July 26, 2006
Infinite Career Options
For those of you who may feel stuck in careers that do not inspire you, let me remind you that there’s hope. You’re not stuck. Unless you choose to be, you’re never stuck. Your career options are as limitless as the daydreams that occupy your mind as you watch the arms of the clock drag along throughout your droning workday. Maybe you’re a school teacher who thinks he’d derive much more satisfaction and contribute more in the business world. Perhaps you’re a programmer who would rather be working directly with people in a leadership role. Whatever you want to do, there’s nothing stopping you from doing it. Here are a few guidelines on shifting to another career field entirely:
Try it out. The best and easiest way to try out a new career field is to volunteer. Not only do you get exposure to the work, you also gain experience and make contacts who naturally appreciate and think highly of you—since you’re doing the work for free.
Take some classes. If you have the desire and motivation to pursue a degree in your chosen field, that’s terrific. However, even if you only take a class or two, you can still learn crucial skills to help you land a great new job. If you choose the second option, I recommend taking full advantage of the resources available to you. Look for opportunities to practice your new skills beyond the borders of the class. Ask the instructor for leads or extra assignments to challenge you.
Network. Once you start volunteering or undertaking coursework, make the effort to get to know your peers and mentors. This is an excellent way to break into a new job field, and it’s quite natural to inquire about job leads and opportunities with these new contacts. Chances are very good that you will find an open door through one of these channels.
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I think you’ve made a very important point above David. The idea that one is stuck in some career that they don’t want is terrifying. The first step in finding a way out of the tunnel vision, is to clear your mind of all the negative, critical thinking and instead focus on possibilities. One useful tool, absoultely underrated in my mind, is the informational interview. Many people will give you the opportunity to learn about them and their field if you just ask for an informational interview. As long as they know that you’re not trying to get hired by them, people will give you tons of helpful information and may lead you to contacts that will hire you. I’ve written a series of posts on my blog, www.haydencoach.com, entitled “Finding Work that You Love,” which addresses a process for getting un-stuck.
Comment by haydencoach — July 26, 2006 @ 17:17
I wished more people understood the value of volunteering. Adults seem to get it, but in this day and age it is hard to get young people to see the benefit in such an undertaking.
What a great way to learn and improve your skills in a particular field. You don’t have to spend the rest of your life being a volunteer but use it as an oppourtunity to gain invaluable experience. It then becomes a stepping stone to something greater.
Comment by angela — July 26, 2006 @ 23:28