Want a Second Career?If you want a Second Career, start thinking about those things you like to do. Only you can know what it is you like. If you don't already know, you can find it out through taking a Career Assessment Test, and choose from a list of Career Choices the Test recommends. Matter of fact, taking the test is a career planning tool to help set career goals for your new career. What did you dream about doing when you were younger? It is normal for people to change jobs. Many change their jobs every five years. You may have done this yourself. There are reasons people change careers. Some of us want to do work that is more meaningful (Like when picking a second career) or want a job where they can use their favorite skills and abilities. You may change careers because of a layoff, or because you have changed, and your interests have changed. Keep in mind that there’s a distinct difference between changing jobs, and changing careers. Changing jobs leads to another job which requires the same skill set. Changing careers is like changing from being a Librarian to a Construction Worker. Changing jobs will probably be much easier than changing careers. Changing careers will probably take much more intricate planning, because it is much more of a life changing decision. You may be changing careers, because you may have been unsuited for what you were doing before, as an occupation. What kind of training you can receive will probably depend upon your financial condition. In other words, you may have to take an entry level job which pays a lot less than you’re used to, while using your savings or retirement account to pay for any new training.
Know your Motivation for Changing Jobs or CareersThere must have been something in your old job you liked doing. Maybe, you can look for this quality within your next job. It is a good idea to be clear about why you want to change jobs, or even your career. You may possibly find that an advancement within your present career, or changing jobs will satisfy you, instead of changing careers, altogether.Know what you want to do, what your skills and aptitudes are, and what things you like about your current occupation which can be transferred to a new job, or complete career change. One must do an honest self assessment of himself. He needs to know his strengths and weaknesses, what he values in work, his skills, and interests. With work values, you need to know which parts of your job you find meaningful. In other words, do you value working with others, or working independently, etc? If you are changing careers in your second career, you may have acquired many new skills through the years. These skills may be transferrable to the entirely new career.
There is a book I recommended online called the Occupational Outlook Handbook by the BLS. It is filled with literally hundreds, if not thousands of Careers. Learn about each one you are interested in. More than this; search for those Career Opportunities that you could feel passionate about. Wouldn't it be great to be so restless at night that you couldn't wait to get up in the morning to go to work? See our Career Resources for more help.
The Self Employment OptionA way to bypass job interviews, going to more school and training, and resumes etc., is to become self employed and Work from the comfort of your own home. There are many legitimate working from home businesses to choose from. There are franchises you can purchase that have training, support, protected territory, and all you need to get started. You could use your own knowledge of a business you have already been in that you could turn into your own business solution. Sometimes, being your own Boss can be the key to the experience of your own brand of job happiness.Not everyone is cut out to be in business for themselves. If you think you are, it is advised to take a self employment, Business Personality Test, or leadership test to see for sure you have the qualities that are required. In other words, are you a self starter? What have you always wanted to start your own business in? Want to know how I started doing what I am doing now on the Internet? I'm glad I did. It's a lot of fun keyboarding on my computer every day from home, writing what I want to write about, and not having to answer to a boss.
Career Change AdviceProbably one of the most important aspects of Midlife Career Change, second career, job change, or complete career change, is having a plan. Equal to that, is support from family and friends.The second career advice is, that they need to be behind you on this one. Without support, you will be hard pressed to make anything happen. Sell everyone on what you are about to do. Put your finances in order. Sell your plan to them. Get the right feedback you need to hear. Make them feel good about what you are about to do. Calm their fears, while dealing with your own. It takes time to put a Plan of Action together. A Career Guidance Counselor can help. He/She can guide you by suggesting Career Tests and even help you plan for the education, training, and eventually assist you with your own second career job placement. Related Pages- * Choosing Retirement Careers. Top of page
|
