Changing careers can be exciting and frightening at the same time. Those who are in need of a job due to workforce reduction will be anxious and fearful, but there are still career choices out there. In today’s economy, it won’t be easy to find another job. Some will need to acquire new skills, while others may have to adapt their present skill set to fit into another area of work.
One thing to remember is that we all have skills, some gained from present and past jobs, and some from daily life activities and even personal hobbies. It’s the harnessing of these skills, or better said, the “re-shaping” of these skills, that will help you to move on to a new job or career.
“Change is good” – that’s what we all hear. It certainly can be. There are many opportunities for the job transitioner. So many schools today offer online classes and degrees, that learning the latest skills for a new career have been made as easy as clicking the button on your mouse. There are also several free career assessment tests online to lead you in the right direction.
There are a few questions you need to ask yourself before moving on:
- Is it new training you need, or re-shaping your current skills?
- Will you need to obtain a new degree or certificate, or will some classes do the trick?
- If you need to return to school for a new degree, will you be able to afford it?
- What about schedules? Can I go to school and still do what I need to do at home?
So many options are available today that it may be hard to decide which option is right for your situation and place in life. Let’s get started addressing these questions:
Question #1:
Are your present skills marketable? If so, you may only need to put them in the right context on your resume to sit for a new job interview. If your resume needs to be redone, there are many resources on the internet to help you with that process. Transferring skills from one type of job to another really isn’t that difficult.
However, if you lack some of the more technological skills needed in today’s workplace, you’ll need to take some training. This can be in the form of online classes, community college classes, or computer based training on DVD, if you’re comfortable as an independent learner.
Question #2:
Do you feel that your present career is a dud? You may want to consider a different route – a new start. Some of the new careers in technology or health care only require a two year commitment. Certificates are usually offered for these careers.
If you feel a need to enhance your education, community colleges offer associate’s degrees, online and on campus. Bachelor and Master’s degrees can be found online through several universities.
Question #3:
Can I afford all this new training? Yes – you can. If you’re out of work, financial aid is available for most all college courses. If your income is too high, you can get a low interest loan at many banks, which you don’t have to start repaying until you finish your schooling.
Online, computer based training, is very affordable. This is a way to learn hundreds of computer courses on your own, including all of the Microsoft Office modules, all of the web design programs like those in the Adobe Suites, and many certification skills for information technology. Keep in mind that many companies require at least a two year degree in these areas, as well as particular knowledge in a specific application area.
Question #4:
As you’ve gathered by now, scheduling is the easiest part, since almost all education and training today is available at your fingertips. Even on campus classes are offered during the day, nights, and weekends.
No – It’s not easy to turn yourself around. But, I did it, and you can too. For those of you in mid-career, it can take anywhere from a year to four or five years, to get yourself going in a new direction. My brother was 44 years old when he decided to leave a dead-end job in service management. Two years later and he’s now a certified Radiologic Technician, with job offers he can’t keep up with.
If you’re older, then you probably have many of the skills necessary to transfer to another job if you just learn some new computing skills. Your resume can be tweaked to show you in the best light.
Tags: Career Choices, Degree Advantage