Midlife Career Change

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Will you change career in 2008?

Many of us feel we need a midlife career change. The desire for a career change in mid life gives us a burst of energy. Fun but also a bit scarey! Successful midlife career change will make use of your natural abilities as well as the skills and experience you have gained over the years.

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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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

June 16-18, 2008 in San Jose, California (Workshop 15)
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 

Law is one of those professions with a significant number of people wanting to move out into a new career as well as many wanting to make a career change and become lawyers.

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

Kim Isaacs is the resume expert at Monster.com and Karen Hofferber is Microsoft's resume expert. Find out more about them at ResumePower. Their book contains advice on not only on writing career change resume but also career change cover letters and putting them to good use. Masses of sample resumes from people in different careers are provided.

The Career Change Resume

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Are You New to Career Change Or An Old Hand ? 

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Career Change Tip of the Week April 6, 2008 

Get career change inspiration from people you know

When you stop and think about the people you know my guess is that you'll be amazed by just how many of them have changed careers. Once, twice, three times or even more, over their working lives.

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

Pamela Skillings gives her advice following her escape from Corporate America

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Career Change Question of the Week April 6, 2008 

Ask yourself...

"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 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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...1 point

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 

The advantage of Midlife Career Change is that you'll have had plenty of experience of the world, and different work environments.

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)

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: $19.80 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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: $11.21 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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: $11.99 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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: $22.95 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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

You maybe thinking...an interview presentation is a serious business. How can I include stories? If you think back to presentations or speeches you've heard and remembered my guess would be they included stories or anecdotes that made a point very powerfully. Listen to Patricia Fripp and see if she convinces you! Interestingly Ms Fripp started out as a hairdresser before developing a career as an international keynote speaker.

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

At every stage of the career change and job interview process you are selling yourself. You may not like the idea but this is the reality! I finally understood this when I grasped the concept of personal branding. Communicating your natural talents and unique experience honestly and consistently.

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 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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: $12.21 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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: $10.04 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Masters of Networking: Building Relationships for Your Pocketbook and Soul

Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

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

Financial Professional
AXA Equitable Life Insurance - New York, NY
personal financial professional. Guiding clients... recommendations, or refer clients to other professionals who can assist them with plan implementation... ...
Lead Technical Consultant - Asset Arena Professional Services
SunGard - New York, NY
Responsibilities Position Overview The Technical Consultant, within the Professional Services team, will be responsible for hands on assessments, deployments... ...
Shift Supervisor/Language Professional
SAIC - New York, NY
Unit (MIBU) currently has an opening for a Shift Supervisor - Language Professional. This position will require candidates work a 12 hour shift (day or night... ...
See more results

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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?

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Career Change Essentials: 21st century career switching 

A career change toolkit covering all the element you need

I am the author of Career Change Essentials: 21st century career shifting. In this information and action packed toolkit I have pulled together all my knowledge and experience of career change. You can use it flexibily to suit your needs. Start at the point that makes most sense for where you are in your career change.

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.
Career Change Essentials by Dorothea Stuart

by CareerChanger

Helping individuals to achieve career change and revitalize their working lives.

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