Being a GP has taken a toll. Could I earn more in insurance?

The advice: The best way to find new opportunities is to talk to people who already work in the industries you are interested in moving into. But before you start identifying potential contacts and setting up meetings, Frehse recommends engaging in some self-reflection first.

Frehse says you should revisit your values and interests, as they often change over time and knowing them will make it easier for you to discover opportunities that you find enjoyable and meaningful. For example, perhaps one of your values is helping others; another might be solving problems. Knowing your values, which you can identify by interrogating why you enjoy doing some tasks and dislike doing others, will make your job hunting and networking efforts more focused.

Reflecting on the work culture you would like in your next role will help too.

“The more clarity you have in your future direction, the more that people in your network will be able to help you,” Frehse says, noting he has met many people who want to move from clinical work into public health.

It sounds like you may have done some self-reflection already given you’re weighing up opportunities in the private health insurance industry. But fine-tuning exactly what you want is never a bad idea.

As for how you can “be connected to new opportunities”, Frehse recommends making new contacts in three ways: on LinkedIn, via professional associations, and through your university’s alumni network, which gives you the added benefit of having something in common with any new contacts you meet that way.

“All graduates of universities become part of their alumni,” Frehse says, adding that many don’t realise the alumni network service extends throughout a student’s lifetime.

“Some of the services that are offered to alumni [include] the ability to connect past graduates with other past graduates,” Frehse, who currently works as a senior adviser in careers and employability at the University of Melbourne, continues. “And that can be a great discussion to have if you’re looking at changing career direction, because you can talk to people in different fields.”

Work & Careers has previously offered advice on how to message people out of the blue on LinkedIn here and here (realistically, the worst that can happen is the respondent ignores your message, so the potential reward normally outweighs the risk). But we’ve so far paid little attention to professional associations.

Frehse recommends seeking “professional associations in the health insurance or public health industries to build your connections”. And the good news, he says, is contrary to popular belief, you don’t necessarily have to be a member of a given industry to be accepted into these associations. Frehse says some open up their events to non-members, and others offer affiliate memberships to people who work outside the industry but nonetheless have a strong interest in it. “So you can join at an affiliate level and still get access to people who work in the field for networking purposes.”

On how to get the most out of your growing network, Frehse says you should approach each coffee catch-up as an information-gathering exercise, rather than an opportunity to ask for a job outright. Show an interest in their career, ask lots of questions, and make sure you bring something to the table too.

“It becomes a reciprocal relationship in that you’re offering information that might help them, and in turn you’re seeking information as well. It’s not a one-way take,” Frehse says. “It’s a give-and-take relationship, it’s a professional relationship, [and] you can engage with that person over time.”

During these conversations, it’s also worth finding out whether you need to complete further study to land your next role, Frehse adds. And a career coach could “assist you in how to introduce yourself, build your network, and identify and articulate your marketable, transferable skills”.

Got a work-related problem you need help with? Please email euan.black@afr.com under the subject name “Work Wisdom”. Work & Careers will get an expert to answer your question and keep your name and details anonymous.

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