COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE A CAREER CHANGE?

COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT TIME TO CHANGE CAREERS?


Yes, it could be—IF----------

• You are able to determine that it is the right time for YOU
• And this means:
o You have to make a PLAN
o You are ready to deal with INSECURITY
o You are ready to put in the TIME
o You are able to FOCUS on what gives you JOY
o You are capable of concentrating not only on your skills, but on your sincere INTERESTS
o You learn to take advantage of NETWORKING possibilities
o You are ready, willing, and eager to become a LIFETIME LEARNER
o You are ready to develop skills that make you an INSIDER in a new field
o You are ready to get expert CAREER CHANGE ADVICE

Notice that all nine of the above points start with “you”. You, yourself, are at the helm. Nobody or no situation can make this happen to and for you. You have to make it want to happen.

When you point in that direction, all the other things start to fall in place.

Timing is everything. During this economic downturn of the last year, many of my clients have been looking seriously at a career change—and they have done it.

This takes careful thought and planning, particularly as it relates to what one might be interested in doing for the next segment of life. It is not always easy to examine interests carefully. For instance, it is sometimes said that hobbies cannot become lucrative occupations. There is a long list of people who have successfully turned something they loved into an occupation—a fruitful business.

It isn’t as easy as going to a career counselor and asking that person to “discover” what you can do. The discovery is all in the lap of the participant. No “occupational test” is going to tell you what to do.

Often people try to select a new career direction from a list—with little luck. If one is bored by what one does not, the chances are good that the career mistake will be repeated.

Look instead at what you like.

Focus on those things that give you joy. What lights you from within? If we know that, then getting a proper job search direction will be easy.

Be ready to invest the time. Nothing just comes out of the blue.

You aren’t going to be stuck in any career forever. The world just doesn’t allow that anymore. You will have more than one career in your professional lifetime—sometimes having more than one at the same time.

Believe it or not, money may not be your main motivator, particularly when you do a career change.

The only way to survive and thrive in the New World of Work, is to be an avid lifetime learner. Always strive to be on the cutting edge of technology and the world of tomorrow. Learn and grow.

And doing it alone is not the best way to go. Investment in a Career Coach partner for your career transition/change, is one of the very best investments you can make.

Many career coaches have clients come to them after the client has tried, and tried, to do it alone. Lots of time and energy gets absorbed before a well formulated plan comes into being. Partnering with an expert will teaching you about networking, crafting an ideal Resume and Cover Letter, becoming an ace at Interviewing, and learning the core basics of Salary Negotiation.

Coaches are different, and approaches are varied. Interview several coaches. Find out who you like. See if you respect their backgrounds. Ask yourself how it will feel to work with that person, for you will be entering into a long relationship.

It isn’t unusual at all for a coaching relationship[ to move right into the client’s new job, as Leadership Development becomes the new focus.

So many positive scenarios can be envisioned here. Talk to coaches about how they handle career transitions, then make a good decision.

Look to the future, and don’t be afraid of transition and change. It can be the way to stay alive, prosperous, and successful.