Will you change career in 2008?
Taking some time to assess where you've got to and where you want to go next will help make your career change a pleasurable and successful transition. You will find plenty of tips, techniques, useful career change articles and other resources here.
Dorothea Stuart, MSc
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career change, career change resume, career change stories, job interview, personal branding, job search,
mid career change,career change test
Midlife Career Change
Start your career transition today. Use the resources available. Take Action! More info at www.squidoo.com/midlifecareerchange
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Career Change Events
Career Transitions Workshop University of Virginia
November, 2008 in Charlottesville, VA (Workshop 16)
Presented by Jim Clawson (Professor of Business Administration, Darden)and Herb Crowder (Co-Director of Alumni Career Services, Darden).
Read more...
How to...Practical Career Change Resources
- 10 Steps to Successful Career Change
- Sensible, helpful list with useful links to other resources.
- Career Change Tools for the Mid-Life Woman
- Ellen Ostrow, Ph.D. shares her 14 steps to re-envisioning your work life.
- 6 Unconventional Career Change Tips
- Thought this was a great start to the tips...
The first tip is to understand that each day you remain at a job you don't love because the money is good you fall farther behind on your long-term quest for financial freedom. - Reseaching the Best Companies
- Your research should include looking at the best companies to work for. Often the reasons they get onto the list is because they treat their staff well and have a diverse workforce. One of the most recent Best 100 lists comes from the UK Sunday Times starting with the best small companies to work for. The top 100 large US companies to work for is provided by Fortune.
- Mid Career Challenge
- Three part article on the mid career challenge. How to resolve the confusion and handle it.
- Career Handbook
- From the US Department of Labour. Great resource for finding requirements for careers and getting info on what is involved in the day to day job. Useful if you live outside US too. Australia/New Zealand handbook also has good info.
- Advice for Older Job Seekers
- Sage advice including tips on how to write career change cover letters (from BBC's Panorama).
As an older job-seeker, don't use phrases like 'I offer you maturity, stability and a proven track-record'. What works best is to confront stereotypes by choosing qualities from the "young list", and placing emphasise on them. - Debunking Career Myths
- 6 page doc that includes career myths that stop people cold. Including the myth "It's too late to change my career".
- Woman too shy about touting their accomplishments?
- Ideas on overcoming reluctance to sell yourself in a job interview.
- Spar and Leisure Careers, UK
- The career zone section of this website provides info on personal career development within the industry.
Career Change Law
Cheryl Rich Heisler gave a talk at the Washington College of Law in which she discusses career change. Included are some great stories of how people she knows made career transitions. For example a litigator who moved to being a legal writer. Then started writing articles on golf in his spare time. And eventually ended up as a anchor on a golf TV channel - bringing together his love of golf and childhood ambitions to be an actor. Listen to the podcast "Exploring alternative careers: looking inside, outside and around the law."
For those wanting to move into the legal profession or looking for a new legal position these articles (from chicagolegalsearch.com) on Job search methods and Choosing a legal recruiter are filled with useful information.
Career Change Resumes and Career Change CVs
How to make your resume an effective career change tool
- Career Change Resume Samples
- You'll find a number of sample career change resumes and cvs here - for a range of professions.
- What makes a good resume or cv?
- Read a Human Resources insider's view on what makes a good resume. Susan M Heathfield discusses a resume that stood out for her. She shows the resume for you to see exactly what she means.
- Write a Masterpiece Resume
- Award winning guide on resume writing from Rockport Institute. For everyone choosing or changing a career.
- Creating your midlife career change resume
- Practical advice and tips from the Australian Government's work and employment website.
- How about using a Mini-Resume?
- Patty Inglish suggests using a 3x5 Jist card which combines a mini resume and business card. Looks a good idea for business contacts as well as a useful reminder for friends and family.
- Career Change Cover Letters
- Using your cover letters for marketing yourself for a career where you have little experience. Gives 'before' and 'after' sample wording.
Career Change Resume - packed with tips and real examples
A recommended resource to help hone your cv or resume
The Career Change Resume
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Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/10/2009) 
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Books on Practical Career Change Tools
Are You New to Career Change Or An Old Hand ?
Career Change Tip of the Week April 6, 2008
Get career change inspiration from people you know
An IT professional who is now a business coach, a banker who is now a trainer, a customer services person who became a florist, a garden designer who is now in financial services are just a few I know.
Other examples include Alison McNicol who switched from being a business executive in the music industry to spearheading a national sewing campaign.
Talking to the people you know who have already experienced career change can save you a lot of time and get you on the right path far quicker than if you work everything out on your own!
Or Phil Borges who moved from being an orthodonist to an internationally renowned photographer.
Talking to the people you know can save you time and heart ache. Learning from others will speed the pace of your career change.
Career Change Video
Get advice and start planning your career change
Career Change Question of the Week April 6, 2008
"Who do YOU know who has already changed career? What can you learn from them?"
Career Change Stories
- Medicine to Real Estate
- Part of a great NPR series Take Two: Life Changes from 2005. Read transcripts or listen to the recorded interviews.
- Lawyer to Writer/Coach
- Read Marci Alboher's column on Shifting Careers in the New York Times. Her own story shows how it can be done.
- 10 Famous Career Switchers
- Diverse stories of career switching in a slide show from Business Week.
- Dental Assistant to Cake Maker
- Example of an extreme career change. After 22 years as dental assistant to running a wedding cake business and teaching the art of cake decoration.
- Social Worker to Gallery Owner
- Kathy Kreager...made a career shift to realize her dream. ``I worked at Western Michigan University as a social worker...I wasn't thinking I was going to do art full time, but it just kind of happened.''
- Playwright to Radio Show Host
- How Peter Sagal made the unusual career change from writing plays to becoming a public radio show host. And how since making the career transition in 1998, he has risen to stardom in the medium.
Career Change Inspiration
What Should I Do with My Life?: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question
True stories, based on extensive interviews, of people who have changed their careers and their lives. I particularly like the stories of the investment banker who became a successful catfish farmer and the lawyer now making lucious cakes. Some people are more successful than others - interesting and inspiring lessons here for all.
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career
Detailed true stories of successful career change. Based on research that shows that often success results from a gradual approach to career change and testing and trialing to achieve a change of direction.
Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 07/10/2009)
Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type
A well written book that explains the Myers-Briggs approach to personality type extremely well. It suggests career fields for you and provides good examples. I particularly like the way it provides approaches to career change that will suit different personalities. Not something I've found anywhere else.
Amazon Price: $12.34 (as of 07/10/2009)
Now What? Discovering Your New Life and Career After 50
Hear an interview with the author on Rosie's Boomer Review. He provides career resources for people age 40+ on his website Now What Jobs.
Amazon Price: $13.29 (as of 07/10/2009)
What Kind of Career Change Do You Want?
We have different motivations for career change tell us where you fit.
Extreme Career Change
I want to do something completely different. A la more...0 points
Gradual Career Change
I want to transition slowly into a related role us more...0 points
Accidental Career Change
I need to decided if I take an unexpected opportun more...0 points
Stepping Stone Career Change
I want to take this role on the way to what I real more...0 points
Sunset Career Change
I want a new career to enjoy until retirement. Ma more...0 points
In House Career Change
I want to use my company's career ladder to work i more...0 points
"Self-knowledge is the most important component of finding the right career. Richard N Bolles"
Take Stock Before Launching Your Career Change
Often people talk about Career Change as if it's a single activity or process. Extreme Career Change - when someone shifts to a new career with no connection to what they were doing before. From ballet dancer to accountant. From Rock 'n' Roll to nursing. From Technology Officer to Patent Law. From varied professions to Green Collar Jobs. Penny Trunk describes her own career changes, "how to get a job you're not qualified for" in The Brazen Careerist. New York Times writer Marci Alboher give advice on gradual career change in Your Next Career on BusinessWeek TV.
In reality, of course, Midlife Career Change happens in many different ways.
You probably know more people who have taken a gradual approach to changing career. For example, someone starts a career in Human Resources administration. Finds she enjoys talking to groups of new employees during their induction process. And gradually works her way into a role as a trainer.
Before launching into career change it's good to step back and make an objective assessment of where you are. Get very clear about your strengths. Identify what you like and dislike about your current career. Clarify what you want to achieve by making a change.
Taking a couple of career questionnaires, access experts via books, websites, or career coaching will help you along. It may confirm what you already know but the chances are you will gain additional insights. Learning practical tactics and strategies will help you move forward more quickly when you get your career change started. It will also help you develop your personal brand (see below)
Here's my favorite link:
Online Career Change Tests and Questionnaires
- MAPP
- MAPP is a well researched and well established career questionnaire. You can get a free sample report to decide if you like the style. The sample includes 5 job matches.
- Princeton Review Career Quiz
- A quick and useful quiz. If you register (also free) after you do the quiz you get a list of job titles which fit your work style. Each job links to a "day in the life of" article and a list of associated careers.
Books for identifying your strengths and talents
Now, Discover Your Strengths
Shows you how to clearly identify your natural talents. Something worth reflecting on in your career change journey. When you buy the book you get a code to enable you to complete an online questionnaire. Includes practical advice on how to make use of the information and has a chapter on how to manage people with different strengths.
Amazon Price: $19.11 (as of 07/10/2009)
Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
Renowned psychologist Martin Seligman's book is based on extensive research. Find your signature strengths through this book and his free online questionnaires. See favourite link above.
Amazon Price: $12.48 (as of 07/10/2009)
Confidence is Key to Successful Midlife Career Change
Are you primed for a career change interview? Ready to give a presentation?
If you've been in a job or career for a long time the thought of going to a job interview can be daunting. As the selection process gets more sophisticated you may find you are asked to give a presentation at a second or third interview. If this makes you feel slightly wobbly now is the time to take action!Unless giving presentation is part of your current work you need a bit of time to development your skill and confidence in this area. One tried and tested method is to join a speaking club. For example a Toastmasters International Club. Clubs like this provide an invaluable opportunity to practice giving short prepared talks in front an audience.
Club meeting are set up so there is opportunity to try off the cuff, impromptu speaking. This is extremely useful for preparing for job interviews and handling unexpected questions.
The added bonus that Toastmaster members will confirm is that participating boosts your overall confidence. As a member myself I have benefited hugely. There are more than 11,000 of these friendly clubs around the world so visit if you can.
For excellent presentation tips go to Frank Roche's Squidoo lens Best Presentations Ever
Interview Skills Resources
- Competency based interview
- Five page report on competency based interviewing. A widely used approached to interviews aimed at finding out if you can provide specific evidence for the skills you say you have. All professional interviewers will use these kinds of questions. Kris Dunn gives 5 questions and how they work to separate the players from the pretenders in an HR interview.
- Interview momentum
- Article from Washington Post 2007 on being memorable in interviews. Includes smart questions to keep until the end.
- Types of Interviewer
- 6 minute video. A useful reminder of the different type of interviewer you may have to deal with. Good idea to watch if you haven't had a job interview for a while.
- Classic Interview Questions
- 4 minute video. Helpful tips from Monster.com
- Handling interviews
- A host of articles from Career Builder on job interview questions, answers, tips for phone interviews etc.
- Winning Stories
- Highly recommended blog posts on using story telling effectively in interview (useful for interview presentations too). You'll find another great take on career change story telling on the Brazen Careerist.
- Most important job interview questions
- ''Whether you are liked or not accounts for about 40 percent of the hiring decision,'' says recruitment expert Tony Beshara. Here he give the sample answer to the questions that aim to test whether you will "fit in".
- Survey reveals wackiest job interview mistakes
- Most recent annual survey from CareerBuilder.com
Apart from the laughable, wacky mistakes the article also points out the most common, detrimental mistakes that you should avoid in job interviews.
Presentations and Interview Skills Books
Lend Me Your Ears: All You Need to Know about Making Speeches and Presentations
One of the best books on public speaking and giving presentations. Thorough, easy to follow and full of expert tips.
Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 07/10/2009)
Improvise This!: How to Think on Your Feet so You Don't Fall on Your Face
For those of you that like active learning. This is a book aimed at helping you tap into your natural abilities to take chances and calculated risks by learning to improvise in any situation. Full of exercises and insights. You can buy an electronic version at EbookMall
Amazon Price: $18.36 (as of 07/10/2009)
Interview Excellence: 12 Step Program to Job Interview Success
Covers the theory and practice of interviewing and the different types of questions you could be asked.
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 07/10/2009)
Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions
Has section on resume/CV writing as well as helping you face up to the tough interview questions.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Presentation Skills Resources
- Improve your presentations
- Video of international keynote speaker, Patricia Fripp giving her 3 top ways to improve your presentations. Worth watching and listening!
- How to put together a presentation
- Video of international keynote speaker, Patricia Fripp demonstrating how to put together a presentation that will engage your audience.
- Interview Presentations
- How to make an interview presentation. This video, from Monster.com is well structured with good practical suggestions.
- Words and phrases to help your presentation flow
- I find this a very helpful list of words to use to keep the structure of your presentation clear. And to keep your audience with you.
- 10 minutes to improve your presentation
- Give your presentation an overhaul in 10 minutes. Emphasises focusing on the audience and what's in it for them. I'm sure following these steps will result in a massive improvement in any presentation.
The power of stories in Career Change Presentations
How to make your presentation stand out from the crowd
Patricia Fripp - Stories Sell
Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, is a San Francisco and Las Vegas based Hall of Fame keynote speaker, executive speech coach, and sales... all presentation skills trainer. Meetings and Conventions magazine calls Patricia "one of the country's 10 most electrifying speakers." Her brother is the internationally-acclaimed guitarist Robert Fripp of King Crimson fame. Robert is also a great speaker. Contact Patricia at www.fripp.com, (415)753-655, pfripp@ix.netcom.com.
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Promote Yourself - Personal Branding for Career Change
Positioning yourself for a successful career transition
Your personal brand will shine through your career change resume, your career change cover letter, how you present yourself at job interviews, the stories you tell about yourself. Your brand will be evident in how you handle meetings, and how you talk to people and follow up when networking.
Future employers are highly likely to search your name online. What will they find? Check by googling yourself. You can test the strength of your online personal brand with Online Identity Calculator. Now's the time to start positioning yourself for your new career online.
Find out more about how to strengthen your online identity and attract more positive interest from recruiters in an article I've written on HubPages.com.
Personal Branding, Personal PR Books
Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand
A step by step guide to developing your credibily and presence by expressing your unique personal brand. Emphasises the power of building and managing your online identity - highly relevant to career changers who want to highlight their knowledge and skills and stand out in a new career field.
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/10/2009)
The Brand You 50 : Or : Fifty Ways to Transform Yourself from an 'Employee' into a Brand That Shouts Distinction, Commitment, and Passion!
If you enjoy a punchy, vibrant style of writing you'll certainly get it here. Tom puts the case for making the most of yourself and your career and gives plenty of ideas for action
Amazon Price: $13.46 (as of 07/10/2009)
Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It
Helps overcome your reluctance to "brag" about your achievements and share your talents without sounding smug. Good advice on how to do well in job interviews.
Amazon Price: $10.94 (as of 07/10/2009)
Masters of Networking: Building Relationships for Your Pocketbook and Soul
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 07/10/2009)
Personal Branding Resources
Boost your career change prospects with effective self marketing
- Personal Branding Guru
- Website of William Arruda, Personal Branding Guru. I suggest signing up for the monthly personal branding tips and taking some time to explore the rest of the site.
- Why personal branding
- Article from author of Brag! Peggy Klaus on why personal branding is so important for your career success.
- The Brand Called You
- Tom Peter's highly influential article from Fast Company Magazine 1997.
Growth Areas of Work 2008
Jobs where more people are needed for the future
When considering career change it's always a good idea to look at jobs where growth is predicted. It might help you focus in on a specific role within your new career field.Anthony Balderrama who researches career management and hiring trends in the US has a list of 50 jobs which are looking good for the future. Included is a wide range of careers from Information Systems Manager to Veterinarian Read more...
Tempted by any of these career opportunities?
Perhaps these jobs might spark ideas, or fit your career needs
- PROFESSIONAL
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- New York, NY
Time Employee Job Reference Code 1000091322_020 PROFESSIONAL About the Job... PROFESSIONAL Business Development Analyst (New York, NY). Prepare... ... - PROFESSIONAL
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WELLPOINT - New York, NY
PROFESSIONAL Business Development Analyst (New York, NY). Prepare, examine, and analyze business plans and processes, accounting records, financial statements... ... - ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL
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Record Jobs Employment Ads - Middletown, NY
ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL Qualified Experienced Administrative Professional w/expert customer service skills. Must possess proven organizational technique &... ...
Lastest Career Change Research and Career Surveys
- Harvard Business Review
- Leading edge career change articles. The first page is displayed. You can decide whether to buy the whole article. In the February 2008 edition there is an interesting article on the necessity of midlife change. "Contrary to popular belief middle age heralds neither the beginning of the end nor a magical transformation - but it does offer new opportunities for personal growth."
- Changing Careers, Changing Self
- Eyebrow raising career change strategies from INSEAD.
- Multiple Careers
- Wikipedia cofirms that career change is an increasing fact of life. Also discussed - the idea of concurrent careers. Is this for you?
- Baby Boomer nurses plan career change
- A recent survey of nearly 2000 nurses aged 45-60 in the US shows that 35% are planning a career change.
This is at at time when many more nurses are needed. Suggests career change opportunities in both directions?
Your Turn!
Wow!
Your lens is beautiful. Your information is helpful for every one who want successful midlife career change that make use of our natural abilities and skills.I like it.
Check out my tree services blog
Posted August 07, 2008
lwyl wrote...
Great lens! You provide a lot of very helpful information for people looking to make a career change. Having a system for changing your course is also important, and we invite you to stop by our lens when you get the chance.
Posted June 03, 2008
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Please add your lens link to my career search lens and its fabulous!Wishing you much success.
Posted May 09, 2008
CareerCoaching360 wrote...
This is a great lens. You've put together an excellent collection of resources. I'd love for you to visit my lens. Please be sure to say hello if you do.
Posted May 07, 2008
Career Change Essentials: 21st century career switching
A career change toolkit covering all the element you need
Career Change Essentials is an expert guide that takes you though the steps of successful career change. And one step further. Helping you to get established in your new career field as quickly as possible.
Click on the image below to find out more.
by CareerChanger
If I recommend a book - I've read it. If I list a site I've explor... (more)
