Nick H asked:


I am currently in a quandry. I want to move on career wise, but I have a lot of talents and interests. How do you know what to pursue? Any help here?

Edmund

It’s often hard to think about changing careers. It’s doubly difficult to take the step to change careers after you have been doing something for what may seem a lifetime. Interestingly, many people are opting for a career change after age 50. There are many things that drive people to look for a new career direction: burnout, a feeling you have been doing something for years that isn’t really fulfilling or fun, industry downturns that create an oversupply of candidates in your present career field, a desire for something new and stimulating at which to dedicate yourself for the remainder of your working life. Whatever the motivation, it is a big step and you’ll need help doing it.

First, here are some things to think about.

· What do you want to do now? Where are your strengths? What abilities can you draw upon to help you create a new career path?

· Do you know any headhunters?

· How good is your professional network? Will it be helpful in making your career change?

· What local resources are available to you? Can you take advantage of career seminars, personal and professional career counseling or career fairs?

· You will need to reformat your resume to highlight your experience and/or education and training in the new career area you want to pursue.

“Headhunter” is a common term that refers to professional recruiters who work for job search firms. They typically specialize in certain career fields and/or industries, and may focus on a specific professional level; e.g. executive, manager or director, etc. You can find headhunters in a number of ways, including word of mouth, internet ads, the Yellow Pages, and career change advice resources.

Here are some of the things a headhunter will do for you:

· Review your resume and give you advice on presenting it and yourself in the best light for the career field you seek.

· Match you to open requisitions they are trying to fill, or contact his/her network of employer clients to present you as a candidate.

· Arrange for interviews and travel, if necessary, and follow-up after your interviews with the potential employer.

· Negotiate salary and signing bonuses, if appropriate

· Follow-up with you after you are hired to make sure everything is working for you.

Your headhunter can literally be your best friend during your career change. Most are successful because of their empathy, their ability to understand the attributes of their candidates and the needs of their employers, and their enjoyment of continuous contact with people on both sides of the job search fence … in other words, they like to talk and they enjoy interacting with people over the phone. This helps the candidates and employers interact comfortably with them and builds trust.

It is important that you establish a good rapport with your headhunter because you are entering unfamiliar territory in a new career field, and the contacts and industry knowledge you had in your past career may no longer be useful to you, depending on how drastic a change you are making. There are some important steps you can take to make sure you are successful in working with you headhunter. First, be completely honest with your headhunter about why you want to change careers and what you are looking for. The headhunter needs to understand your needs completely in order to create a good match for you within a new career field. Second, be responsive and follow-up in a professional way. This does two things for you: it will move things along quickly and demonstrates for your headhunter your professionalism. Third, quickly report back on contact with companies who interview you to keep the momentum going.

If you’re over age 50 and feel something’s missing from your career, it’s never too late to make a change. While career changes can be challenging, they can lead to a valuable opportunity to build a professional life around the things you enjoy doing.



By: Greg Heslin

About the Author:

Frank

Mike F asked:


Don’t like what I do, what are good career changes for people over 50

Quentin

Iakona asked:


I currently work as an enviornmental consultant and I think it’s time for a career change. I want to go into petroleum geology and I need to know would my environmental experience preclude me from the oil industry (ie too liberal)? and how can I get started with a bachelor’s degree with no experience? if at all… thanks!

Percy

Are you facing that career change decision-point?

Do you wish you were? Take it slowly and make sure what you really want to do is change careers.

Remember that career change is a natural life progression. Most studies show that the average job seeker will change careers several times over the course of his or her lifetime.

Use this 6-step plan. This will ensure that you will be on the right footing and on a path toward career change success.

1. Assessment of Likes and Dislikes.

A lot of people change careers because they dislike their job, their boss, their company and so forth. Identifying the dislikes is often the easier part of this step.

You will not know what direction to change your career unless you examine your likes. What do you really like doing when you are working, when you are at home and in your spare time? What excites you and energizes you? What is your passion?

If you are still unsure, consider taking one of more of those career assessments. The key is spending some time rediscovering yourself and using your self-assessment to direct your new career search.

2. Researching new careers.

Once you have discovered your passion, spend some time researching the types of careers that center on your passions. Do not worry if you are feeling a bit unsure or insecure; it is a natural part of the career change process.

How much research you do also partly depends on how much of a change you want.

3. Transferable skills.

Leverage some of your current skills and experiences to your new career. There are many skills that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your new career. You may be surprised to see that you already have a solid amount of experience needed for your new career.

4. Training and education.

You may find it necessary to update your skills and broaden your knowledge. Take it slowly.

If the skill you need to learn is one you could use in your current job, see if your current employer would be willing to pick up the tab. Take a course or two to ensure you really like the subject matter.

If you are going for a new degree or certification, make sure you check the accreditation of the school. Get some information about placement successes.

5. Networking.

One of the real keys to successfully changing careers will be your networking ability. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network.

Even if you do not think you already have a network, you probably do. Consider colleagues, friends, and family members.

You can also broaden your network through joining professional organizations in your new field and contacting alumni from your college who are working in the field you want to enter. A key tool of networking is conducting informational interviews.

6. Be Flexible. You will need to be flexible about nearly everything, from your employment status to relocation and salary.

Set positive goals for yourself, but expect setbacks and change. Do not let these things get you down. Besides totally new careers, you might also consider a lateral move that could serve as a springboard for a bigger career change.



By: Trevor Kronk

About the Author:

Dennis

Are you struggling in your current job? Have you looked for career change advice in all the traditional places – career counselors, business magazines, trade journals and are still stuck in a job you ****? Below is an easy process to get you moving forward. How Unhappy are You on a Scale of 1-10? Most people need to encounter significant dissatisfaction and pain in order to step outside of their comfort zone and make changes. What is your level of satisfaction? On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being “I can barely get out of bed in the morning” and 10 being “I would do this work for free”, what is your level of satisfaction with your current work situation? Do I **** the Work Itself? If you are doing your right work, you will get energy from your work. Helping people break free from the corporate world gives me energy. I get off our Fearless Action Group calls with more energy than when I started the call. I know I have found my right work. To choose work that is aligned with your true nature and calling, you must know who you are. This includes an honest evaluation of your skills and aptitude. What work do you perform naturally and effortlessly? Also, you must know what you value and what your life purpose is. If your work is in alignment with your natural abilities, values, and purpose but you are still not happy, then you need to look at your work environment. Do I **** the Corporate World? Many of my clients are unhappy in their current jobs because they don’t fit into the corporate world. Every company has a unique corporate culture. You may enjoy your work and find it gives you lots of energy, but you are not thriving in your current company. I help my clients to diagnose their company culture and determine whether or not they fit into this culture. Corporate culture is a powerful and invisible force. The more that you understand how culture influences you and those around you, the better you will be at making informed decisions about your career. Are you better suited to work on your own or to build a company with an un-corporate culture? If your current level of dissatisfaction is high and you **** the work you do, then start paying attention to what you enjoy doing. Don’t think, “I could never make money doing this.” You’ll be surprised to learn what is possible with the right intentions. If you love your work but **** the corporate world, then put together a plan to build your own business. Solid Career Change Advice The best career change advice that you can get will show you how to look inside for your own answers. You know what your perfect career is, you just need to discover the answer inside of you. Skills assessments, resume writing, interview coaching, and the like will not lead you down a path to happiness. Changing careers takes courage, inspiration, and a solid plan. Life is too short to waste it doing work you ****.



By: Debra Thorsen

About the Author:

Trent

scooba asked:


I have worked as a quality technician in manufacturing for over 8 years and am completing an MBA program in December. I’m looking to work in middle management/ professional position, specifically a buyer type position but can’t get past the no experience hurdle.

I’ve heard the typical person changes careers 7 times. How do you make the switch?
I’ve been sending out resumes for 6 months with no luck and have had a respected HR manager tell me it was one of the top 10 in form he had ever seen.

Landry

Before you start making an effort to change your career, there are some important things that you should consider:

Have a Set Plan

The first thing you need to do is to have a clear plan. The transition that you are planning should be approached like a road trip where careful mapping, stocking of finances, training and education is essential to reach the destination. When you change your career, you should know what you will be doing after that and whether your decisions will be effective or not.

No Unnecessary Job-Hopping

You should avoid changing jobs whenever you feel like it – because changing your career is a big decision that can change everything. It should happen at the right time. In order to get a feel for the new field you are planning to pursue, you can continue your current job and volunteer part time in that particular field.

You can also take an internship or become a consultant to test the new career move that you are planning.

Do It for the Right Reasons

Make sure that when you change your career, you do it for the right reasons. Never do it just for fun or because of some minor problem with your boss or colleagues. If you are not satisfied with your current company, then it is may not be necessary to change the job. There are ways that management problems can be solved – and perhaps you can achieve more in your current company, along with a raise and promotion. Sometimes employees make mistakes and feel that management is responsible for it, so they opt to change jobs instead of looking at other alternatives.

A career change may seem to be easy, but one wrong step could ruin everything. Whether you make changes in you career, at home or in your personal life, you should always test the waters first. You should consider taking baby steps towards a change so that when you finally do it, you can enjoy it to the fullest.

You can get help with your career change through career counselors and coaches. They can help you take the right steps and make the right decisions to enhance your professional life. Besides this, you can also take career assessment tests and career evaluation tests to know what field of work would be good for you.

Self-assessment is essential and in order to do this, you should create a list of your dislikes, likes, interests and beliefs. You should also decide what salary would be sufficient for you live on, pay the bills and still be able to do other things.

Finally, make a move only when you are sure that the new job will complement your experience and qualifications. If you have spent years in a company, in a good position, then there is no point starting over in a company where your experience doesn’t matter.



By: Tony Jacowski

About the Author:

Rupert

J S asked:


I am looking to make a career change and need assistance in making a successful transition. I am willing to get another degree if necessary. Does the industry frown upon online degrees? I need some help.

Blake

It’s time to make a dramatic career change to your dream job! If you don’t jump out of bed every work day when the alarm goes off eager to do some work, you are likely not all that enthusiastic about your job.

Perhaps you complain, roll over, and contemplate whether you can get away with calling in sick for the third time this month. In this case, it is quite clear that you need to find something more challenging and satisfying. A dream job will do the trick.

Here’s the bottom line: The best time to pursue your dream career is twenty years ago and today!

You don’t necessarily have to move on today. Indeed, it is wise not to jump straight into something immediately. But today is the day that you should start taking steps to discover your dream job.

Business Week magazine recently surveyed 500 American business executives about their job satisfaction. Surprisingly, almost three-quarters (72 percent) were not in their dream jobs.

The first question is: What would executives rather be doing? Many, in fact, named creative professions when asked about their fantasy careers.

Top Ten Dream Career Choices of Business Executives

1. Entertainment manager or events producer

2. Winemaker or brewmaster

3, Chef

4. Restaurateur

5, Pilot

6. Golf pro

7. Professional athlete

8. Rock star

9. Neurosurgeon

10. Bed-and-breakfast-inn owner/operator

The second question is: Why don’t more executives move on to something better if they are not in their dream careers? Clearly, most executives are trapped in the corporate system and don’t have the guts to do something different.

Yet many ordinary people with fewer skills and financial resources than corporate executives have managed to leave corporate life to pursue dream careers. These ordinary people have become happier, wealthier, freer, and more satisfied in their lives.

One reason why so many individuals end up in distasteful work is that too many get caught up on the money side of careers. They see it as a choice between “love the work you do in poverty” or “hate the work you do in abundance.”

Sadly, most people believe that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Some of us know otherwise we have gotten ourselves two cakes. This way, we get to keep our cake and eat it, too.

Put another way, we have discovered work that we love. Better still, we manage to earn a decent living. Indeed, many of us earn a better living than 90 percent of corporate workers who **** their jobs.

Above all, ensure that you end up working at something that you love instead of working just for the money. Working at something just for the money is something fearful people do. It is a sign of their lack of self-confidence in their ability, talent, and creativity to earn money doing something they enjoy.

Truth be known, a typical corporate job is a goal much too small for millions of creative individuals in this world. Indeed, if you are not just a dreamer but also a doer a dream career does not have to be an unattainable fantasy.

Chicago advertising executive Robert Cochrane warned Carl Laemmle with these words: “Don’t be a salary slave! If you are going to do anything in this world, you must start before you are forty, before your period of initiative has ended. Do it now!”

In short, it’s seldom too late to discover and pursue a dream job or unique vocation. But it is better to make that career change to your dream job sooner than later.

NOTE: This article is adapted from the book Real Success Without a Real Job (Ten Speed Press) by Ernie J. Zelinski.

Download the free E-book (in PDF format) with the first chapter of Real Success Without a Real Job at:

Free Ebooks and Career Change Resources





By: Ernie Zelinski

About the Author:

Bruce