Career Corner >> Career Advice >> Ready to take the professional plunge into a new career?
Ready to take the professional plunge into a new career?
26556 posts back to top |
Posted 9 months ago
Myth No. 1: I'm too old to make a career change. Reality: Without changing your perception of what you are capable of, you'll never make a successful career change. Myth No. 2: If I make a career change, I'll be starting over at the bottom. Reality: Not necessarily. You're not the newbie you were when you entered the workforce. You've gained an impressive array of skills, plus you have professional wisdom and perspective acquired only through time. Myth No. 3: This old dog can't learn new tricks. Reality: Says who? Of course there will be a learning curve. But isn't having a new professional challenge part of why you seek this change? The goal is to find a career that taps into your innate strengths and interests. It's common for many people to not know what they're good at. It's never too late to figure this out. You have a history of professional and personal experience to draw from. Think about what you truly enjoy doing, what you do well and what you are proud of. Is there an underlying theme unifying these experiences that lends itself to a job description? Secure your job search. Post your resume confidentially. If you hate your job, here's what you can do: Start by doing a quick self-assessment. Ask yourself: Why do I hate my present job? Is this a new feeling or have I always disliked it? Is it the people I'm working with, the tasks I'm asked to do, the culture of the company? Make a list of the pros and cons of your job and what you'd want in your next job. Determine if there are ways to modify your current situation or whether it's time to move on. Figure out if it's you or the job you're unhappy with. Once you do a self-assessment, it's important to determine whether the things you're unhappy with have to do with you, or the job. This will help you figure out if changing jobs is the right move. If you're in a situation where your job is intolerable or unsafe--you should leave. However if this is not the case, consider the following before you leave: Talk to your supervisor. Don't quit immediately. Change your attitude. Be professional. Set your career goals. 4 tools every job seeker should be using 1. Email. You're using this tool already, but do you know what your email says about you professionally? Don't overlook the email signature. What opportunities are you missing by not communicating your name, job title, contact information, and even a link to your LinkedIn profile? 2. Calendars. Are you using a calendar diligently in your job search? There is nothing worse than missing a scheduled appointment, networking meeting, or interview. Use your calendaring system to keep track of your follow-up activities too. 3. Social networks. At a minimum, you'll want a robust LinkedIn profile. It should be as complete as possible, with a summary that conveys the most important information of your professional experience. Use the skills and expertise section to call out the specific job skills companies are seeking. Under each job, talk about what the scope of your job was and include notable achievements.
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26556 posts back to top |
| Posted 9 months ago
. Contact management systems. As you meet new people, how are you keeping track of their contact information? Do you have a stack of business cards with notes scribbled on the back? You should be adding them to your contacts. Additionally, are you keeping track of what you talked about and who referred you? Make the necessary changes to your resume so that a potential employer will see the fit. Be sure to use the same keywords while writing your resume as the ones found in the job ad. For example: If a position requires that you are experienced with copy editing and online reporting, make sure that your resume contains the phrase "Copy editor, online reporter." Your resume will not keep an employer's attention if it's simply a list of your previous job responsibilities. Make sure to highlight your achievements and measurable accomplishments. Remember, your resume is used to market yourself to an employer. You want to make them feel as if hiring you will increase profit, increase company performance and save on company spending. Lastly, if you're applying for different jobs and using different resumes with different keywords, keep track of what jobs you applied for. The last thing you want is to go to an interview and bring the wrong resume. Easiest way to track all your job applications for free! Job searchers absolutely hate this -- the so-called resume (or application) black hole. It's not as if job searchers expect the red carpet to be rolled out after every application submitted, all they want is a response or an update. Social skills can be taught. They may never feel 100% natural to the introvert, but they can be taught and executed successfully. You can learn better responses to interview questions, you can practice networking, and you can put on a front as needed. In fact, many introverts have already learned to do this in a variety of social settings. Make sure you have a professional resume that clearly delineates your value. Keep a copy on your nightstand and read it before you go to sleep each night. Write an elevator pitch for both professional and social occasions. Practice until what you say sounds natural, not memorized. Learn what the most popular interview questions are, and be sure your answers are concise and to the point. Now during an interview, focusing on your interviewer's comfort level, not yours, will help. Chances are excellent he or she has been in your shoes and your being nervous is understandable |
