I Need a Career Change -- Here's How To Start

by Robin Ryan

Imagine how your life would change if you were passionate about your work?  How would it feel to have your boss praise you for doing such a good job? What would it feel like to be satisfied and feel as though your work has meaning and purpose? That it’s important? What would happen if your were paid top dollar for your work? How would living and working every day at your dream job impact your life?

This is not simply a fantasy when you tell yourself, “I need a career change.” USA Today just ran a survey stating that job dissatisfaction is on the rise. In fact, 53% of Americans aren’t happy with their current positions. 53%! That’s more than half of the workforce. Obviously lots of people feel like job changing, so what’s stopping them? Do they not know how? Are they scared? Too lazy to try?  If people are happier with a purpose and feeling more fulfilled by doing work they enjoy, then how can you obtain this goal and have an ideal life for yourself? . 

To get you started in the right direction, here are some proven strategies that have worked for my career counseling clients.

1. Take the risk.  You must move out of your comfort zone. You won’t get ahead if you accept the status quo or listen to negative self-talk that says, “This is as good as it gets.” Oprah Winfrey gave a commencement address just recently and shared this insight, saying, “I stand here as a symbol of what IS POSSIBLE when you believe in the dream of your own life and take action to make something happen for yourself.”  Find supporters, new mentors, take classes, read books, listen to motivational tapes that teach effective ways to make your future and next job a real dream come true.

2. Build a career on your strengths.  You have natural talents you were born with. These talents are the things you find easy to do. Maybe it’s teaching or writing. Maybe it’s designing, selling, or helping people. You have numerous strengths so list all your talents, including things that others compliment you on. If you begin to use your mastered strengths on the job daily, you’ll move up faster, find better jobs, and be paid a higher salary as a result. Make using your talents the basis for any position you choose to go after.

3. Figure out exactly what you want to do! What do you love to do? To hear about? To talk about? Investigate all the various careers you might be able to hold in that field of interest. Carefully weigh what work tasks you like to do, and which tasks you dislike and analyze your current skill set, training level, and accomplishments to date.  Concentrate on using your transferable skills (i.e. computer, managerial, project management, etc.) so as to not start over at the bottom of a field. Go online and investigate new fields, industries, and potential careers. Narrowing the best down to create a short list of jobs you love to do. Then conduct comprehensive interviews with individuals who work at those types of jobs, or in fields of interest to you, to get the real facts and insight on what that career is really like. Evaluate growth opportunities, salaries, benefits, and then determine the job title to target. If you are stuck or need more help, career counseling might be a valuable option, or read “What to Do With the Rest of Your Life”

4. Be ready when opportunity knocks.  Is your resume updated so you can send it on in a minute’s notice?  Human resource manager, Melinda Combs, who’s hired hundreds of professionals, revealed the HR offices sort resumes with a quick 15 seconds glance to determine if they should take a closer look, and eliminate 80% or more. Resumés get noticed when you describe specific results and accomplishments. Take our Resume Quiz to see if your resume will stand out. Polish your interview skills. Practice answering questions and develop a strategy to illustrate how you could perform this new job. Be persuasive and continually stress your major selling points. (For more interview tips go to www.robinryan.com)  be ready for the tricky salary questions. Research and KNOW what you’re worth and what type of salary you should expect.

Want help pursuing your dream Job? Robin can help with in-person or telephone career coaching.

Robin Ryan Counseling -- 30 Day Moving On

© Copyright 2008 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.

Need more assistance?  Robin is available to help you achieve your goals and dreams with individual career counseling. Click here to learn more.

Robin Ryan has appeared on Oprah and Dr. Phil and is considered to be America’s top career coach. Robin has a busy career counseling practice providing individual career coaching, resume writing services, interview preparation, salary negotiations, and outplacement to clients nationwide. She is the best-selling author of : "60 Seconds & You're Hired!," "Soaring On Your Strengths," "What to Do With the Rest of Your Life," "Winning Resumes," and "Winning Cover Letters." A dynamic national speaker, Robin has spoken to over 1200 audiences sharing her insights on how to improve their lives and obtain greater success. Contact Robin at: 425.226.0414, or email: robin@robinryan.com, or visit her website: http://www.robinryan.com

Reprints release: Newspapers, magazines, online websites are granted permission to reprint this in part or whole but are required to credit the author including author's bio, book credits, and include author's website information (with link if online); PLUS email author at robin@robinryan.com and state when and where reprint publication will occur. Questions: contact author at robin@robinryan.com or 425.226.0414.