Buckle Up! Careers&Things Returns with Career-Boosting Strategies
Refreshed website, non-linear careers, Jobs board, and more.
Hello dear readers,
I'm thrilled to announce that Careers&Things is back and more excited than ever to be your one-stop shop for navigating your tech career journey! Whether you're a familiar face from our earlier days or a brand-new member of our community, we're so happy to have you here.
My name is Nonjabulo Zondi, a self-described generalist operating in the digital technology industry. Having spent the majority of my early career searching for a career that felt meaningful while also ensuring it set me up for long-term success, I inevitably found myself following a non-linear career path, implementing several career switches along the way and zig-zagging throughout numerous industries.
I made my best and most fulfilling career switch into Tech in 2019 and I haven’t looked back since! I’m now on a mission to build a supportive platform and community to help others:
Navigate their search and discovery for a more meaningful career path
Transition into more future-focused industries, with a focus on the digital technologies space; and
Have fun and connect with like-minded individuals while doing so.
As such, we've been busy behind the scenes planning our return! We’re buzzing with fresh ideas and initiatives to empower you even further, so expect to see the introduction of several new initiatives within the learning and development, community, and recruitment spaces and the continuation of the existing ones.
We look forward to growing with you and can't wait to reconnect with our existing community and welcome our new members with open arms.
Warmly,
Nonjabulo Zondi
Founder & Head Coach, Careers&Things
Non-linear careers & Career Switching: a necessary skills for the future.
Embracing Non-Linear Careers for career progression, alignment, and fulfilment.
Have you ever had that moment where you assessed your career trajectory and realised that maybe you’re not as strategically positioned for the kind of growth and development you’d like to experience in the next 5 — 10 years? What about that moment when you realise that you don’t really like your job but you’re afraid to start again from the bottom? Whichever way you arrived at this point, that moment when you finally realise that you need to make a change in your career can be daunting and relatively isolating.
I’m here to let you know that you don’t have to be afraid of this moment! Despite what what the mainstream narrative in your industry might be, or what certain hiring managers might express, career switching is becoming more common and occurring more often than we think.
What is a Non-Linear Career and Career switching?
A non-linear career is characterised by transitions that might seem unconventional but offer a wealth of experiences and skills. These career paths do not adhere to a predictable pattern but instead, allow individuals to explore different roles and industries, enriching their professional journey.
Career switching involves transitioning to a completely new field, utilizing transferable skills and seeking fresh challenges.Career switching, or career pivoting, is the
Career Switching to remain relevant in the job market
With new industries popping up and others dying down as a result of numerous factors such as the growth of new technologies and the global shifts that occurred as a result of COVID-19, the skillset and muscle to know how to approach a career switch is going to become increasingly necessary to have to remain relevant within the job market going forward.
Career Switching for fulfilment and enjoyment
Beyond the very real changes in the global economy and the world of work, there’s also the very real fact that as you grow and evolve, your interests and personal aspirations evolve too. What might have seemed exciting for the doe eyed 18 year old coming fresh out of high school, might no longer feel attractive to you as you reach mid and more senior phases in your career. You might develop new interests, discover and hone in on new skillsets or be exposed to new environments and opportunities you might not have previously been aware of.
Fears around making the switch & why do it anyway
Fear of starting over or falling behind is natural. However, staying in a career that's unfulfilling or headed for disruption can erode your confidence and limit your contribution over the long run. Ultimately, being your best self at work, regardless of the path, leads to greater success over the long run.
Conclusion
Career switching empowers you to realign your skillset with market demands, explore new areas of interest, and ultimately find a fulfilling career path that brings you a sense of purpose.
If you find this useful and would like to learn more about strategies for career switching, subscribe to our newsletter and join our community.
🙌🏾 Tackling Career Progression through Career Switching!
Vuyelwa Xuma’s Story in Focus
We interviewed Vuyelwa Xuma, a 26-year-old Maths and Science teacher who recently sought support from Careers&Things to navigate a career switch.
Vuyelwa, tell us a bit about yourself.
I hold a BSc in Biochemistry and Genetics, a PGCE in Mathematics and Life Sciences education, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (Administration). With three years of teaching experience, I have a strong understanding of both FET and GET education. My skills include instructional design, content creation, and collaborating with others – I even teamed up with a local supermarket to create an educational video project as an influencer! Beyond the classroom, I'm passionate about road running and constantly strive to improve. I'm excited about the prospect of using my background and skills to create or develop educational content across various subjects.
What drew you to a career in education?
My journey began with a deep love of science and a desire to help others grasp complex concepts. My BSc in Genetics and Biochemistry deepened my scientific knowledge and analytical skills. However, it was while volunteering as a tutor that I discovered my true calling.
Helping students master challenging subjects made me realise teaching wasn't just about imparting knowledge; it was about inspiring and empowering them to reach their full potential. This experience led me to pursue a PGCE in Mathematics and Life Sciences Education. I wanted to bridge my scientific expertise with effective teaching strategies, ensuring my students could truly understand and appreciate the subjects I loved.
Education is a powerful tool for change. As an educator, I have the opportunity to influence and shape the minds of our youth. I believe education can address societal challenges and foster a more informed and equitable world.
What have you enjoyed most about your teaching experience?
The most rewarding aspect has undoubtedly been the connections I've made with my students. Teaching has allowed me to build meaningful relationships, and it's been incredibly fulfilling to see some of these students become friends.
What challenges have you faced?
While my journey in education has been immensely rewarding, it hasn't been without its challenges. The biggest challenges has been balancing the need to support my supports academically and emotionally to ensure they’re able to succeed at the end of each year and manage all the changes that come with puberty. It requires a lot of sensitivity and awareness.
Tell us about your decision to pursue a career transition. What are your goals?
While I’ve enjoyed moulding the minds of young people, I’ve struggled to find opportunities for myself to be moulded through new experiences and exposure. Education can become fairly repetitive, especially as a young teacher looking to find new and inventive ways to grow myself and my learners.
As such, I’ve really been exploring a career transition to expose me to new experiences in work and to also be a part of an organisation that can provide me with growth and development opportunities. I want to work in an environment where I can take on more responsibilities and contribute to the organisation's success.
How did you find Careers&Things? Why did you choose to work with us, and how has your experience been?
My experience with Careers&Things has been nothing short of pleasant. I first found Careers&Things through their LinkedIn page and felt their message resonated with what I was struggling with in my career at the time.
My first interaction with the team was through the CV review and revamp services. Ever since I’ve had my newly updated CV, I’ve been able to secure interviews with some of South Africa’s largest corporates and have begun pursuing a role in instructional design in order to align with my interests and current skills. Once I saw the impact of the CV, I got in touch with the team again to take up their career coaching services. The services were amazing and really helped me to begin to mould my career plan in more detail.
They've been responsive, encouraging, and professional from the initial consultation to ongoing support. Their personalised approach made me feel valued and understood. The practical and effective strategies they provided for resume writing, cover letters, and interviews equipped me to present myself well to potential employers.
What advice would you give to others considering a career change?
My advice would just be to reach out for help if you’re feeling unsure about where you’re going wrong in your job search or if you’re unsure of how to even approach it. It’s never too late to start again!
end.
How Careers&Things Can Help You
If you’d like to make use of our career services, email us on careersandthings@gmail.com to learn more.
🚀Careers&Things Low Code Jobs Board
Find your next opportunity and switch today!
Check out of Jobs Board below!
Our Services
We offer a range of services to help you discover, transition into, and thrive in digital, future-fit careers that include CV review and writing, career transition coaching and providing up-skilling.
visit our website on www.careersandthings.com or email us on careersandthings@gmail.com to learn more about our services.
Get In Touch!
Careers&Things is a tech careers and personal development platform. We specialise in supporting entry to mid-level professionals position themselves better for the job search market through training, webinars, events, and more.
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