Where Do I Begin?

I keep hearing the same refrain, from my coaching clients, on social media, from close friends…For folx seeking to change industries or disciplines, this is often their #1 question…where do I start?

I’ve been there.

In 2009, I was a morning and midday meteorologist in Des Moines, Iowa. Five days a week, my alarm went off at 2am! I groggily pulled myself out of bed in the pitch black, got ready and drove to work in the darkness to begin another day. My work contract was coming to an end (that’s how things work in TV) and I knew that I was done with this job and this industry.

And I had NO idea what I wanted to do next.

It was a letdown, knowing I had completed two undergraduate degrees (broadcast journalism and atmospheric and oceanic science) to get to this point. I dedicated hours of my life both inside and outside of work. I missed family events and social gatherings to succeed in an industry known for being “cutthroat”. And now, I was giving it all up because I knew this was no longer a fit for my life. But where was I supposed to go from here?

I spoke with friends and family who supported this change. They reminded me of all the things I had done before starting my TV career and outside of work. I reflected on what parts of my job I still enjoyed, even as I was going through a major case of “senioritis.”

I loved when children visited the TV studio for tours or when I visited schools as “Meteorologist Sara Kelley” (my TV name). I happily volunteered with the local non-profit Bras for the Cause raising money to help Iowans get free mammograms and cervical exams. I enjoyed hosting part of the annual Variety – Children’s Charity Telethon.

Looking at this, I realized I wanted to explore options in the non-profit arena. Once I had narrowed that down, I reached out to my network to see what opportunities were available. Through my cousins, who were board members, I found out the Iowa Arboretum was looking for a new executive director.

Even though it was a significant change from what I was doing for my “day job”, in my interview I talked about my volunteer experience including leading planning committees. I spoke about my communication skills and my vast network of connections in central Iowa. That message and those stories, along with the positive recommendation from my cousins (who were not on the hiring committee), got me the job.

At 28, I was now the youngest person to ever hold that leadership role. In 2012, the Des Moines Business Record recognized me as part of their Forty under 40 (one of only a handful of 20-somethings on the list)!

Let’s Begin

If you’re struggling with where to start in your job search, here’s the steps you can follow.

1. Make a list of the parts of your job that you enjoy. When you’re experience major burnout, it may be hard. But think back in time to when you were first hired. What were you most excited about at the beginning? What tasks (if any) are you still eager to do?

2. Consider your volunteer work. Whether it is formally volunteering with an organization or informal involvement in your community such as a religious organization, school, animal shelter or even just helping your neighbor, why do those opportunities “fill your cup”? Could the next step in your career encompass some of that positive energy?

3. Talk it out with a trusted friend or family member. Ask for their help remembering what had you pumped up in the past. Have them share what you’re really good at (remember, your skillset suitcase is full of great things).

4. Reach out to your network. If you can do it safely (without risking your current job), ask others who have left your industry what they’re doing now.

5. Do your own research. Look on LinkedIn to see what job titles others who have previously worked in your industry now have. Explore the fields they transitioned into and read the “experiences” portion of their profiles to see how they describe their work.

Taking time to deeply reflect on where your interests and passions lie can help you at least get started thinking about what job might be the best next leg of your career journey. And it’s OK if you need to take a break and simply find a job that pays the bills in the meantime. Short-term financial security can help free up your mind for the deeper thinking about the broader “what’s next” for you.

Resource Roundup

I’ve decided to mix things up in this section of my newsletter and share a variety of types of resources.

• Alli Shell’s LinkedIn post compiled a list of LinkedIn accounts that regularly post jobs in museums (and as someone who has worked at multiple museums, I’ve found they really align with my person value of mission-driven wokr).

• Looking for other folks to follow on LinkedIn who regularly post job opportunities? Check out the list at the bottom of my newsletters from November 29, 2024 to January 16, 2025.

• Struggling after being laid off? Listen to the podcast, Proxy with Yowei Shaw. Yowei is the former host of the NPR podcast Invisibilia but was laid off in 2023. She started Proxy as a way of trying to understand why she felt so terrible. She began this new podcast with “The Layoff Trilogy”. This series does an amazing job of combining research and storytelling as it address a devastating situation with compassion and generous helpings of humor. This is a must-listen resource if you’ve been laid off or if someone you care about has been.

Hi! I’m Sara Kobilka, owner of Renaissance Woman Consulting.

I am a Renaissance Woman (what’s THAT? Good question! Here’s my answer). My wide-ranging background includes time as a TV meteorologist/reporter, non-profit leader, higher education program coordinator, curriculum designer, and now, business owner. During each leg of this journey, I gained new skills that I was able take with me in my next step. Now, I work remotely with clients to help them confidently tell their story and navigate the transition to the next leg of their career journey.

Take the Next Step

• Follow me on LinkedIn where I actively cross-pollinate impactful ideas across industries and disciplines (and regularly share job opportunities I come across)

• Check out my one-on-one career coaching program or join a cohort of job seekers for small group coaching

• Get my workshop: Using LinkedIn to be a Powerhouse Networker 

• Participate in one of my LinkedIn Sprints (March is for freelance creatives and I’ll have one for job seekers soon)

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