Career Information Online

I entered college right after graduation from high school.  I was barely 18 at the time and really had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.  I began by selecting a major in business knowing I would have to pick an area in which to concentrate in a year.  After one semester of business courses I decided I hated it and wanted to pick another major.  So public relations here I came, and that’s where I got my degree.  However, I don’t think I’ve used that degree for very long in my life.  As I grew up my interests changed and that’s how I got to the place I am today.

If you’re not happy in the career you’ve chosen and you’re thinking about a career change, your not alone.  Experts have stated that the average person will have three to five major career changes in their lives.  In other words, you’ll have many careers as you move along in your professional life.

So if you are unhappy in your present career you might be looking for some career advice for your career change.  Here are a few things you can consider when deciding what kind of career is best for you at this point in your life:

• Do some self reflection and examination to see what really interests and motivates you.  If you are interested you can search for free career tests on the Internet to see what fields might be a good fit for you and your skills.
• Read as much information as you can about the field that interests you.  Get a good education on what you can do in that field, and what you might need to do (in terms of training or education) to be successful in this new career.
• Contact professionals currently working in the field for informational interviews.  You can ask these individuals what they like and dislike about the field, and in their opinion what you need to do to obtain a career in that industry.
• Join professional associations and trade groups related to your new career choice.  You’ll make some contacts that might be able to help you network and find a new job.

Thinking about changing your career can be scary, but you can do it.  Make an investment in yourself and take the time and effort needed to find out what you need to do to be successful and then go for it.

While you hear on the news that the US economy could be in trouble when it comes to the housing crisis, employers are still planning to add employees over the next few years.  According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2006-2007 estimates that more than 18 million jobs will be added by the year 2014.  The industries where you will see an increase in the number of jobs are as diverse as the people needed to fill the positions.  You can expect to see an increase in the number of computer jobs, healthcare jobs, engineering jobs, and leisure/hospitality jobs in this time frame, just to name a few industries.

You might get excited when you read news about new jobs being created and think “now is the time for me to make a change.”  However, if you are ready to change jobs you should make that decision independent of what you see or hear on the daily news, and if you are content where you are working you should stay put.  Your career is an important part of your life – it’s who you are, it’s what you do and it’s how you support your family.  Make the decision to change jobs based on factors that are independent of economic news – career path, opportunity for growth, or personal dissatisfaction are just a few reasons you might consider taking a new position.

We’ve written before in this blog about the use of third party recruiters (or headhunters).  Don’t discount the use of a recruiter when looking for a new opportunity.  A recruiter who specializes in your industry can be a great ally in your search for a new career opportunity.  However, it is crucial that you find a recruiter who specializes in the recruitment of professionals in your industry.  While someone might be good at recruiting nurses, they probably don’t have the industry knowledge to help you find a job in a transportation related industry (for example).

If you’re only complaint about your current job is money, you can consider asking for a raise before going through a job search.  If you’re dissatisfied with things that just can’t be changed (such as room for growth) then now might be the time for you to explore your career options.