Are You Ready for a Career Change?

This blog is part of the Career Collective.

I recently conducted a poll on LinkedIn which asked, “If you could change your current career path and reinvent yourself, would you?”  63% of the respondents said yes.  We reposted the article on the LinkedIn Group ‘Jobs Openings, Job Leads, and Job Connections’ and there was a huge outpouring of comments.  Clearly this issue resonates with people.

What the poll results tell me is that many people would like the opportunity to change careers.  The biggest challenge that job seekers face is knowing how to go about doing this. While changing careers sounds nice on paper, doing it isn’t always easy.

If you are currently employed and your company offers tuition reimbursement, try to take advantage of this valuable benefit! I know juggling multiple priorities can be challenging; but this benefit can yield strong dividends for your career.

If you were downsized, right-sized, or sized in some other manner and meet the financial requirements, you may be eligible for a Pell grant, which is the primary grant given to low-income students. 

Available federal loans also include the Perkins loan, the Stafford Loan and the Student PLUS loan.  Many loans are given to students who do not fall into a low income category.  This financial assistance might be just the thing you need in order to meet the educational requirements to help you achieve your career goals.

Do be careful though. You may want to be a forensic science expert (CSI lovers will relate), but do your research in advance to determine if the salary, number of potential jobs, and necessary training make sense for you. Making a career change is a big step; due diligence is critical to ensure that you make a prudent decision. Consider speaking with a career coach and having a personality assessment done to determine which career paths are most suitable for you.  

One great reference to explore is the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. The UK Employment Bureau also has some excellent information under the umbrella of the Office of National Statistics.  Canadian job statistics can be found at canadabusiness.ca. Researching industry trends will allow you to make smart decisions that can provide information on advancement, growth, and the down low about what it is going to take to get your foot in the door.

Once you have invested the time and energy into getting retrained, work with a reputable professional résumé writer who knows how to reposition candidates in career transition. Some of your previous skills can be of value in your new role and bringing that out in a résumé takes some finesse.  Changing careers can be a daunting task, but many people have successfully done it; and some have even gone on to become industry experts in their new chosen field.

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Below are additional articles written by the Career Collective members.  Please take advantage of this valuable information.

Changing Careers? Ask yourself these questions. @erinkennedycprw, http://exclusive-executive-resumes.com/career-workplace/changing-careers-ask-yourself-these-questions/

Changing Careers: Not for the Fainthearted @GayleHoward, http://www.theexecutivebrand.com/2011/04/18/changing-careers-not-for-the-faint-hearted/

Career Change Isn't An Exact Science @careersherpa, http://careersherpa.net/career-change-isnt-an-exact-science/

The 10-Step Plan to Career Change @KatCareerGal, http://www.resumesandcoverletters.com/tips_blog/2011/04/the-10-step-plan-to-career-cha.html

When it’s Time to Recycle Your Career @WalterAkana, http://www.threshold-consulting.com/threshold_consulting/2011/04/when-its-time-to-recycle-your-career.html

Best Career Change Advice: Target & Plan @JobHuntOrg, http://www.job-hunt.org/job-search-news/2011/04/18/best-career-change-advice

How social media can help you change careers @keppie_careers http://www.keppiecareers.com/2011/04/18/how-social-media-can-help-you-change-careers/

Expat Careers: You Are Not Your Job Title @expatcoachmegan http://www.careerbychoiceblog.com/career_by_choice/2011/04/expat-careers-you-are-not-your-job-title.html

Changing The Direction Of Your Career @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland http://aneliteresume.com/job-search/changing-the-direction-of-your-career/

Career Changer: Can You Quell Bottom-line Ache? @ValueIntoWords http://careertrend.net/show-how-you-can-quell-their-bottom-line-ache

Top 3 + 1 Tips for Making a Successful Career Change @KCCareerCoach http://coachmeg.typepad.com/career_chaos/2011/04/top-3-1-tips-for-making-a-successful-career-change.html

Changing Careers: Look Before You Leap @barbarasafani http://www.careersolvers.com/blog/2011/04/18/changing-careers-look-before-you-leap/

10 Commandments for Career Changers, @LaurieBerenson, http://blog.sterlingcareerconcepts.com/2011/04/18/10-commandments-for-career-changers.aspx

Comments

[Susan P Joyce]

Excellent points made in this post, Debra! More education or training can lead to a wonderful new career, and I'm a big believer in life-long learning. But it is SO very important point to do the research to be sure that a job in that field will available when the training is complete. Big help in paying off those student loans...

[Celine]

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[Industrial Training in Java]

The post is interesting .i have never been to this site,but from now i will be regular visitor..

[cd]

I love the way you write and share your niche! Very interesting and different! Keep it coming!

[Next Chapter]

It is not enough that you are financially prepared to switch careers. You must also be mentally and physically ready for all the changes that might occur in your life once you do decide to resign and look for another job or run your own business. You will need all the help that you can get and by reading informative blogs such as this, you get to come up with better decisions.

[Givetwoweeksnotice]

At this day and age and with the economy in a bad position right now, people need to think about a better career change if possible.