If you go to Job Center Wisconsin, you can also connect to WisConomy, which is another space right on that website. There you can see what careers are currently in high demand, what industries are growing. Then you compare your passion with the data, and that will help you make a confident decision.
LR: The way I understand it now is that artificial intelligence may be entering into the resume game in a way that is not just helping to write resumes, but also helping to read resumes as well. So what does that mean for job seekers who are out there trying to find their next gig?
Runnels: AI is a great tool. Yes, a lot of people are using it. I don’t discourage the use of AI, but I also encourage people to understand that it’s a tool. It’s not the answer. You are the pilot. It’s just the copilot. And some people are flipping that around.
Use AI as a tool. It’ll help you generate ideas. It’ll help you come up with what else you might say, but it’s a rough draft. Your unique experience is going to make your resume stand out, and only you can add that. AI can’t add that — AI is not you. AI is not your human experience. And so that’s what we need to see and feel, even in a resume.
LR: What happens when somebody is laid off and loses their job? What’s the first step they should take, and how should they move forward once they find themselves without employment?
Runnels: First of all, I just want to honor the fact that that is a moment of grief. It’s a setback, and you want to allow yourself time to grieve.
But we want to transition from mourning to growth. Because that’s where we have to start taking the steps. And it doesn’t mean that what you lost didn’t matter, because it does. It means that you’re choosing to let your experience reshape you, rather than define you. So start with small things. What can you take control over? I can update my resume right away. I can call and connect with and network with family and friends.
We definitely want to encourage you to come to the Job Center of Wisconsin. Or you can go online. But we want to make sure that you’re doing all the different steps to apply for unemployment to see if you’re eligible. And you’ll be surprised. I get people who say they don’t want to apply for unemployment because they don’t want to take a handout. This is not a handout. This is a benefit that can help you while you are transitioning.
LR: Laneice, if you could leave our listeners with one message about navigating their careers and their lives in this season, what would it be?
Runnels: You have more power than you think. Whenever you’re facing a layoff or you’re thinking about a change or you feel stuck, you’re not alone. One moment doesn’t define your future. You don’t have to see the whole staircase just to take one step forward.
Finally, your resume is not your most valuable asset, it’s your will to move forward. Because if you’re willing to move forward, we can help you with your resume. If you’re willing to move forward, we can help you with your interview, but you have to be willing to move forward and partner with us, and together, we can move forward on your journey.
