Herminia Ibarra's career change lecture

The FT have just posted a video of Herminia Ibarra, a professor at INSEAD business school in France, talking on how professionals can make a mid-career switch.

Here's a summary of what she says, which we think is first-rate advice for anyone going through a career change:

The bad news first:

• Changing careers mid-career takes a long time: 3 years on average
• The process is non-linear: chaotic, messy, often unpleasant

The core principles in a career shift:

• Action beats introspection
• You have to figure out 1. what you want to do, 2. how to be a credible entrant

Three themes for a successful reinvention:

1. Get involved in side activities
2. Expand your network outside your usual circles
3. Work on your story for the benefit of yourself and gatekeepers to potential new careers
   

Her closing remark: "You don't have to have it all figured out before you make a move. It's much more helpful to take an experimental approach."