kokiwebs asked:


I am a 31 yo engineer with a Master in management, 4 years of experience (2 of which at management level) but whant to change careers. I want to move into something that will take me out of the mill/factory/office and look for things in remote areas. Maybe a job in business strategy development, development jobs, or business intelligence gathering. What can i do to achieve this or something similar? Perhaps you have other ideas?
Perhaps working for a travel magazine, pharmaceutical organization?

Kent

jake.jakebson asked:


Were you successful, how did you manage to make the change ?

Harrison

QWERTY asked:


I don’t have time to go for years of education but would like to make a career change. Any ideas would help. Please be civil, prostitution, drug dealing, theft are not options.

Theodore

If you’re a career-changing Baby Boomer, you may feel like you’ve gotten lost with Dorothy in Oz. You’ve achieved success in your career. You’ve built skills and a strong work ethic. And now you’re ready to move on…and it’s not working.

Many of my own clients tell me, “I haven’t had to look for a job for 20 years.”

Twenty years ago, you probably didn’t have a cell phone or an email account. A worm was something you put on a fish hook and a virus was something you caught from visiting friends. You could bring your whole set of kitchen knives onto an airplane and gas prices…well, we won’t go there.

And career counselors were handing out tests that promised to predict our aptitude and attitude.

Today as many as 90% of workers wish they could find a new career, but few actually succeed. Most are held back because they’re still guiding their progress by what they learned when they begin their careers, 20, 30 or 40 years ago.

Myth #1: Science supports the traditional linear career change model: test for interests, identify careers and go find a job.

Reality #1: You probably discovered this idea in a self-help book. Maybe you hired a career counselor. But it doesn’t work. Clients often call me because they’re stuck in the first stage: looking inward for guidance. They take tests and contemplate “what I really want.”

But researchers at Stanford and Harvard have found that career exploration proceeds in a zig-zag trial-and-error path. The word “serendipity” has been used in mainstream career research journals. Action, not introspection, is the key.

Myth #2: Starting a business is riskier than seeking a new job.

Reality #2: I would never tell anyone, “Stop job hunting and start your own entrepreneurial venture!” But these days, I recommend moving in parallel paths. Keep looking for a job but get serious about self-employment.

If you have a high profile in your industry or community, you may have trouble getting hired - but you might find yourself in demand as a self-employed business person. And if you’re above a certain age, you may meet resistance from the traditional job market.

Myth #3: Skills that brought you career success are the same skills you need for career change.

Reality #3: Career and business achievement calls for football skills: teamwork, planning and playing your position. You get rewarded for being in the right place at the right time.

But career change typically happens like playground basketball. Your biggest successes will be unplanned. The rules change and if you want a team, you will have to find them — or even hire them.

Myth #4: Ignore unexpected thoughts like, “Maybe it’s time to move.” They’ll soon go away.

Reality #4: These hints come from your intuition, which is not a woo-woo concept but a reliable source of insight that has been recognized by mainstream psychologists and scientists. When you ignore these whispers, you may find yourself sabotaging your own success.

Myth #5: Make tough career decisions like business decisions: run the numbers.

Reality #5: In my experience, career decisions follow their own logic. You develop scenarios and stories. You ask, “Can I live with my worst case scenario? If not, what can I do now to avoid having this scenario unfold?”

Myth #6: Fear is a signal to stay where you are, not challenge the status quo.

Reality #6: Contemporary psychologists recognize that fear can be your friend, especially when you’re moving outside your comfort zone into a new adventure. Fear means you’re taking care of yourself as you move into the unknown.

Sometimes you will work in and through the fear. And sometimes you experience fear for a good reason: time to gather more information before moving ahead.

Myth #7: Career change means feeling stressed and miserable.

Reality #7: Career change can become a source of meaning and growth. Most people look back with gratitude on this time in their lives.

As you progress, you begin to feel strong and powerful. You recognize more and more of what you want. The magic happens when you connect with a glimpse of, “This could be good.”



By: Cathy Goodwin

About the Author:

Bruce

audivroom asked:


I am wanting to switch careers after working in IT Development the last 10 years. I am burned out and need change. I would like to get into a less hands on technical role and get into Management. I have an undergraduate degree in Information Systems and have pondered going back for my MBA. However, there are no guarantees this would help me find a better job. I don’t mind staying within the Technology sector, but I just don’t want to do development work anymore. Your comments are appreciated.

Declan

There are times when every individual feels that he or she needs a career change. The reasons are abundant. It may be low pay packets, lack of opportunities in your current job, problems with the boss… anything. Whatever the reason is, you need not worry about it because a career change is not a negative thing. In fact, it can be a great thing for your career. Right now, there are numerous openings in the job market and you can go ahead and look for the job that perfectly suits you. This is not the time to stick to one job throughout your life and be a stagnant professional. Gone are the days when you had to stick to one single job. Right now, you need to take a risk or two and go ahead to look for new jobs or a career change that will change the way you live.

Before looking for a career change, you need to consider certain things. First of all, think of the reason why you really left the job. Be honest to yourself and you will find the reason. Do not crib about the conditions or whatever. Just be honest about yourself and then ask yourself about what kind of job you want.

Ask yourself about what your interests are. And then look for a career that will help you pursue your interests and give you immense job satisfaction. Look for something that excites you, interests you and at the same time, gives you enough growth opportunities.

Once you find out what you really want to do, you will see that there is no dearth of openings in the job market. You will see that there are many companies who are looking for someone exactly like you. This is the best thing about a career change; it opens new vistas for you and goes a long way in boosting your self esteem. Be it working from home because you need to be with the kids or a job involving loads of travelling because you love to see new places, you will see that there are numerous options for everyone. Whatever skills you have, be it organizational, communicational, creative, leadership or administrative - there are multiple jobs with great prospects for everyone. All you need to do is think about your own potentials, identify your special skills and get out there and look for jobs that will help you realize your potential to the greatest extent.

Once you have identified the kind of career change that you want and the new job that will be the best for you, you need to look for people who are already in the business and have a lot of experience in what you are about to do. You need to seek the advice of these people on how to go about a career in that particular field. A little advice from the expert will help you a great deal in narrowing down your preferences and zeroing in on the right job for you. Meeting people who are already from the industry will help you broaden your knowledge base about that industry and prepare you for the interviews etc. So go ahead and seek a career change if your heart says so! Just follow certain things and you will be able to handle a career change successfully.



By: James Copper

About the Author:

Bartholomew

Mr. Grudge asked:


Have you made a career change late in life? Either due to injury, layoff, or necessity, have you had to make a significant career change? Did you have to go back to school, get training, etc? Are you settled into your new career?

Kenneth

Are you considering a big change in your career? Do you feel let down, bored, burned out? Maybe you think there is something bigger and more meaningful that you are meant to do. Perhaps your company downsized you into this predicament. Regardless of the reason, there are some common mistakes to avoid while you evaluate and select new career options. Avoid these pitfalls and you can stay motivated, keep your balance and move forward successfully.

Mistake #1 – Making Decisions in Haste

Tempted to just quit and wing it? Everyone is now and then, but unless you just can’t stand your current situation another day, resist! Instead, write down everything you **** about your current situation, then one by one, look at the most intolerable issues and see how you can turn each around to make it more tolerable for the present moment.

It is easy to get so excited about the future that you decide to forge ahead without a plan and hope everything naturally falls your way after that. It will require more energy to sustain your new career and make it work well for you than it will to identify and start it. It is better to come from a place of higher energy and stability than to start out already burned out or worried about how you will pay the bills. Consider seeking the help of a qualified career coach, life coach or career counselor to help you identify your next career path. An objective, trained third party can help you strategize and phase it in for the best results and the least amount of heartache.

Mistake #2 – Ignoring the Finances

“I can’t stand this any longer! I would rather eat dog food than put up with this another day!” Whether you are pursuing a new career voluntarily or involuntarily, you must pay the bills. Do pursue your dream. Do look for the career that brings out the best in you. If you have plenty of savings, good for you! Resist the temptation to go through it and be left without. If you have a dream, by all means hang on to it! But if it won’t realistically get off the ground for three years, find another way to earn a living in the meantime. The need for income is a reality you cannot ignore.

Mistake #3 – Filling Your Head with Negative Stuff

What do you read? What do you view on television or the Internet? With whom do you spend free time? When you’re looking at making big life and career changes, you need lots of positive energy around you. If you spend time with negative people or fill your mind with anything that isn’t useful, guess what? It fills you with negative energy. Instead, surround yourself with people and things that give you positive energy and encouragement. Read books that motivate and encourage you. Go places that inspire you. Do everything you can to be what you want to be like after you land the next great career opportunity, and you will be more likely to attract it into your life!

Mistake #4 – Getting Bogged Down by Decisions

If you’re an intelligent person who has enjoyed any measure of success, chances are there are a lot of different choices you could make in your next big life or career change. Clients often tell me they are overwhelmed by all of the thoughts and ideas that keep running through their minds. And as the overwhelm sets in, it is very easy to just shut down. As we work together, I remind clients when making tough decisions to ask themselves, “Is this going to move me forward?” If the answer is yes, proceed. If the answer is no, either revise the decision or drop it entirely.

Mistake #5 - Not Having a Plan

There are two reasons this is important. First, life is unpredictable and it is dangerous to relinquish security before the next career arrangement is lined up. Second, changing careers is a lot like dating. You are always more desirable when you are unavailable. You are more attractive to a prospective employer if you are already working. And if you have already lost your job either voluntarily or involuntarily, it is even more important to have a plan so that you are then more likely to achieve it. If you see success, you will be successful. (Conversely, if you don’t have a plan, how will you know when you’ve succeeded?)

Mistake #6 - Ending your Preparation Too Soon

All I can say here is, prepare, prepare, prepare. If you’re looking at several possibilities, don’t immediately drop one when another looks good. Think about all of the big tests you have taken in life (college entrance exams, finals, certification exams) and how you prepared for those. Did you study way in advance and take a big, long break before taking the test? Or were you still reading the material as you walked in the door on test day, wondering if you could still be better prepared? When you’re embarking on a new career or life change, give it all of your available energy, skills and attention. If you have a goal in mind, resist relaxing when you think you almost have it. Prepare and stay sharp right up until the day you start. This will help keep you from losing confidence at the last minute.

Mistake #7 – Getting Discouraged Too Easily

Does this happen to you when you face hurdles in the midst of your goal? Instead of giving in to the pain, pay attention to what specifically is making you uncomfortable and make adjustments to get you through. For example, if you’re in career transition and you find that it is painful to go through the tedium of making phone calls, sending resumes, going on interviews where the competition is tough, etc., find the formula that gives you a break without stopping the process. Try devoting an hour or two each morning to these tasks and letting it go for the rest of the day, or only making a certain number of phone calls or interview appointments per week so that when you’re finished, you can feel good about giving yourself some time off. Don’t stop. Adjust.

Remember, a career change is a life change. You didn’t arrive at your current level of education and experience overnight, and don’t be disappointed if you don’t immediately uncover “the thing” you want to do next. Allow yourself time and space to explore and make an educated decision. Get the help you need along the way (i.e., career coach, career counselor) to help you do it strategically, not emotionally. If you avoid these mistakes you are much more likely to end up in a new career that complements and fulfills your life.



By: Gwen Jewett, Life & Career Coach

About the Author:

Perry

jennifer s asked:


I’ve had my current job with the JCPenney company for 10+ years and I thinking about make a career change and wonder about the experience of working for the Disney compant at one of their theme parks or on the cruise line.

Edric