Buddha asked:


Hi, I am 23 years and seriously thinking or in fact planning to change into another career. I had no luck for applying for environmental related work over the last two years, and thinking going into health due to shortages of graduates in this field and hence get my career going. Should I apply for environmental work while training into health, or go into another career altogether? Even so would I cut my option short is I give up my environmental endeavour altogether ? Help…

Baird

Kurt S asked:


I’ve just completed my court hearings and have been convicted of misdemeanor theft ($300). It cost me my job, but I’ve been able to secure a new job (Warehouse Supervisor) days before the conviction. I desire a career change in the accounting field which would require that I return to school. Before enrolling, will this conviction prevent me form obtaining a job in this field? I understand it would in the banking industry but am unsure about accounting.

Darrel

hippiechick asked:


I have been driving a bus for the past 15 years, and I’m so sick of being broke all the time. I want to make a career change, but I have absolutely no idea what to change to, and I’m not that computer-savvy, so that’s not an option (but I can type pretty good). I love animals, but my eyesight is getting worse, the older I get, so I don’t know how much longer driving for a living will be an option.

Michael

Are you unhappy with the overall situation of your career? Has it got something to do with your job profile or your company? If that is the case, the thought of career change must have crossed your mind.

Now the flipside is you probably depend on your paycheck to discharge your financial obligations. A career transition has to be pondered over in the right perspective. You want to make sure that a job shift is in the best interest of you and your family. If you have asked yourself these questions before, please read on!

A number of important factors need to be taken into consideration when you start thinking of making a career change. No two individuals are in an identical situation when it comes to relying on your salary. So these factors should be carefully considered, and then you can use them in your own personal situation. This way you can properly weigh out the pros and cons of a career transition.

Your current job’s paycheck is an important factor to be taken into consideration, before deciding if you want a career change. For instance, try to judge for yourself whether the salary you are getting in your current job is a fair salary. To find out, you can start by comparing your current salary with the salary that is being offered in job openings in the local newspapers, recruitment agencies or online recruitment portals. If you do that, you can find out by yourself whether it is difficult for you to earn the same salary elsewhere. Unless you are lucky enough to land a job in the upper tier of an organization, you might find yourself having to work your way up the ladder all over again.

Apart from the crucial factor of your salary to pay your bills and support your family, there is the matter of other benefits too. Health insurance is one such important factor when you are toying with the idea of a career transition. If your current employers provide health insurance benefits for yourself or for your whole family, you should attach a lot of importance to that. You may of course buy health insurance for yourself or an extension of your coverage, but you should keep in mind that it can be quite an expensive proposition.

When comparing the pay packet of your current job with career job opportunities elsewhere that don’t offer health insurance benefits, you should take into consideration the imputed cost of having to buy one. If you still decide to make a career change, you may want to schedule your doctor’s appointments, including the dentist and the ophthalmologist if the coverage permits, before you actually quit.

Another factor that needs looking into when you are on a job search is the current job scenario in your area. Do you already have a firm job offer in your pocket? If that is the case then there is little to worry about. If you haven’t, you will at least want to ensure that there is a good prospect of seeking employment elsewhere.

You need to remember that you might not be eligible for unemployment benefits if you leave your job of your own volition. In such a situation, you may need a backup plan if you have financial obligations like a family to support or bills to pay like rent or mortgage.

When you decide on a career change, you need to have all the career information at your fingertips. Keeping the current job scenario in mind, you have to look at all career job opportunities in your area for any required training, work experience, or education. It is no use realizing too late that you are not qualified for that career dream find. Instead, you should scrutinize the average job requirements by examining all available job openings in the local newspapers or online recruitment portals. If you find yourself lacking the necessary skills, you may consider enrolling in a career training course to improve your chances of finding a new job.

It must be quite clear by now that you should proceed very carefully when you think about a career transition. There are just so many vital factors that need to be considered. Keeping all this in mind, whether you really want a change is ultimately your call.



By: James Utterson

About the Author:

Shamus

You’re ready to make a big career change. You really want to get going. But youre held back by fear. So you wait…and wait.

Fear leads to paralysis. Then you start what psychologists call “catastrophizing:” imagining the worst that can happen, then magnifying the consequences till you’re predicting a major, irreversible disaster.

Then you feel even more fear…you do nothing…so you feel even more fear. You’re tempted to go hide in the closet, maybe forever.

Career change begins by breaking the fear cycle. Here are 3 steps to start.

(1) Recognize the consequences of doing nothing.

You really **** your job and you’re long overdue for a change. But you like the security of a pay check. Maybe you have family (and dogs) depending on you.

Hang on long enough and you’ll probably start sabotaging your own security. You’ll find yourself making dumb mistakes, missing deadlines, losing important documents and more.

Some people handle this sort of thing better than others. Some live for 20 years with jobs they despise with no outward appearance of problems. My theory is

(a) you just don’t see what’s going on: doctor visits, anti-depressants, stomach trouble, family grief, or more;

(b) they don’t **** their job as much as they say; or

(c) they were born with a certain temperament with high tolerance for frustration.

(2) Do some reality testing.

‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ is a good first question. Once you have the answer you can often create plans to cover your worst case scenario.

Here’s where a career coach can help: not someone who administers a handful of tests, but someone who knows the ins and outs of careers.

(3) Take a small 10-minute step.

What should you do? It doesn’t matter. Take just 10 minutes to deal with your frustration.

Action means getting off the couch. It doesn’t include introspection (”what do I really want”), reciting mantras and affirmations (although you can do that too) or talking to friends on the phone. It doesn’t mean reading books and surfing the Internet for more ideas.

Examples of action include phone calls to people who can help (such as experienced professionals in your field), attending meaningful networking events (not mechanically attending lunches), and meeting contacts for coffee.

If you can’t think of a single action step, or you’re taking steps but aren’t seeing results, find a professional who can help. The sooner you get moving, the faster your fear will dissipate and the faster you’ll find yourself in a good space.

Just one note. Sometimes you’ve just been through a traumatic experience: a death of someone close to, the loss of a career you loved, break-up of a relationship, sale of a business or loss of your biggest customer. Any of these experiences require time for recovery.

Each person will handle loss differently: formulas (even the famous Kubler-Ross stages) do not apply to everyone.

In my experience, it’s best to wait 30 days before making any big moves or taking any significant risks. But at some point, you really do have to get off the couch and spring into action.



By: Cathy Goodwin

About the Author:

Connell

operaphantom2003 asked:


Which would be better:
Associates Degree with certificates in diverse areas (Accounting, medical terminology, customer service, front office, icd-9, etc)

or

Associates Degree and a certificate of completion in another program (such as Accounting)?

I am moving from a large city to a small town where most positions only require a high school diploma.

I do not have time to get a BA/BS nor do most people have one where I am moving to, so I don’t see that as a requirement.

May I also add, that I have 15 years in retail sales and management experience, as this is a real career change as well as a relocation.
I already have an AS in general studies. I will not go back for a BA.

Forbes

Every so often it becomes necessary to consider a career change. Not just a job change.

The problem is that many of us fall into a career . . . almost randomly. For example, we graduate and our first course of action is to find a job. Depending upon how anxious we are to get a job, we may just wind up accepting whatever comes along. And it may have little to do with our long-term career plan.

This happens all the time.

So, later you may realize that you’re no longer on the career change track that originally excited you. And because it may be years later, you feel you stuck. You’re making a good salary. You like your boss. Benefits are great. Basically you’re happy in your current position.

But there’s that nagging thought . . . I’m not doing what I always wanted to do.

The good news is that you have a personal goldmine of strengths, capabilities and assets that can position you for an exciting career change. You can tap into these to formulate a personal profile. Your profile will not only help you develop a transition strategy but prepare you for exploring specific jobs in specific organizations.

So, here are four powerful tips to help you make a productive career change transition.

1. Don’t make any moves until you’ve done your homework. You must have something in your sights that motivates you to change for the better. Take the time to explore your options.

2. Build a personal profile that gives you the widest possible applications to a variety of career choices. In other words, think of yourself as a product. What are your unique selling points? Don’t limit yourself just to jobs you held.

3. Make a list of all the desirable organizations where you could see yourself being happily employed in a career path that excites you. Do not eliminate names because you don’t think there are any job openings there. For instance, job seekers who use innovative alternative job search strategies are very successful at getting into high paying jobs in companies where there are no known openings.

4. Develop career partners. These are folks you know or who are in a position to be helpful to you (like local business, religious, or political leaders). When you seek their advice in a systematic way they can be extremely helpful in fine tuning your plan or even introducing you to people who could be your next boss.

Making a career change can be daunting. But preparing intelligently for a career change move well in advance can result in a comfortable, productive and lucrative transition.



By: Paul Megan

About the Author:

Dirk

Conventional wisdom among professional recruiters holds that a typical American changes jobs between seven and ten times during his or her lifetime. However, a growing number of professionals have started to change their careers entirely, not just their employers. In fact, with career lines blurred by technology and market demands, some working adults have even discovered happiness by pursuing two different careers at the same time.

While career transitions are still too subtle for government statisticians to measure precisely, researchers like author Marci Alboher and advocate Marc Freedman collect stories of working adults who have successfully shifted between often-contradictory career paths. In some cases, economic factors pushed these professionals to make the leap to new careers. However, as these case studies illustrate, a growing number of Americans have discovered that the right training and motivation can help them trade boring jobs for passionate pastimes.

Culinary School Graduate Trades Park Ranger Green for Executive Chef White

While earning an undergraduate degree in natural resource management, Radhika Desai’s classmates often referred to her as “our friend who likes to cook.” Later, as a park ranger stationed in sweltering Death Valley, colleagues would visit her trailer for home cooked meals. As she told India Currents magazine in a recent interview, the more she delighted in seeing how friends and family members reacted to her latest culinary creations, the more she considered switching careers.

A visit to relatives in India helped Desai reconnect with the basic comforts offered by food, inspiring her to enroll in culinary school. Restaurant visits and a field trip to the opulent Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai convinced her to focus on fine dining. Though her park ranger days are behind her, Desai’s undergraduate degree gives her a broader understanding of organic produce that helps her uncover sources for the freshest ingredients. Since completing her culinary degree and working in kitchens at some of the world’s finest restaurants and resorts, Desai has returned to Chicago as the Executive Chef at Between, a trendy boutique and lounge.

Advice for Aspiring Culinary School Enrollees:

• Look for programs that offer quality internships or work experience programs.

• Short courses and “boot camp” culinary programs offer a glimpse of professional life.

• Choose between culinary degree programs that focus on hospitality and food science–students with little interest in restaurant life can perform more effectively in catering kitchens or in research labs.

Part-Time Law School Helps an M.D. Become a J.D.

Four years of undergraduate training, followed by another seven to eleven years of medical school, usually keeps most doctors in the exam room and away from the classroom for the rest of their careers. However, Vietnamese-American surgeon Jasmine Brooks felt something was missing from a career that any parent would crow about. As she told U.S. News & World Report, a health care system that rewarded poor patient care led her to become frustrated about her career path. At the same time, the 39-year-old reflected on careers that could afford her more time to raise a family.

Enrolling in law school part-time gave Dr. Brooks the opportunity to experience a different kind of professional training while still earning an income from her full time job. After two years of attending law school during nights and weekends, she transitioned to a full-time law degree program for the final year of her training. Whether she opts for a job with a health care facility, a pharmaceutical company, or a law firm, Dr. Brooks can expect strong job offers from companies eager to hire a rare MD/JD degree program graduate.

Advice for Law School Students with Active Lives:

• Part-time law schools offer stronger career paths for attorneys with niche interests.

• Executive law degree programs cater to professionals, such as doctors and MBAs, who wish to gain critical legal knowledge without passing the bar exam.

• A growing number of specialist law firms hire paralegals with credentials from online law schools or part-time legal degree programs.

Degree Program Builds a Dentist’s Business Skills Without Drills

In his own official biography, Dr. Ira Wolfe confesses his concern that he was known for “drilling and filling” instead of for his broader interests in community and professional development. As he invested time in hiring staff for his dental practice, he found himself speaking to other business owners and managers about how to hire quality employees. Before long, Dr. Wolfe started writing scholarly articles and conducting paid workshops for employers and for job hunters.

Making a shift from dentist to consultant required returning to the classroom, as well. As he told BusinessWeek during a recent interview, he first pursued a master’s degree in leadership and ethics before deciding to enroll in a formal MBA program. Just as he discovered during his own professional development, he advises his coaching clients to take strong, honest self-assessments. Citing his own career change at age 44, Dr. Wolfe reminds clients that the prestige of a professional job doesn’t always guarantee personal satisfaction. Following a dream might sometimes mean earning less money, but can often lead to true achievement.

Tips for Prospective Business Consultants:

• Success coaches advise students to enroll in business degree programs that emphasize professional communication skills.

• Internships and work experience projects conducted during MBA programs can form the basis of strong professional networks.

• Students with previous job experience and a clear career path in mind can choose specialized MBA programs to round out overall skill sets.

Online Degree Programs and Executive Education Appeal to Quick Change Artists

Until recently, working adults looking for career changes endured long wait periods followed by semesters of sacrifice. Today, a growing number of colleges and universities understand the urgency of switching job tracks. Therefore, many part-time degree programs now offer rolling admission and other flexible enrollment options. Likewise, online degree programs give students a choice between real-time interaction with professors and peers or “asynchronous” learning through discussion boards and recorded lectures. In both cases, schools provide more options than ever for professionals who cannot afford to halt their current jobs before starting their new careers.



By: Kelli Smith

About the Author:

Bret

Jamie R asked:


I am 37 years old with no college degree ( I decided I needed to get married while attending my freshman year). I have debated over the last four years over whether I should go back to school, get my degree in business finance, and completely change careers. I have a management position in a specialized construction firm and am routinely offered positions with pay that would rival many other degreed professionals but this is not what I aspire to be.

What do you think?

Connor

max_maths asked:


I am planning to move from educational consultant to software because
1. Good salary
2. Good infrastructure
3. Social status
4. Global Exposure
5. sense of command Or It just my infactuation about these facts!
Or can i take up Software Testing or CRM (if so how & where do i start)
How do I prepare myself for successful career change.
I am 29 now, am i too old to get into this stream! please give your thoughtful answers

Lester