| Are you thinking about switching careers? If you are, | | | | e-mails, you will no doubt hear a lot of "Oh! Susan's son |
| you're not alone. Most Americans switch careers three | | | | teaches astronomy at the university, he's writing a |
| times in their lifetime. Nevertheless, switching careers is | | | | book on the Hubble telescope this year." or "Oh John |
| scary. And it's especially paralyzing the older you get. | | | | does construction on the side, he loves it!" By talking to |
| But making a career switch is very possible and much | | | | other people, you may make connections or gain |
| more common than you might think. Before you're | | | | insight into the experiences and opinions of people |
| ready to leap, realize that it's a heavyweight decision | | | | connected with your interest areas. It will also trigger |
| that deserves some time and solid thought. Here are | | | | some more ideas for you. Perhaps it never occurred |
| seven steps to help you on your way. | | | | to you to pair a love of writing with a love of |
| 1. Gain insight from your current situation. | | | | astronomy until you talked with your cousin. |
| When considering a career switch, the first thing you | | | | 4. Do your homework |
| should do is learn from your current situation. To do | | | | So, you've looked inside. You've come up with several |
| this, take a step back and study what you do for a | | | | interests and you've taken steps to explore what's out |
| living today and why you do it. Examine the reasons | | | | there. By this time, you've come up with a few things |
| that you are in your current job or career. Was it what | | | | you might like to do or have found one you've decided |
| you went to school for? Was it what your parents | | | | you want to pursue. Now it's time to get to work. It's |
| wanted you to do? Was it the "hot career" at one | | | | time to delve into what it really means to have a job in |
| time? Did you just "fall into it"? Did you love it at one | | | | a particular career field. To accomplish this part of your |
| time? Did you do it for the money you could make? | | | | journey, you need to do serious research. |
| Was it just to pay the bills? The answers to these | | | | Your research homework consists of concrete |
| questions can provide valuable insight into the core | | | | exploration of available paths for your career options. |
| reasons that you want or need to change. | | | | For the majority of careers, you will need to embark |
| Now examine why you want to leave your current | | | | on some type of structured educational path. |
| career field. Remove any company or management | | | | Examples of this are things like sponsored career |
| related politics that are specific to your current | | | | programs, college degrees, certification programs, |
| employer from the picture. See your situation for what | | | | professional designations, internships or apprenticeships. |
| it is and ask yourself why you are looking to switch. | | | | Even if your chosen career path does not require |
| Are you being forced out because of market shifts of | | | | ordered training or education, you will no doubt have to |
| business trends? Are you burnt out? Do you want to | | | | "put in your time" and you will need to find out what |
| make more money? Are you miserable doing what | | | | and how much time you will realistically be expected to |
| you do? Have you tried your best but found that your | | | | "put in". |
| career is "just not a good fit"? Have you decided its | | | | So how do you find out? Let's say you've decided you |
| time to pursue a long lost career love? | | | | want to seriously explore being a pharmacist. |
| Inspecting your current situation and reasons for your | | | | Wonderful! How do you get to be a pharmacist? For |
| desire to change careers will provide a foundation for | | | | starters, inquire with your friends and family to see if |
| your next step. | | | | anyone knows a pharmacist that you can speak with. |
| 2. Look inside | | | | Talk to your neighborhood pharmacist, find out where |
| Whether you already have a career in mind or you | | | | she went to school and ask her about any |
| are searching for a new career, you must look inward. | | | | professional designations she holds or ongoing |
| In order to gain the most from your reflection, it is | | | | education she may be taking. If you're brave, ask her |
| essential to start with a clean slate. Set aside any | | | | what kind of salary pharmacists can expect to earn. In |
| notions (real or imagined) about what type of money | | | | addition, pick up that college course catalog again and |
| certain careers offer. Discard any stereotypes or | | | | inspect the pharmacology program. Look at the |
| judgments of occupations. Distance yourself from any | | | | prerequisites and notice how long the program will take |
| pre-conceived ideas about what you are right or | | | | to complete and how much the courses cost. Read |
| destined for. | | | | the course descriptions. Do they peak your interest or |
| Now seriously examine what you truly love. First start | | | | do they make you want to throw the book down? A |
| with the obvious. Look at your hobbies and interests. | | | | great supplement to all of your research is the internet. |
| List out the things you are passionate about or in | | | | There are plenty of newsgroup, blog, forum and |
| which you have talent. Give yourself credit for things | | | | professional association sites out there. Any of these |
| you are good at and don't be afraid to write things | | | | can give you a solid peak into what it means and |
| down that you love, but are not yet good at. Write | | | | takes to be a given occupation. |
| them all down, even if you think they may not be a | | | | For each career path you are interested in, you will |
| possible career path. You're just brainstorming at this | | | | want to know the following: |
| point and you should not eliminate anything right out of | | | | - What are the education requirements? |
| the gate. And it's important to bear in mind that what | | | | - Does it require any job certification? |
| you may think are your interests are not necessarily all | | | | - Is there an apprenticeship required? |
| of your interests. To help you get a good look at your | | | | - Does it require travel? |
| interests, observe the simple things. What kinds of | | | | - How much money can you make? |
| news stories perk your interest? What kinds of TV | | | | - Where are the regions of the country that people in |
| shows do you enjoy? What kinds of books | | | | this career field are more successful? more in supply? |
| magazines do you find yourself drawn to? What kind | | | | more in demand? make more money? |
| of people do you like to associate with or find | | | | - Will it require you to relocate? |
| interesting? What parts of your current career have | | | | - Will it require regular, ongoing education? |
| brought you the most satisfaction? | | | | - Will it require you to have your own business or work |
| Next, remind yourself of what you wanted to be when | | | | for another company? |
| you grew up. Is it something you still want to be? Do | | | | - Are there yearly fees? (e.g. license renewal, union |
| you still get stars in your eyes when you think about it? | | | | dues, association membership, equipment, etc.) |
| This may give you some real clues. And of course, | | | | - How many hours will you normally work in a week? |
| depending on what you wanted to be, that young | | | | - Are there any age requirements or cut-offs? |
| dream may be out of reach. Or...is it? Think about it. If | | | | - How much will it cost you to become gainfully |
| your ideal career aspiration at the age of 10 was to be | | | | employed in the field? |
| an astronaut and you are now over the age limit or | | | | - How long will it take you to become gainfully |
| are not physically able to, you can rule it out. But what | | | | employed in the field? |
| about other careers associated with astronauts or | | | | The answers to these questions will help you narrow |
| astronomy? There is a wide array of careers that | | | | your career choices further and may even get a fire |
| touch upon astronomy from teaching, to marketing | | | | burning under your feet. |
| telescopes, to writing for a science magazine, to | | | | 5. Take financial stock |
| building models or sets for movies to working at a | | | | Okay. You've done it! You've come up with one or |
| museum on a space exhibit! When you look at your | | | | more career paths that you'd like to embark on. You |
| passion and then use a little imagination, the sky (or | | | | have looked into what it means to be employed in the |
| should I say space) becomes the limit. | | | | career field(s) and you are now powerfully armed with |
| Lastly, look at what type of person you are. Be honest | | | | the knowledge of what it takes to get you where you |
| with yourself. Do you enjoy working with your hands? | | | | want to go! But like everything in life, it's going to cost |
| Do you enjoy working alone? Do you enjoy a social | | | | you. You now need to list out all the costs, add them |
| work setting? Do you enjoy being part of a team? Do | | | | up and compare them with what you will be able to |
| you enjoy working at night? These are all examples of | | | | swing. There's no doubt you will be able to accomplish |
| questions that will lead you down the path to | | | | your goals, no matter what your financial situation. It |
| discovering and evaluating whether a given career | | | | may take you longer than you like or may come at the |
| path is right for you. | | | | expense of some other items or conveniences in your |
| As you are going through the exercise of looking | | | | life, but you can do it if you set your mind to it and |
| inside, it is important to avoid cluttering your mind or list | | | | approach it methodically. This may mean you have to |
| with any "buts". If your answer to the question "do you | | | | call upon your research skills again and explore |
| enjoy working with your hands" was "yes", leave it at | | | | financial options such as grants, scholarships, payment |
| "yes". Don't append any knee jerk reactions to your | | | | plans, or 401K or private institution education loans. You |
| answers such as "yes, but I am clumsy" or "yes, but | | | | even may be able to pay for education or experience |
| those jobs don't pay as much". Leave your mind open | | | | by doing an internship or by performing work using a |
| and you will be pleasantly surprised at how easily any | | | | skill that you currently have in exchange for training or |
| natural human discouragement subsides. | | | | experience. |
| 3. Explore what's out there | | | | When you are taking financial stock, allow yourself |
| Now that you're armed with a list of personal interests | | | | breathing room. Perhaps your goals are not financially |
| and talents, sit on them for a few days and let them | | | | feasible at this moment in time. Perhaps you just had a |
| cook. Let yourself get used to your newfound list. You | | | | baby, your youngest son needs braces, or you've just |
| may find yourself adding a few more during this time | | | | paid an absorbent amount of money to repair your |
| or even crossing a few out. | | | | car. It's okay. Rejoice in the fact that you've come this |
| Begin your next step by opening your eyes to what's | | | | far. You can put a plan together and start saving or |
| out there (not what you perceive to be out there, but | | | | start applying for aid or other means of financing. |
| rather what is out there). Pick up your local community | | | | There may even be things you can start to do that will |
| college catalog and flip through both credit and | | | | be free or cheap, such as volunteering in the field or |
| continuing education courses. Look online for education | | | | reading books to prepare you for your studies. Most |
| or career programs. Make a list of the careers of your | | | | people don't have the luxury of quitting their jobs while |
| friends and family. On your next ride to work or to the | | | | they switch careers, so most likely you will be living a |
| store, turn off the radio, look around and take notice of | | | | "double life" while you prepare for the switch. |
| the buildings and businesses around you. Look at the | | | | Whatever you do, don't break the bank, because you'll |
| people you see outside and start piecing together | | | | inevitably find yourself right back where you started. |
| what their days are like. | | | | 6. Check your calendar |
| The object of this exercise is to compare what is out | | | | Great! You've got it all under control. You know where |
| there, with what interests you. Let's stick with the | | | | you're going, how you're going to get there and how |
| astronomy example. You're interested in astronomy. | | | | you're going to pay for it. But can you afford the time? |
| So what? Well...now you've begun looking through the | | | | Do you have enough free time or flexibility to meet the |
| local community college catalog and there, you see a | | | | educational requirements? Are you young enough or |
| continuing education course on astronomy. You've | | | | old enough to fall within any professional age |
| now found something concrete, a class that you can | | | | requirements? If you have the time and the age, skip |
| take that will allow you to pursue your interest. But | | | | this step. If not, the last step of your journey is to |
| what is a continuing education course going to get | | | | shuffle your calendar! |
| you? A couple of things. One, you will meet other | | | | Shuffling your calendar may be easy. You may know |
| people who share your interest. These people bring | | | | right away what to eliminate or move in order to make |
| information to the table. They may know of groups or | | | | room for your new career path. Conversely, finding the |
| clubs that you can join. Or perhaps, they may have | | | | time might be downright complicated. Maybe you have |
| friends or relatives who are looking for someone to do | | | | small children, maybe you have an ailing parent, maybe |
| research work or work part-time in their science store. | | | | you have church or community commitments...any of |
| Two, you will be able to further your interest...or be | | | | these things would make working towards a new |
| able to rule it out as a career path. You may learn that | | | | career an uphill battle. Here again, it may mean that |
| you really love astronomy and would like to pursue it | | | | you have to post-pone your journey for a little while. |
| further. On the other hand, you may learn that it really | | | | Or, it could mean that you have to settle for beginning |
| isn't what you thought it was and you really don't care | | | | your education informally by reading books or taking |
| enough about it to pursue it as a career. Any way you | | | | online courses when you can. Whatever your |
| slice it, you will learn something about yourself and at | | | | challenge, don't lose hope! Faith in yourself and |
| the very least will have met others who share your | | | | perseverance will get you where you want to go. |
| interest. | | | | 7. Take the plunge |
| Let's try another example. Perhaps, on your way to | | | | You've arrived at the last step. It's time to jump in! |
| work, you start to notice a road construction worker. | | | | Time to register for that first class, accept that |
| The first day you see him, you're in a suit, he's in jeans | | | | internship, or apply for that entry level or part-time job |
| and he's joking with a coworker as he shovels asphalt | | | | in your chosen field. Whatever you've found to be the |
| under a sunny sky. You think to yourself, "Boy it'd be | | | | first step towards your new career, delight in the fact |
| nice to get out of this suit, work outside...break a sweat | | | | that you've come a long way and you're doing it! |
| for once! Maybe I'd like to do that..." The next day you | | | | You've done a lot of hard, thorough work and you |
| see him and you watch as a driver leans out his | | | | have a lot to be proud of. Start down that path with |
| window and curses at him. "Hmmm", you think. The | | | | your chin up and your shoulders back! |
| third day you see him, it's raining and cold and he's out | | | | Food for your trip |
| braving the elements while you're dry and warm inside | | | | You can't take this trip without packing! If you leave |
| your car. "Cross that one off the list", you think. If you | | | | home with one thing, leave home with the comforting |
| had only noticed the man on the first day, you'd only | | | | knowledge that your approach to a new career is |
| have seen him on a good day. If you had only noticed | | | | circular. This means that you can always go back to |
| him on the last day, you'd have seen him at the worst. | | | | the beginning of the circle or to any point within the |
| Either way, without really opening your eyes full time, | | | | circle. If you've started a class or program and found |
| you may have a fragmented impression on what it | | | | that you hate it. So what? You've learned to cross it |
| means to be this or that. The point here is not to look | | | | off you list and go back and take another look. Even if |
| for distinctly negative or positive things about a given | | | | you get all the way to end of the path and decide it is |
| occupation, but to begin to see it as a whole. With this | | | | not for you, take comfort that you did your best and |
| type of information, you will be able to form an opinion | | | | its time to go back to another number in the circle. |
| on whether a given occupation could be a possibility | | | | There is no shame in that. |
| for you. | | | | So go on now...get out of here! Your train is leaving |
| In addition to concrete and mindful exploration, talking to | | | | and you better be on it! Just don't forget to take some |
| your friends and family is an invaluable type of | | | | pictures along the way, stop and smell the flowers, buy |
| investigation. When you start bringing up your interests | | | | a few souvenirs and by all means, don't forget where |
| or ideas for possible career paths in conversations or | | | | you came from! |