People changing their career or frequently changing job roles was once frowned upon and raised an alert to prospective employers. Thankfully, this is not the case any more. More and more people now change their careers quite a few times and on average can make twelve to fifteen job changes, according to the Department of Labour Statistics.

It is now the case that when a prospective employer is faced with an applicant with many job changes under his/her belt, they see this as a positive: it shows the ability to be flexible and adapt in the workplace. This is actually highly sought after now. If you are wondering whether to take a mid-career move, it may work in your favour to do so. Here are some tips if you are currently facing this decision.

What are the options for career change?

Have a good think about where you want to be, what you would like to do. There are many important factors to consider with this type of life change including salary and benefits. These should not be the only reason for your move, you should strive to find a career that will provide you emotional benefits as well as tangible ones. It is commonly known that people who **** their jobs are increasingly prone to stress-related illnesses and are generally not as healthy as they could be with a job they love. Research your chosen career well – learn it inside out so you are clued up on the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities required.

What is your current position?

Where are you at the moment? Do you feel as though you are stuck in a rut, not moving anywhere very fast? Take a good look at your current position, personally as well as career-wise. It may be that a career switch is just the thing you are looking for. There is not point wasting time stuck in a job where your existing skills are not being pushed or where you feel as though you have reached a dead-end. A new career may be right up your street.

What skills can you bring to the table?

Look at your transferable skills. These are skills that you can bring from a previous job to adapt to a new one. You will most likely be asked about these in interviews, so make sure you can readily identify them.

Which education moves do you need to make?

Whichever career you opt for, there will most likely be training needed. With the growth of the internet, there is a wealth of online educational courses to choose from. These are easily accessible, and can be done at your own pace, in the comfort of your own living room. If you are not a fan of online, however, you can also look into schools or universities that offer part-time courses. There is bound to be something you are looking for out there.

Can you get help if you need it?

Asking for help is never a bad thing to do. You will most likely reach points where you are slightly confused as you embark on your ideal career. A life coach or mentor can help advise you with direction and can help work through your goals and aspirations. This will enable the move from past to future career run more smoothly. If you are attending a course at a college or university, talk to a career counsellor there.

Changing careers mid-life can seem an impossible and frightening task. This really just requires you to keep alert and be on top of your goals. This way you can achieve a career that fulfils your aspirations either professionally, personally or financially. Once you have made the successful career move, it is unlikely that you will look back.



By: James Copper

About the Author:

Wyatt

Is It Time To Get A Career Change?

A change in a career is very important. It is almost unimaginable that someone will have a career without a change throughout one’s life until retirement age comes.visit at http://online-typingwork.blogspot.com

Thus, more and more individuals are looking for career change jobs that will reinvigorate them and bring back their job interest. This is a bid to break away the monotony of one’s work and at the same time, go hunting for better and bigger prospects. At present, the unusually high turnover rates are proof of the fact that numerous individuals opt for career change jobs.

In the average working time of an individual, there are more than one career changes. Chances are really low that you will stick to the same job all through. A change in your job is very important for a dynamic career.

Given below are certain tips that will help you go ahead with career change jobs and choose jobs that offer you more:http://online-typingwork.blogspot.com

1. Don’t use money as your prime motivator to change jobs.

Do not let money be the dominating factor behind your leaving a job. If you really want a rise, try and ask your boss first. He or she might even be willing to retain you by offering you more money. However, if you need a raise and the boss doesn’t give in even after much requesting, you need to look for a new job. There are many individuals who do not appreciate asking and begging for raises and prefer to go out there and seek a new job that offers them more. In that case, you can always go for a recruiter who will help you negotiate the amount that you will be paid by the new company and the benefits that you will be given.

2. Don’t let others take control of your career.

When it comes to choosing a career, do not follow what others say. Even if your father, mother, sister and wife all tell you to go a certain way, do not go there unless and until you are absolutely sure that you will be yourself satisfied with career change jobs. You can only take the advice of all the people who care about you and all but remember that at the end of the day you have to do the job and thus, it is your comfort level and involvement with the job that matters.

3. Don’t expect to snap your fingers and see your new career magically appear overnight.

Remember that when you undergo a career job change, it can turn out to be a fairly long process and take some time. You need to ensure that you do not get anxious and tensed about getting the job. Getting hold of perfect career change jobs can be time consuming, but hold your horses and remain calm and you will see that it is also very rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day if you actually manage to get your dream job!http://online-typingwork.blogspot.com



By: Boris Tomson

About the Author:

Connor

tgeer1973 asked:


I have been an LVN for 12 years and I have hated every minute of it. I need a career change.
I meant there.
Graphic Design, sounds interesting.

Boris

Pat1729 asked:


I’m stable at my current job, but looking for a career change. I would like to know (if there’s a trend) which month(s) of the year usually has the most job openings, or most likely for companies to start hiring?

Thomas

docfragile asked:


I’m currently in retail management making about $70k per year, so I’d like to make at least this much in my new career.

Alston

Clients considering a midlife career change often call with the question, “Should I go back to school for another degree? So I wasn’t surprised to find an article in a major business journal, featuring a Q&A around the question, “Should I get an Executive MBA after 50?”

Frankly, I wonder why the question even comes up. The real question is, “How will I benefit from a new educational credential? And how can I steer clear of embarrassing headlines, like ‘Top Executive Reveals Degree from Diploma Mill?’”

(1) Instead of asking “Am I too old,” ask, “What do I need now.”

For an under-30 student, a traditional MBA can be an express elevator to the executive suite. For a midlife career change, you’re more likely to use your MBA for networking, starting a business, or jump-starting a new career.

But will you get a lower return on your investment, with fewer years remaining in your career?

Who cares?

Five or ten years after completing your degree, you’re facing a brand new career with technologies that weren’t invented when you started out. Or you realize you’ve outgrown your career.

So these days any degree, at any age, has a ten-year life span at most. Midlife career change happens more than once in a lifetime.

(2) Education programs offer unparalleled networking opportunities.

Midlife career change usually requires networking. Degree programs offer a unique way to network without feeling pressure, bypassing informational interviews.

Your fellow students will have information about other companies, industries and professions. Professors at business schools (and other specialized degree programs, such as psychology, engineering and even music) often maintain a network of contacts.

Once I taught a class for an executive MBA program. Shortly after entering the program, student “Meredith” lost her job. Her resume landed on the desk of her classmate “Rodney.” Rodney recognized her immediately, as they’d been on a class project team together.

(3) Degree programs give you new ideals.

You’ll meet people and take classes on subjects you’d never consider otherwise. Most career change comes from serendipitous encounters, so you’ll raise your chances of finding the best opportunity for your next move.

(4) Choose a program that won’t land you on the wrong side of Sixty Minutes.

You’ve probably seen the horror stories flashed across your television screen. Mid-career professional gets doctoral degree — and then gets fired for displaying bogus credentials. Senior executive discredited when sources reveal degree from non-accredited university.

One technique: Does the university have an alumni program? If the answer is “no,” don’t bother applying. If yes, attend a few meetings as a guest. Talk to alums about their success, experiences and their memories of academic rigor.

(5) For any educational program, set realistic goals and decide whether you can meet them.

Signing up is easy. These days, you’ll find a warm welcome at universities, certificate programs, coaching programs – just about anything you might consider.

Figuring out the benefits? That’s the hard part. Let’s say your local university offers a certificate program in Human Resources. It sounds great: just four courses and you get to write on your resume, “Earned HR certificate from Local U.”

How will future employers regard your certification? That depends on the reputation of Local U, the experience you bring to the table and the qualifications of your competitors.

Any of those factors could change overnight. So entering Local U with the goal of “a career change to human resources” may not be realistic.

But your certificate can pay off through networking opportunities, an extra edge if you change jobs, even a jump start to your bored professional self.

Bottom Line: You get my favorite answer. It depends.



By: Cathy Goodwin

About the Author:

Gavin

Kiki asked:


I have been in the HR field for the past 7 years, I have a BS in Advertising. I love decorating and it comes with such ease, I want to get into the more technical aspect of design. Should I return to school and is this a good field? If you or someone you know is n this field, please shed some light.

Grover

The profession of software testing emerged in the early nineties when personal computers became more popular as they became more affordable. The fast-growing population of PC users created new opportunities for software companies as well as strong competition for the consumers business.

The new generation of software users quite naturally expected their applications to work as advertised. At the same time, market forces encouraged the fast release of new software often at the sacrifice of thorough testing. Defective software does not sell.

The software industry soon recognized that, to achieve success, they would have to set quality standards prior to release and create thorough end-user testing procedures in-house.

In 1992, I got my very first job as a Software QA Engineer literally by accident: an old friend introduced me to a small startup company in Newark where he worked at the time. My job there was to identify functionality and performance problems in a client-server database application.

I searched for fellow testers for professional networking; but I found none. I approached over two dozen software developers asking if they knew of anyone who tests software for a living. They had never heard of software testers and could see no use for them since they tested their own software.

I found myself wondering what growth potential, if any, there may be in this career. In particular, I wanted to know how much I could earn as a software tester. I approached our VP of Engineering with this question. He suggested that, if I stay with the company for five years and do really well, I might hope to make up to $40,000 a year.

A small group of developers who had heard this exchange were clearly skeptical. I read the look on their faces, “That’ll be the day!”

In May of 1993 the startup I worked for collapsed. In the course of a week, there were five advertisements in the San Jose Mercury News for software QA positions. I sent a resume to each, which resulted in two job interviews the following week and one on-the-spot job offer.

My new employer was a multimedia startup. And guess what – that job paid 25 percent more than my previous one. Three months later I got a raise, which brought me to a $40,000 salary, exactly the projected five-year target thought to be unrealistic. My new employers were exceptionally successful. They sold the company profitably six months later. The new owners restructured the business and I was back in the job market again.

What I discovered in my new job search amazed me. Where I had found only five software quality assurance listings over the course of a week, I was now finding 10-12 listings a day. I had 3-4 interviews a week, sometimes two interviews a day, and received many offers within a month. The market had grown dramatically within a single year and the demand for software testers far exceeded the supply.

I chose the company that offered me strong exposure to automated testing, my passion at the time; but I could not help mulling over the amazing growth in demand for software testers and the equally amazing lack of supply.

In the mid-90s, software testing was still a new profession. Between 1994 and 1997, half of QA graduates of many small and big local QA schools became the first person in their companies specifically hired as software testers.

Today, most software companies have a dedicated quality assurance department with one or more managers and a staff ranging from junior testers to senior quality assurance engineers.

Before the recent recession, starting salary in QA was about $60,000 on average with 2-3 weeks spent on job search. Those who liked to change jobs every year or so as they acquired experience, saw their salaries grow to $90,000-95,000 within two-three years. When the recession hit Silicon Valley job market in 2001, there appeared to be no jobs at all for the inexperienced software tester.

But in the year 2007, the recession is over. On average, an entry level QA job seeker in Silicon Valley would get 2 job interviews a week. It seems to take only 3 or 4 interviews to land an offer. Finding a QA job today seems to be no more difficult than it was in the 90s.

Software QA is a unique job niche in many ways: Maturity is an asset in software testing unlike other IT fields. Maturity is easily marketed as patience, attention to detail, and tolerance for routine tasks, all of which are highly valued in software QA.

Whatever your prior education or work experience, it is likely to be an asset because there is likely to be software that specializes in your field of expertise. If you have experience in education, accounting, banking, publishing, workflow or contact management, sales, client relations, drafting, stock or bond trading, image processing, to name but a few industries, you will find software companies that target your field.

Testing software is basically about finding the discrepancy between the expected behavior of the application and its actual behavior. If you have an accounting background, for example, you are better positioned to understand what the expected behavior of a software application should be and how an accounting department would use it.

Testing is not a difficult concept to learn. We all have some experience testing something. We test new recipes, test-drive cars, double-check our change at the convenience store. In each case we are testing to see that the actual result meets our expected result.

Entry-level jobs in software QA do not require a computer science degree. The field covers a broad spectrum of technical proficiency. The niche is large enough to accommodate you.

We see individuals of all ages transitioning from H1B visas to green cards, for example, becoming two-income families and homeowners, and establishing themselves in their new country.

Software testing is definitely a consideration for college educated people of all the ages and professional background looking for a career change.



By: Mikhail Portnov

About the Author:

Titus

schuck259 asked:


I’m looking for a career change, and am currently in sales/banking. I feel like it’s too late to get another degree (I currently have a business management degree) but I feel like I’m stuck in banking after 2 years.

I would like to work in a successful industry, not involving sales. Any recommendations? Cities perhaps? I have a very logical/analytical mind.

Casey

Are you unhappy with your current lot in your professional life? If you’re less than satisfied with your job, you’re not alone. According to a recent online jobsite survey, 86% of employees are not happy with their current position. The number one reason cited–management. Managers should take note: An even higher number of employees said they plan to look for new jobs within the next six months. Whether employees will decide to act on their impulses, or decide to take a sit-and-wait approach has yet to be determined.

One thing is certain: Dissatisfaction seems to be a universal trend. According to a recent “New Employer/Employee Survey” conducted for a broad range of nearly 8,000 members of the U.S. workforce, only 45% of workers say they are satisfied, or extremely satisfied with their jobs. As you might expect, only 20% felt very passionate about their jobs. These numbers suggest that the key to career satisfaction is to be in a line of work that inspires and energizes you.

Education: The Key to Your New Career Path

If you ever have doubted the direct correlation between your level of education and your career potential, you would be wise to study the link between formal education and average earnings. The American Council on Education (ACE) released a recent survey showing that in 2002, bachelor’s degree holders earned an average of 88% more than high school graduates. Twenty years ago, college graduates earned an average of 61% more. The undeniable trend? Education is the stepping-stone to increasing your earning potential and unlocking doors to more career options.

Stuck in a Rut with a Dead-End Future? Do a U-Turn and Get Back on Track!

According to a recent assessment conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, 88% of students complete high school in the United States. If you’re one of the 12% who hasn’t, your future career opportunities can be dismal. To get back on track with your education, obtain a high school equivalency from your local school district, continuing education units, or even community college with a General Education Development (GED) program. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of these programs. They can provide the jump-start you need to get out of a dead-end job and increase your future career opportunities. You need to have your GED before you can seek higher education. According to ACE, one in every seven Americans with high school credentials received the GED, as did one in every twenty college students.

Use Your Experience to Your Advantage When Seeking a Career Change

According to recent estimates by the Census Bureau, 24.4% of U.S. citizens have a bachelor’s degree. If you’re one of the lucky graduates, you already have a significant leg-up. But, if you landed in an industry where you just don’t fit and begrudgingly report to work day in and day out, you may want to look at a 180-degree career change. Don’t be afraid to pursue opportunities outside of your current professional realm. Your personal experience, hobbies, or even affiliations outside of the office can help you land other jobs. Use your experience to your advantage. At first blush, your experience may seem to be unrelated to what you really want to do, but don’t sell yourself short. View all of your experiences as strengths and play up any transferable skills on your next job application. Keep in mind that, in general, employers like to diversify their workplaces. You may bring a well-rounded and fresh perspective to a different career path because of your experiences, which is highly sought after by many employers. A diverse background in a different career field can boast of your adaptability, and may actually be seen as an attribute that distinguishes you from your competition.

Is it Time? Take a Chance and Change Your Career

Keep in mind that only you can decide what will make you happy. Be careful not to flock to a popular or hot job just because it looks impressive on a resume. Choose something that will provide meaningful, stimulating work for you. Also, don’t feel like you’re a statistical anomaly or disloyal by seeking a career change. Recent studies indicate that the average worker will change careers several times over the course of his professional lifetime. Gone are the days of toiling away for one employer and retiring after 30 years of loyal service. Know what you want, and go after it. A career change can improve your well-being and your outlook for the future. In the words of self-fulfillment guru, Walter Anderson, “Our lives improve only when we take chances and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.”



By: Kelli Smith

About the Author:

Dale