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The banking crisis has left its mark
Change of scene. The year is 2008 and the banking crisis is in full swing. Martin Benz, a successful project manager at a Swiss bank for over 20 years, manages innovation processes and change projects. Three years later, in 2011, he is in charge of a major regulatory project - retirement is within reach. But the crisis has left its mark. Then he receives news that turns his professional future upside down: Cost savings and restructuring measures lead to the termination of his employment contract. An unexpected shock that triggers many emotions, recalls Martin Benz.
What am I worth on the job market?
Motivating people, implementing changes in processes and ensuring that new paths are actually taken - all of this is part of a project manager's daily work. But now Martin Benz himself was facing a profound change. Suddenly it was no longer about supporting others, but about finding new solutions for himself and creating added value from the situation. Above all, however, the central question arose: What happens now? At the same time, thoughts came to mind: Why has this happened to me? And: What value do I still have on the job market?
A phase of orientation
Martin Benz used these questions to start a self-reflective phase of reorientation. It soon became clear to him that switching to another job within the banking sector was out of the question - it was too insecure and not very effective in his field of work. So he turned his focus to other industries and explored possible job offers.
One method in particular helped him back then: pause and feel where his own strengths lie. Ask yourself: What do I really want to do? Which subject area interests me? And what skills do I still need to develop in order to gain a foothold there?
During this period of reflection, his desire to work with and support people grew ever stronger. And true to the motto "No sooner said than done!", Martin Benz ventured into self-employment in 2012 - with his many years of experience as a project manager and a recently completed training course in coaching and Conflict management under his belt.
How can you leave the pain behind and turn to the opportunities?
Very important in such a process, says Benz: " You have to talk about your situation - even if it takes a lot of effort. Intensive communication with family members, friends and professional contacts plays a crucial role. Not only to process the experience and gain an external perspective, but also to openly communicate that you are looking for something new.
Because one thing is clear: you can't expect help and support if nobody knows about your situation.
Strengthen networking skills and expand your professional network
Here is your improved text with a clearer style and Swiss spelling:
A particularly important tool in a phase of reorientation is to actively use your professional network. For too long, Benz reports, he limited his contacts to his immediate professional environment. When he ventured into self-employment, he clearly felt the lack of a network.
It was clear that he needed to expand and maintain his contacts in order to reach different customers with his companies and be successful in the long term. So he mingled with people, took part in events, exchanged ideas with experts from other sectors, made new connections and positioned himself with a fresh presence on social media. At the same time, he dealt intensively with a wide range of topics.
With his own initiative and a heightened awareness of his strengths, he was able to successfully establish his companies on the market.
Less perfectionism and more courage to tackle the unfinished
Change of scene. 2020 - Martin Benz has been on the market for eight years with his company PROCED and supports people and organizations in challenging phases of reorientation.
His most important message to anyone facing a career change: Despite all the challenges and the strong emotions that an abrupt change entails, there is one key insight:
It is worth letting go of your own perfectionism, trusting your intuition and treading the new path with a certain lightness - and a portion of courage.
