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Engineering a Change in Career

Guest post by: Terri Levine

Article Overview: These days a person can expect to reach retirement with an array of different jobs behind them, including a stint of being a business owner. One's career is not set in stone and now more than ever, we can truly create the life we desire that includes work we love.

Engineering a Change in Career

Just because you trained to be a Dentist doesn't mean you have to spend your life looking in people's mouths. Just because you're fifty years of age doesn't meant you are doomed to spend the rest of your working life doing what you've already done. I had a client who was a lawyer. She was in the family business and the pressure to stay was immense as you might imagine. She hated it. Long story short, she is now a very happy, successful florist. I had another client who had been CEO of his own business and sold it to retire, only to discover retirement was not his "thing". Problem was, who was going to hire someone who was 60 years of age? Somebody did - somebody who wanted his experience in the same line of work and was looking for a production manager with experience and no ambitions of climbing up the ladder.

When you are young, you have time on your side. You can learn new skills and new trades. When you are older you need to be smarter and you will find work by leveraging the skills and experience you've spent your lifetime accumulating. Either way, there is no need to be trapped into doing work that you do not love and fully enjoy.

These days, switching careers isn't just about rectifying wrong initial choices or responding to middle age crises. People change careers because sometimes they have to if they want to find employment or to keep a position in their current company who may be downsizing.

In the "old days" employment was secure. You took a job and if you wanted, it was yours for life. Now there is no such thing as job security, and job "hopping" is as everyday as take-out food. You're expected to dabble in different fields. Nobody misjudges you or looks at you askance if you say, "Oh yes, I'm a tree surgeon but I'm also an astronaut, and a professional exotic dancer!" Okay, maybe that combination would raise eyebrows! The point is, there is no stigma attached to switching careers or jobs anymore.

Now, those people who are specialists in their field tend to work for themselves and establish their own small businesses, or they join other consulting firms, while those who are more your jacks of all trades and specialists in none tend to remain "employees". Being a jack of all trades makes it easier to job hop, but when you are specialized and trying to break into something new, it becomes more of a challenge. Just like actors who are pigeonholed in certain roles, you risk being pigeonholed in your career.

Overcome this by being aware of all that is on offer and grab opportunities when they arise. If you are still employed and want to move into a different area, volunteer for projects in the areas you're interested in moving to and let HR know of your interest in switching. Even if you volunteer to assist in your own time, you are receiving what amounts to on the job training and gaining valuable experience.

You also have to be flexible and be prepared to make changes as you go. To do this successfully, you have to know yourself really well and be honest with what kind of environment you want to be in, including the stress level that goes with it, and whether you'll be involved with colleagues or working alone.

I had a client, a civil engineer, who wanted to return to electrical engineering, which had been his major in college. He was very analytical, and didn't think anything to do with feelings was important or relevant. He was making a career decision as if he were collecting data. After much discussion about what kind of workplace he wanted and what he hoped it would feel like when he was there, he realized he hadn't done enough research. Eventually, he did go back to electrical engineering, but as a manager, getting his MBA at night.

As with most plans, have a plan B ready. Sometimes our plans don't work out and maybe they can't work out, and we can avoid disaster by having a Plan B standing by. Having a Plan B also includes being prepared for the worst, including having enough money put aside for those rainy days, and a strong network of friends and contacts to help you if things don't go to plan. You have to be realistic. If you are a ballet dancer and you want to be an astronaut, well, realistically, this type of career change may not be plausible. You have to look at your skills, your personality, and your goals, and be realistic about your options.

People like to say "you can be anything you want", but what they forget to say is "within reason". Have your plans and goals and dreams by all means... but keep your feet on the ground and an open mind. Don't be put off by the fact that your current career might be very focused in one area and not allow for branching out and experimenting - look for skills and talents that can be adapted and used in new career choices. Make the most of what you've got!

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Article Tags: career change, career coaching, careers, employment, jobs



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