Five Things You Need to Know About Changing Your Career Path

Sometimes your career seems to be going in the wrong direction and you start thinking about changing your career path. However, practically, it is not an easy thing to do. There are several things that you would have to take into your careful consideration first.

Job Satisfaction

Career is not just about how much you earn. That sure does matter, but in the long run, job satisfaction matters more. You can never enjoy the benefits offered by a job if you are not getting mental fulfillment. In fact, lack of fulfillment is the primary reason why people change their job at some point of time or other. On the other hand, those with 100% job satisfaction really enjoy working and have the time of their life while on the job. Therefore, you just cannot undervalue this important aspect while you are thinking about changing career. That must be your top priority.

Do You Have Those Skills In You?

Every job requires you to have a set of specific skills. So, do you have those in you? If you do not possess those skills and qualifications, you will never be able to achieve fulfillment in your career. Therefore, while you are changing career, you must take your time to know whether you possess those skills or not. If not, is it possible for you to acquire those easily or would that be tough to do?

Review Your Strengths As Well As Weaknesses

After reviewing your skills, the next thing that you have to do is to review your strengths as well as weaknesses. In order to do this effectively, you must be capable enough of taking a critical look at yourself. Focus on those career options that can easily accommodate your strengths and weaknesses. Always remember the best career option for you is the one where you enjoy being yourself and still make money.

Financial Implications

Your job satisfaction will depend upon how much you can earn. Therefore, while you are considering changing career, you must also think seriously about the financial implications. You have to be very realistic about this aspect. Do your math. How much money is required to spend on acquiring the new set of skills required for the new job? Are the monetary compensation and other benefits offered by the new job sufficient enough to meet all your requirements?

Get Expert Advice

Considering the wide array of things that you need to take into account while changing career, sometimes you may find yourself in a quandary. If you are confused and are unable to take a decision on your own, you are strongly recommended to get expert advice. There are various specialists in this field, such as career counselors, who can guide you in the right direction by helping you put everything in the right perspective. With their help, you will get to know the best way to put all the above factors to proper use.

Overall, when it comes to changing career path, you have to be very careful and must follow the right approach. The more informed you are, the better would be the decision you will be able to make.

Careers After 50: The Value of a Temp Job!

Careers after 50: developing appropriate experience to qualify for a planned career.

You’ve researched and studied a variety of proposed new careers. After speaking to others working in the field you’ve narrowed your list down to one or two possible new careers. However, you’ve found both require specific experience that you need to acquire.

Other qualifications for a new career after 50, for example, can be learned through self-study, distance learning, formal education and working with mentors. However, now you have the dilemma of getting the necessary experience to qualify for new career.

Let’s suggest a way to put you in a position to successfully compete for job in the new changed career. You might want to consider working for a temp agency, to get some desired experience or to discover if the suggested career is right for you.

Ask around for referrals to the right temp agency. Some temp agencies are specialists only working with specific careers and industries.

Re-draft your resume to put your best foot forward depending on the career and job. For each career you might want to restrict only signing up with two or three temp agencies. As you progress and learn more about specific temp agencies you can adjust your focus so you are only working with the best agency relative to the planned career.

Make it a point to see the temp agency recruiter, have a face-to-face interview and learn all you can about their services. Don’t forget this is a job interview and you want to show the recruiter how you would present yourself to a prospective employer.

Find out in advance if you are required to show specific technical skills at the temp interview and spend some time brushing up on the required skills prior to the interview.

Do some research regarding prospective wages you might expect. You’ll probably be asked what wage range you would accept. Also, you should learn what possible benefits might be available.

Many times temp assignments can last six months or longer. Be sure to tell the temp agency the length of assignment you would accept.

If the temp job is in a career you wish to qualify for, you may leverage yourself into being offered a full- time position. Or you gain enough relevant experience to qualify for a full-time career with another employer.

Don’t expect that you’ll be immediately moved into a desired temp position. Continue to contact the temp agency, at least once a week, to let them know you’re available for placement.

So the value to you using a temp agency in qualifying for a new career after 50 is: (1) Gaining required work experience, (2) Possibly being offered a job in the desired new career, (3) Bringing in some income while you prepare to change careers, or (4) Finding out the new career is not for you so you can research additional opportunities.