By Liz Ryan
"Downshifting" came into the workplace vocabulary a decade ago. Back then, the term was applied to go-go executives who wanted a slower pace and more work/life balance, and sought less-demanding jobs to provide those things.
Downshifting is still a term used by stressed-out mid-career executives looking for work outside the pressure cooker. But new downshifters have joined the party—parents looking to spend more time at home, veteran workers seeking jobs with fewer hours, and even young employees looking for ways to get off the treadmill and enjoy themselves before taking on the high-ticket commitments of house and family.
Can you downshift successfully, without going broke? You can do it—hundreds of thousands of people have. Downshifting is a career shift just like a switch in industries or functions; it takes planning and focus. Here are some tips for creating a downshift plan for yourself and working it to create your downshifted future.
Know your priorities, and your needs.
I've known at least a dozen parents who have announced "I'm going to find a part-time job at half my pay level, and spend afternoons with the kids" and have spent time and energy going after those things, only to learn through painful experience that part-time jobs don't tend to pay enough to cover the costs of diapers and piano lessons.
The first step in building your downshift plan is to know what you're after, and what you can afford to give up to get there. The four-hour work week is a great idea, but it's not a near-term reality for most of us.
Make a budget, and be clear about why you're looking to get out of the rat race. A generalized notion like "My job is too stressful" may not fill the bill when you can't take vacation on your downshifted salary.
Study the landscape.
Many downshifters look to part-time jobs (W-2 positions or part-time consulting roles) or to not-for-profit opportunities when they plan their downshifted futures, because of the associated reduction in hours (part-time jobs) and/or stress (not-for-profit jobs).
Here's where it pays to do your research. One mom at my kids' school earns $49,000/year without missing a classroom trip or an afternoon pick-up, and is delighted with her downshifted life. Another mom at the same school left a PR executive role to head up a local not-for-profit, and now works more hours than she did before (for half the pay).
Investigate opportunities closely; if an employer squirms when you mention "work/life balance" the shop may not be a downshifter's paradise.
Know your skills.
Moving from a traditional hard-charging corporate role to a downshifted role may be easy with your background, or it may be challenging. Knowing what you've got to offer the marketplace makes your downshift transition easier.
If you've spent 15 years as a brand manager, for instance, you won't find many part-time jobs or laid-back organizations looking for your skills. But if you can use what you learned as a brand manager and re-brand yourself a project manager or marketing chief, you may find doors opening.
Remember that on your resume, you've got to repeat faithfully the titles that employers have bestowed on you. In the narrative section at the top (your summary or objective) and in your cover letter, you can call yourself whatever you like—Veteran Project Manager, for instance—whether you've held that particular title yet, or not.
Two big life issues will change for you as you downshift into a more life-friendly job. One is your budget, and the other is your mindset. If you get to spend more time with your kids or your retired spouse, you may adjust easily to giving up your New York Times subscription and your season tickets to the symphony, or moving into a smaller dwelling or moving in with a roommate. If you plan for the changes you hope for, you're way ahead of the game.
It's important to remember that downshift-type jobs aren't more stable or recession-proof in general than other jobs; so plan ahead, and secure your downshifted position before leaving your previous one if you can. Whatever savings you can tuck away in case one downshifted role needs to be replaced by another, the better.
The clutch is in your hand—shift away!
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Ask Liz Ryan is a human resources and leadership consultancy, and think tank focused on the new-millennium workplace. The Ask Liz Ryan online community reaches over 30,000 men and women on five continents with business, career and life advice. For more information, contact Liz Ryan at liz@asklizryan.com
