Work with your ‘personal board’

When you’re working on your back-up plan, inspir’em founder Emma Maslen recommends consulting some “key trusted advisors – your very own personal board”. Your ‘board’ members might be valued former colleagues or mentors, close friends or family members, but they should be people who you can be honest with – and who will be honest with you – when it comes to your career aspirations and any potential pitfalls along the way.

Testing strategies

Once you have worked out which industries or opportunities might fit with your strengths – or provide a potential sideways move – Height recommends adopting a ‘testing strategy’ to discover more about this new field. “[This is] a ‘safe’ way for you to learn more about specific routes or options before you go ahead and commit to them,” she explains. “They will help you better understand which options you are serious about pursuing and which you can cross off your list.”

It could be as simple as “speaking to someone who currently performs a role that you’re interested in or exploring stretch projects alongside your current role,” she notes. Or, you might want to start looking for volunteering options or freelance projects in your desired field, Mel Poulter, divisional managing director at Gleeson Recruitment Group, recommends. “Non-profit organisations, community initiatives or online platforms can provide avenues to gain experience, build your portfolio and make valuable connections.” And if you eventually decide it’s not for you, no problem – you’ll probably have picked up some useful skills along the road anyway.

7 ways to start building your career back-up plan, according to experts