Themes in Career Changes

Often when someone is looking for job information online, it is because he or she is looking for a new job. Maybe they are unemployed, but often they are simply looking for something different or better. Are you trying to determine if it is time to make the leap to a new career? Here are some prime themes to consider before you decide. 1. Is it possible? In almost every instance, finding a new career is possible. The real question is often more whether it is workable for you. Will the effort and work involved in a new career be … Continue reading →

Exploring All Your Options

Whether you are looking for new job or have been in the same career for twenty years, it is still important to explore your options. Start with some self-assessment: * Make a list of your interests and values. Compare these to your current situation. * Then make a list of your most important skills. Prioritize them in an order where the ones you most enjoy using are at the top. * Make a list of skills you want to learn or training that interests you. * Write down all your past and present jobs. Under each one, identify what you … Continue reading →

Transferable Skills

There are times in our career we might feel stuck in a job. Maybe we have a specific job in a specific company. Maybe we have only worked in one type of industry. Maybe you have had the same type of job your whole life. In these scenarios, we can feel trapped. We feel like we would have to start over in order to change our careers. While sometimes a brand new start can be nice, it can also be time-consuming and costly. If you need a fresh break from your chosen profession and don’t want to completely start over, … Continue reading →

College Majors and Jobs

Often when college students select a major, they are not usually thinking beyond graduation to the job or career it might lead. When I worked as a counselor years ago in a college, I met up with many seniors who were switching their majors. They realized that the major they thought they wanted as freshman, was not going to get them the job they wanted when they graduated. At the time, they felt stressed and worried about life after college. However, when it comes to college work, there is rarely any lost time. Few jobs involve only one subject area, … Continue reading →

Do you Have a Career or a Job?

Have you ever thought to ask yourself if your means of income is just a job or a career? What is the difference really? And does it even matter? According to YourDictionary.com, a job is defined as “a specific piece of work, as in one’s trade, or done by agreement for pay.” In turn, they define a career as “a profession or occupation which one trains for and pursues as a lifework.” In summary, the dictionary views a job as more of a short-term work assignment and a career as the lifelong employment. Pushing the formal definitions aside, we often … Continue reading →

Checklist for Career Discovery

Everyone loves a checklist. It is a neat and tidy way to stay organized, and when you are career hunting… staying organized is critical. Whether you are young and getting started or just going through a phase of self-discovery, use this list of concepts to get your juices flowing. Take out a pen and paper, and then be sure to answer each one of these checklist questions and exercises. • Describe your ideal job. Include as many details as possible and let your imagination flow. • Make a list of your priorities, this could include both professional and personal. Then … Continue reading →

How to Choose a Job

Are you still contemplating the question, “what are you going to do when you grow up?” Trust me, many of us are. Whether you are fresh in your career or simply sitting back and reflecting on where life has taken you, the question of which job is best can arise. How do you determine which is the best job? There are so many variables and so many personal preferences that this is not an easy chore. The key is to find something that really gets your juices flowing, a career that motivates you and gets you up each morning. No … Continue reading →

Long Term Career Goals vs. Short Term Survival

I have met and known many individuals who struggle along, living at home, on unemployment or receiving some other type of assistance. When you stop to ask them why? Their response is often, “I still haven’t found my career job or calling.” It is important to not let your long term goals hold you back from short term survival. In the career realm, it is ideal to have both short and long term career goals. In order to succeed you really must have shorter and longer range plans, and follow both. If you are unemployed or still in school, start … Continue reading →

How to Determine the Best Business Niche for You

Whether you are trying to determine which sector of the economy to pursue a job or what type of business to get into, determining the best fit takes a few basic steps. Discover the best type of career path through analyzing your personality, skills and lifestyle. Start the search by exploring a variety of options. Often the best way to find the career or business for you is to get out and actually do the job. Volunteer your time at events or companies that center around your interests. Do informational interviews with people in jobs you dream of having. Get … Continue reading →

Should You Work for a Small or Large Company?

This is often a tough decision to make when you are job hunting. Is it better to be the big fish in a small pond or a small fish in the big pond? Both small and large companies have advantages and disadvantages. The key is to evaluate them both for your individual situation, skills and personality, in order to find the best fit. Smaller companies provide an opportunity to feel a part of the organization. They often allow for more variety in your job, as most employees do multiple tasks and often even multiple positions. A smaller company can present … Continue reading →