Career Change

How does it happen? Perhaps you just begin to lose interest, you find something that interests you more or perhaps your company is downsizing. These are just some of the numerous reasons people find themselves on that steep cliff looking back on their career just as the dirt begins to crumble beneath them.

Are you considering changing careers, well taking it slowly and making sure what you really want to do is change careers is the best way to start and remember you are in good company, studies show that the average job-seeker will change careers (not jobs) several times over the course of his or her lifetime.

Start by making an assessment of Likes and Dislikes. A lot of people change careers because they dislike their job, their boss, their company, so, identifying the dislikes is often the easier part of this step; however, you will not know what direction to change your career unless you examine your likes. What do you really like doing when you're at work, when you're at home or in your spare time? What excites you and energizes you?

Then research some careers that seem to interest you, don't worry if you're 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're making. Make another list of which one of your skills are transferable to the new career, you may surprised how many are really applicable to your new choice. However you may still find it necessary to update your skills and broaden your knowledge. Take it slowly. Take a course or two to ensure you really like the subject matter and if you are going for a new degree or certification make sure you check the accreditation of the school, and get some information about placement successes.

One of the real keys to successfully changing careers will be your networking abilities. 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 don't think you already have a network, you probably do - consider colleagues, friends, and family members. You can 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.

Finally, try to gain experience while still employed in your current position, obtaining a part-time job or volunteering in your new career field not only can solidify your decision, but give you much needed experience in your new career. You might also want to consider temping in your new field. Work weekends, nights, whatever it takes to gain the experience. Finding a Mentor can also be a big boost, changing is a major life decision that can get overwhelming at times, finding a mentor who can help you through the rough patches. Your mentor may also be able to help you by taking advantage of his or her network. A mentor doesn't have to be a highly placed individual, though the more powerful the mentor, the more success you may have in using that power to your advantage.

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All content on this site is subject to copyright © 2000/2006
If you wish to use anything either text or graphics please ask permission