Career Change Tips and Advice

Career Change Tips and Advice

Building a career over years is becoming a rarity in the age of fast forwarded careers. Hardly a decade ago, any bright-eyed, freshly minted graduate had his options cut out for them. You either get into a management school, get into engineering school or med school and pray that you came out in one piece.  Choosing was not much of a problem, because your choices were limited, and in more ways than one, you got chosen by your profession. By luck you would find yourself able to tolerate what you do as a job and live on. Today, we have avenues for jobs springing up in places we never imagined. The choices are endless post the IT revolution. People change jobs by the weekend. The tendency to change one’s career is on the rise. Sensitivities have changed. Everybody has a reason to change jobs, at least an excuse to convince themselves that they made the right choice.

Changing careers is a common sight today. Most of the people are interested to shift their careers and they have different reasons for it. A. Harrison Barnes, the CEO of job portal Employment Crossing says that there are people who switch careers as soon as they have stepped into their “chosen” field in the face of fallen expectations. There is also the breed that discovers A. Hidden talent they can put to use in a much better way in a different career in the middle of their present careers. Though the prospect of changing the decision about their career is at times painful, the average person today has the courage to change their careers for they find themselves suitable for a different job than the one they are presently in. Job satisfaction is a crucial factor today, so much to the extent that we find employers changing the office environment to make their employees feel “happy” coming to work. It is no longer surprising to hear of a person who landed up in a field that had absolutely nothing to do with the choices he made during his/her education or later on, in the beginning of their “planned” career. Today, the possibilities for a career change at any stage in your present career are endless.

A career change has its bounties and benefits, but there is always the risk factor of losing your way if you do not keep your head straight. Though a career change does involve risk, according to A. Harrison Barnes, you will not know unless you take the risk. A career change also allows you to experience different jobs and provide you with enough knowledge about the day-to-day processes involved in a particular profession. It provides them avenues to learn more and more capabilities and areas where they can excel.

Every individual has his or her own reason to change careers says A. Harrison Barnes. Some may have problems dealing with their colleagues or the seniors with whom they spend the whole day at office. In the present scenario, where the average person has a fairly high degree of sensitivity, uncomfortable peer interaction could easily be a factor that governs a career shift. It is seen that in most cases of resignation from a particular organization, the individual leaves his immediate supervisor and not the organization.  Another reason for the shift could be the frequent change in tasks or even in rules that are not allowing you to perform.

Another culprit of a career shift is the lack of concentration or dwindling interest in routine chores at work. It is a possibility that one can lose focus of the big picture and thus fail to perform up to the desired mark. This change in attitude can put the individual in situations where he is pointed out to be incapable of handling his job efficiently and eventually a burden to his working environment. This could easily provoke a job shift. Though this could result in an immediate shift to a different organization in the same field, it is highly likely that such an individual can face a similar pattern of situations, wherever he or she goes, which may eventually result in verifying the decision to embark on this career and the probability of a different career option.

Changing careers is never an easy job. You need to look at all the facts and take them into perspective before you take the plunge. The few aspects that you need to consider are shared with you below by A. Harrison Barnes.

Have a Well Developed Plan

However bright your prospects may appear to be, you need to have a plan chalked out before you take any step towards a career change. You have to make an effective career change strategy that ensures your success in your new career. This plan could consist of managing finances, current qualifications,  prospects of improving upon your qualifications while on the job, the learning curve at your new job, and research on recent market trends. This is of course a time consuming process, but time well spent. You need to remember that it is a decision that will change your career and your life completely and thus cannot take it lightly. Patience is a virtue you need to develop if you don’t already have it, suggests A. Harrison Barnes.

Your Personal Assessment

At this juncture, it is imperative that you analyze the skills, the talents, the strengths, the passions and the experience that you have accumulated till date. Your complete and honest self assessment will help you decide on the career that you can choose for your future step. You have to make a complete list of things that you can do to push yourself in the right direction to a career you can move ahead in swiftly. The result of this analysis will help you get the right career for yourself says A. Harrison Barnes.

Different Career Alternatives

You can know about other career alternatives through career libraries and through online resources. The job search websites online have the career advice section where you can gain the necessary information. Here you can compare the different fields of work that you have an interest in.

Salary Suiting the Lifestyle

Every person has a unique angle on the lifestyle that he or she wishes to have. Your choice of lifestyle can make you travel to different parts of the world or keep you close to the people you have always wished to live with. You need to be stern in setting your priorities and ensure that your new career will help you maintain these priorities. This is never easy. This is because a new career always tends to set new parameters in your day-to-day life. Adapting to these changes, keeping focus of what you need to achieve ultimately and working towards it will keep you motivated in such a situation.

Apart from these you can take career advice from many resources. You can ask for information from the people who have already made career changes in their lives. A. Harrison Barnes says that they are the best guide for you.

Career Advice: Six Proven Job Tips For Career Success

Achieving career success is not an exact process. Nevertheless, there are common sense rules that winners follow to achieve their career goals.

Here are six of those real-world career guidelines.

1. Job Tip: Do not hire anyone you can’t fire, unless you are under pressure so harsh that you can not resist.

When you hire a new employee, hopes are high that the relationship will work out to everyone’s benefit, even if it’s a shotgun wedding. In any case, the wise manager will be sure to keep away from a position where he can’t fire that person if things go sour.

This means resisting situations where employment is based on any reason other than the needs of the company and the particular worth and “fit” of the person being recruited.

When possible, run for cover when you are being pressured by a friend to hire his friend. Especially try to duck the bullet when the “do hire” message comes on a personal basis from the boss.

The reality is there may not be any way of escaping. If that is the case, protect yourself from the start. Have a clear understanding with all concerned of the basis on which you are acting. Insist that everyone understands that so long as you are held responsible for the results of your department, you have the absolute right to hire and fire. You should insist on being let off the hook if that right is denied.

Keep a record of the performance of the offspring of a forced wedding. Whether he or she is a great success or a failure you need facts.

2. Job Tip: Live with the reality that the only reality in any organization is individual perceptions of the information that is available. Therefore, “reality” is what those in power say it is. Learn to live with it.

3. Job Tip: The fact is that the same traits that lead to a successful career–Ambition, independence of thought and assertiveness–are frequently in conflict with the culture of the organization. But if you focus these attributes on the success of your employer, you will be forgiven.

4. Job Tip: Accept the fact that the organization will never be a perfect universe. Organizations are no better or worse than the people who inhabit them. The organization will do things of which you do not approve; it will make mistakes.

So, don’t enter the organization with a do-or-die missionary zeal to purify the structure, its purposes and those who make it up. Focus your attention on making your best efforts to move yourself toward your goals and those of the organization.

If, after time, you find that you cannot achieve these objectives, you have two choices. Either compromise your standards are resign. That is the way it is.

5. Job Tip: Don’t expect your comrades to support you to the bitter end if you are in serious conflict with the organization.

If you and your associates find yourself in a serious conflict with your employer be wary if your associates declare, “We are in this with you. You can count on our support.”; you go fight ‘em.” Or the corollary to that, “If you get fired, Charlie, we will leave with you.”

That all sounds fine in the heat of the moment. But if it comes to actual conflict, most people shy away and begin thinking more about job security and house payments than they do loyalty to the cause you once shared.

6. Job Tip: Know that most people are waiting for something to happen. Most people spend most of their careers waiting for the spark to light. They want someone to come along and tell them what to do. They hope that by some sudden miraculous stroke they will be motivated to achieve success.

On the other hand, some people are impatient. They are chomping at the bit to shape their world. They win big or lose big in the process, but they get to choose the game and set the stakes. In this world, those who sit back and wait for success are bound to dance to someone else’s music.

How do you travel your career path?

5 More Job Tips – How to Find a Great New Job

In Part 1 “Laying the Groundwork” You did some soul searching created some lists – ending up with a list of marketable skills. Got that in front of you now? Good.

Job Tip # 1:  Narrow your Search

Now you need to match those skills with the kinds of jobs that will pay for them. Keep in mind there are lots of skills that transfer well to other jobs. For example:

I once ran across someone who helped her husband build a Real Estate brokerage. After 5 years, he left her and filed for divorce. She was devastated and jobless. Her instinct was to limit herself to real estate work but her skills took her far beyond that.

She was great at marketing and could use those skills for any small business.
She could manage any office – especially personal service types like insurance and investment fields.
She could set appointments. Do phone work, web design, handle advertising, bookkeeping and a host of other tasks.

 

The question she should have been asking  is… which of those valuable skills does she want to offer and to whom?

Do a bit of brainstorming to come up with some kinds of jobs that may need the skills you have to offer.

At the end of this article you’ll find a link to a resource page to help you match those skills to specific job descriptions if you get stuck.

Job Tip #2: Set Your Sights

By now, you should have a list of the kinds of jobs available. Next, make a list of potential employers. Again you want your list to be as broad as possible and include as many potential employers as you can.

After you’ve drawn up a list as extensive as possible – you should arrange them from most desirable to least. Don’t worry – you need not write the list in stone so you can always change the order… or even cross some employers off entirely if you like.

Job Tip #3:  Interview Prospective Employers

From the list of potential employers, you want to narrow down your search again to a short list of potential employers. Forget about job postings. You are going after the job you want – “job openings”.

Decide what companies you want to work for and why. Make sure you know what you like about these companies. Keep your eyes wide open here. Not even the “Best Place to Work in America” is perfect.

Now order your list from the most desirable to the least. Start at the top and begin your research. You want to know as much about the position as you can.

Talk to people working in the department. What’s it like working in this position. What do you like about this company? How does it compare to other companies?

Talk to the department head. Ask him/her about job duties, work environment, expectations.  Your purpose is not to ask about a job but to research the kind of position you want to pursue.

If they are “not hiring” then find out if they anticipate an opening and if so when? Ask about the industry in general – is there a demand for skilled people? Is the demand expected to increase to decrease? Why?

Remain undaunted if they claim to have no openings right now. Most any decent ompany wants to grow. Growth means expansion and expansion means jobs.

If there is any interest in your skills at all, ask the department head they would like to see your resume and offer to submit it to their human resources department. (Or if they are small – right to the person you are talking too!) If they say “yes”, submit the resume with a sticky note saying “Ms. X said she wanted to see this when you got it” or something so they are sure to forward it.

Job Tip #4: Tailor Your Cover Letter and Resume

When submitting your cover letter and resume – be sure to focus on the skills they are looking for. If they want someone to answer the phones – emphasize your phone skills! If they don’t mention typing skills, it may not matter how great yours are.

For each job you decide to go after – you should have a resume and cover letter targeted for the requirements of that position. Make sure the employer sees up front that you have exactly what they are looking for!

At this point if you find yourself explaining why they should consider you in spite of your shortcomings – it may be time to recopied your qualifications.

Remember – the point here is to target jobs you are highly qualified for. If you find yourself lacking skills then you should either adjust your focus or improve your skill set.

Job Tip #5: Make the Wheel Squeak

Be sure to follow up with a thank you card and a phone call. While you don’t want to become a pest, make it clear you want to work for this company and why.

If you know anyone who works for the company then they may be able to give the inside scoop on news. The more information you can get the better. Stay patient. The more desirable the company and the job, the willing you should be to bide your time.

Landing the exact job you want may not be easy but the payoff is worth some extra effort. As a bonus, this extra work may pay off with some surprising rewards you never thought possible.

You may find the company you were originally high on isn’t all that. BUT there’s a position open now at an even better firm. Plus once you can present a knowledge and enthusiastic prospect to a potential employer – you can suddenly find yourself as a “hot property”.

The employer may be willing to go all out to bag a trophy employee – you!

Remember this ball started rolling because you decided to pursue something you would enjoy doing instead of settling for “whatever”.  In the end you will be happier and your new employer will be overjoyed to have an enthusiastic employee who really wants to be there.

Did you miss Part 1? Read 5 Job Tips – How to Find a GREAT New Job here…

Check out the Find and Land a GREAT Job resource page here…

Food Scientist Jobs – Career Explained

Food scientist jobs are important to our society, as these individuals are responsible for researching and developing ways to improve the food and beverage products we consume on a daily basis. The most common career options in this field are as food science technicians because the actual scientists who oversee many of the tests typically have advanced degrees at the doctoral level. The degrees needed for food science technicians are typically bachelor’s degrees, and these important professionals work very close with scientists in all the tests they conduct.

Biological technicians, chemical technicians, environmental science technicians and food technicians all work in similar fields. Food scientist jobs at the technician level require performing tests on food and agricultural products, scrutinizing the results and keeping records under the supervision of a head scientist. You may also be required to maintain inventories of equipment and order lab supplies as needed. You may work in a lab in an urban city or in a more remote location.

The most important career information you need to know is the education and training required for food science technicians. While the top food scientist jobs require doctoral degrees and a great deal of research experience, food science technician jobs may only require a two-year associate’s degree in applied science. Most technicians have bachelor’s degrees in fields such as biology or chemistry, though, which helps boost your resume and salary potential. An internship will also help provide more opportunities to advance your new career in the earliest stages after college graduation.

The average annual salary for food science technicians in the United States is $42,270, but there is room for advancement. The salary may also depend on where you work, what kind of lab you work for, where you went to school and how much experience you had when you started the job. And who knows, maybe you’ll even decide to continue your education and pursue the top food scientist jobs with the responsibilities of managing entire laboratories. With additional education you can do just about anything in this field.

Institutions offering quality Culinary Arts Programs include The International Culinary Institute at the Art Institutes, Le Cordon Blue Schools, The French Culinary Institute, The Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University.

Curriculum Specialist Jobs – Career Explained

Curriculum specialist jobs are important to our educational system, although the average person probably does not know much about this job. The curriculum specialist job description is basically to assess the effectiveness of a school’s curriculum in order to best meet the needs of the students. These well-educated professionals must be able to meet with advisory committees, work alongside school staff, review or recommend textbooks and related equipment or tools, direct instructional materials, develop curriculum and more.

The curriculum specialist salary varies depending on the location, type of school or district, education level and experience. The median expected salary for curriculum specialists in the United States is $64,743, but it will be lower in the beginning of one’s career and higher as one gains additional experience. In most cases, curriculum specialist jobs require a master’s degree. Public school systems also require that the individual is licensed to hold this job, either as a teacher or as an educational administrator. The required training in curriculum development and instruction, as well as training in a particular subject area in some cases, is why the curriculum specialist salary is higher than that of a typical schoolteacher.

Since the curriculum specialist job description includes so many skills, tasks and knowledge areas associated with the teaching job, many of the curriculum specialists currently working are former teachers. Educational administrators, even principals, often choose to take this career path when they are ready for a new challenge or just looking to step into a different role.

About 40 percent of all curriculum specialists work for public schools, 20 percent work for private schools, and the rest work for consulting agencies, family service providers and state governments. It is a challenging job requiring a level head and good critical thinking and analysis skills, as well as people skills. Many curriculum specialists also have technology knowledge and various language skills, as two of the fastest growing segments of this career are in the technology and English as a Second Language curriculum. If you choose this educational career, you will have many options available to you.

Teaching English as a Second Language Jobs – Career Explained

There are many different English as a Second Language jobs in the United States and abroad, which all have varying educational requirements and job specifications. English as a Second Language (ESL) is also known as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL). All of the teaching English as a Second Language jobs are focused on teaching English to people who have a different native language that they currently speak in. Teaching English to people in the United States and in other countries can provide many benefits to the students, and in U.S. schools it is often necessary in areas with large immigrant populations.

If you are seeking English as a Second Language jobs, you will have many different opportunities and many different routes to choose from. Since there are so many different job environments and locations one can work in within this area of the educational world, many different types of people can get ESL jobs as a result. If you want to travel and see the world while earning a salary, for example, you could search for ESL jobs overseas. There are many opportunities to teach English to students in other countries through various employment agencies. There is an abundance of work in Asian countries such as South Korea, so if you have an itching to get immersed in Eastern culture this is a great way to do so.

More conventional options include domestic teaching English as a Second Language jobs, where the students live and learn in the United States. Most jobs are at public schools, but there are also ESL jobs at private schools. In areas such as the Southwest and Texas, many Spanish speakers from Mexico and South America need specialized instruction, but this career is not only a job for teaching English to Spanish speakers as some might imagine. Immigrants and refugees from all over the world might require special help adjusting to the English language upon moving to the United States.

There are also English as a Second Language jobs online, so whatever your career goals and preferences, there is an ESL job for you.

Hotel Jobs: Hospitality Job Careers In The Hotel Industry

For anyone who is interested in any hospitality jobs then maybe a career in hotel jobs is for you. The hotel industry can offer you several positions in this field of work. These kind of jobs will be service oriented and are regarded to be a very important asset to the hotels.

So many hotels have expanded their facilities when it comes to providing all the needs of their quest. There are numerous job positions offer as a hotel worker like front office assistant, accountants, secretaries, marketing and maintenance.Because hotels are open round the clock there are numerous employees to work in shifts which will require many workers to come in during the morning, noon and night too. Many times workers are needed to work on holidays as well. If you’re able to handle this kind of high pressure job and work long hours too then there is a good career for you using this type of business.The smaller hotels, a hotel manager is the one who looks after administrative, aesthetic as well as the financial part of all hotels daily operations. There’s also a food and beverage manager too. This person manages planning the menus, budgets all of cost and also will supervise the preparation of foods and its service too.The front office managers will have the duties of reservations, adjustments of the rooms charges, room assignments and any resolution from the customers complaints. The departmental managers will assist the hotels general manager who will have the responsibility of the administration of a hotel.One requirement for this kind of work will be for a person to have education in hotel and restaurant management, which is now becoming a qualification for those who need a career in this kind of industry. Having a degree will certainly help to boost your odds of gaining any promotions in this line of work. Additionally, there are shorter ways to initiate this field and that is by taking some vocational courses in hotel and restaurant management. This can be a rewarding way and well worth the while to acquire a career in the hotel industry.The best thing about the hotel and hospitality sector is that you can work long anti social hours for low pay and you are expected to do this with a smile on your face. The best job to aim for is that of Chef, at least you will get a good meal once in a while.

Child Psychologist Jobs – Career Explained

Child psychologist careers have become more important and more complex in recent decades, especially as the field has expanded to become more focused on developmental psychology, an area which scientifically studies the systematic psychological changes over the course of human life. Child psychologist jobs revolve around the mental and social development of children and adolescents. Some child psychologists work directly with children, counseling them and helping them through challenging life stages. Others concentrate more on research into childhood development with a focus on areas such as learning disabilities and juvenile crime. And others do both. No matter which area of focus you might choose, child psychologist careers are essential and rewarding jobs.

Most people who are interested in this career want to know about the child psychologist salary, but it can vary greatly. In an entry level position right out of college, child psychologist jobs may pay between $30,000 and $45,000 a year depending on the geographic location and job environment. After five or ten years of experience, child psychologists typically earn between $55,000 and $80,000 a year. And after ten or more years in this challenging career, professional child psychologists can earn as much as $100,000 a year.

It is important to understand exactly what child psychologists careers entail. These are not psychiatrists or medical doctors, so they cannot prescribe medication. However, working in the role of counselor, they can help children cope with complex issues and help them adjust to medications that have been prescribed by a doctor. Child psychologists may work in schools helping children with adjustment, behavioral and developmental issues. They may also work in courts where children and families are coping with difficult issues such as divorce, child custody and allegations of abuse or other crimes against children that have allegedly been committed.

Child psychologists must complete a graduate degree, in most cases a doctoral degree in psychology, and complete the required number of supervised training hours before becoming licensed to work in this field. It is a difficult job that is not right for every kind of personality. However, if you care about children’s development and are able to remain objective, you will get many rewards from this career.

Institutions offering quality Child Psychology Programs include University of Phoenix, Argosy University, South University, Brown Mackie College and Hesser College.

Data Architect Jobs – Career Explained

Data architect jobs are some of the best career options these days for those who are technically inclined and dedicated to staying on top of the latest technologies. Basically, this career involves maintaining the data assets of a company or organization with a structured architecture designed for the needs of that organization. The means of acquiring data, the database and the integration of data are all handled by the database architect. Before getting into this career, it is a good idea to get a better understanding of the degrees needed as well as the salary, the job prospects and other career information.

A data architect is a person responsible for ensuring that the data assets of an organization are maintained by an architecture supporting the organization in achieving its strategic goals. The architecture should cover databases, data integration and the means to get to the data. Usually the data architect achieves his/her goals via setting enterprise data standards. A Data Architect is also referred to as a Data Modeler. This is in spite of the fact that the role involves much more than just creating data models.

Once you have become skilled as a data architect, you will have many career options to choose from all over the country and perhaps even all over the world. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining a formal description of the data and data structures including data definitions, flow diagrams and models for your employer. Your skills will include business semantics, capability and system selection, data modeling, data strategy development, logical data modeling, metadata management, metadata registry and metadata workflow management, physical data modeling and more.

The degrees needed for data architect jobs vary depending on your career goals and the amount of schooling you’re willing to get. Before you receive your degree, you will need to have a solid understanding of data dictionaries, data retention, data warehousing, enterprise application integration, metadata registry, relational databases, semantics, structured query language, XML and other essential skills. The more education and experience you obtain, the higher salary you will earn and the more career opportunities you will have available. The median salary for level 1 database architect jobs is between $48,000 and $73,000, and there are plenty of opportunities for advancement with more training.

Computer Software Engineer Jobs – Career Explained

Computer software engineer jobs provide excellent career opportunities for technology minded people with skills and education for the 21st century. The salary is excellent, and the demand for this job should remain high for many years to come. As a computer software engineer, you may be responsible for creating business applications, computer games and word processing software; designing and developing software; developing programs to communicate with operating systems and putting together operating systems and network communications. With career information and an understanding of the degrees needed, you should be ready to decide if this career is right for you.

The degrees needed for computer software engineer jobs sometimes vary depending on the company you are applying for, but most software engineers have a bachelor’s degree in some field of computer system technology. This is one of the fastest growing jobs in our technology driven society, but you will also need to continue your training throughout your career to keep up with the job market. With continued education, you will always be able to design and develop software long into the future.

Computer software engineer jobs include the responsibility to analyze the needs of the business or organization they work for and to ensure that the programs in place are designed specifically to meet those needs. This requires analyses, testing, creation, computer language programming, coding, development and maintenance. This job requires knowledge of many different programming languages such as C, C++ and Java, as well as an eagerness to learn new skills and technologies as they become necessary. You can expect to earn anywhere from $52,570 to $79,625 as you’re annual salary as a computer software engineer. And with continued education and experience, you will be able to earn more money and move forward with your career.

You will have many career opportunities all over the world as a computer software engineer. Whether you want to live in big cities like Los Angeles and New York, small suburbs throughout the United States or even abroad, there will be work available if you are willing to find it. It is an excellent job choice if you have the skills.

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