Career Changes - Re-Learning Job Hunting Skills After Layoffs

Careers today are not what they used to be. Even just a short decade ago, high school students were encouraged to attend college and then go out in search of the best and brightest careers that suited their interests. Today, even college graduates are having trouble finding work, which is a sure sign of troubled times. For those already in the career world, job security is nearly unheard of, and many people face the risk of losing jobs that they have held for years. Some, in fact, are being laid off from positions that they have held their entire lives. What are people to do in a situation like this?

It's not going to be easy, and it certainly won't be fun, but it is necessary for people who have been laid off or lost jobs to turn their attitude into one of focus and drive. Layoffs are not uncommon today, and many people spend their working days with the looming shadow of unemployment hanging over their head. It can happen to anyone, as the business world has clearly demonstrated. The best thing that you can do is to be prepared. Be prepared for that ill-fated notice or meeting. Be prepared for starting over. Most importantly, be prepared for job hunting in today's economy, which could entail re-learning how to find and apply for the jobs that you are qualified to perform.

It isn't hard to re-learn the job hunting skills that you need to find a successful job after you have been laid off. In spite of all of the disparity in the career world, there has never been more assistance out there for job seekers than there is today. Because jobs are so scarce and so many people who have never been out of work now find themselves in that position, the public assistance of many state and local governments are reaching out to help. Sponsoring training courses, career resource seminars, and even job hunting classes, these public departments are doing everything that they can to prepare people for the new working world.

Any yet, the jobs are still few and far between. If someone is laid off from a longtime position, it can be extremely disheartening for them. They have to face financial uncertainty, a loss of identity in most cases, and the new struggle of finding a new job in an economy where there aren't many available. The most important thing for these people to understand is how to effectively hunt for jobs in today's economy. Despite the obvious lack of options, there are rules and guidelines for job hunting today that have changed greatly over the years. Knowing these skills is the best way to snag one of the very few jobs that is available.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online http://www.sixsigmaonline.org offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Energize a Stagnant Job Search - 7 Career Tips for Job Hunting

For those job seeking professionals that have been searching for a job for months or more, the whole job search process may seem a bit stale. Countless hours are often spent on job search websites and job search engines such as CareerBuilder.com, Dice.com, and Monster.com often resulting in minimal feedback. It is frustrating to go months without finding a job. Inevitability you begin to question career choices, your professional skills, experience, qualifications, or even your education. But you're not alone. In times of high unemployment, a slow moving job market can create the appearance of a job search that becomes stagnated.

In this seven part series we will provide job search strategies and tips to revive your job hunt and reenergize your career confidence.

1) Part Time Job, a Temporary Job, or Volunteering

Seek out short term, part-time, or temporary work in your career field is a good way to get your foot in the door. Even if there does not seem to be any full time jobs opening any time soon, part time work and temp work is a way your employer can get to know you and your work ethic. If a job happens to open up or a new position is created, then you are at a higher advantage then others applicants who may be applying for that same job. You'll have much more than a resume to show the company.

2) Work on your Personal Brand

If someone were to search for your name online, what, if anything would they see? In all likelihood, hiring you is a big investment to any company or organization. Especially in challenging economic times and an employer driven job market, companies are being more selective about their job applicants.

Take a few minuets and search for yourself online to determine what your digital footprint is. Do you share a name with someone that could create a career opportunity or a problem with your online image?

Use your personal brand to let the employer know your strengths, why they should hire you, and that you are a worthy candidate to investment in. If you remember, the personal brand is your life and professional skills as they appear online. You want your personal brand to be accurate and truthful, but you also want to it to make you look great to an employer. Your brand should reflect your overall qualifications, education, and indicate your career goals.

See what shows up in a Google search and a Yahoo search. Having a LinkedIn profile and profiles on other professional social networking sites can help to create a positive digital footprint. Your profile should be professional and consistent. Keep your information consistent with similar career goals and career objectives in each profile. Avoid blending social media and your online professional image. It is important to keep your private life PRIVATE. That is a mistake many people make with personal branding which may cost them being selected for that next job or opportunity.

3) Changing Careers or Branching Out to New Industries

Diversify you job search and branch out into new job markets you may not have considered in your previous job hunting strategies. Pick a career field, any career field and determine if your skills and qualifications would translate into new job opportunities.

That is not to say that you should just apply for the first job opening that presents itself. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true. Choose a career field that may benefit from your professional knowledge. Your best option is to look at a small geographic area and determine what employers are within this region. Examine what the area employer's job positions and the job descriptions they are seeking and compare the qualifications to your resume. A midlife career change into a new industry can appear challenging but rewriting a career change resume and cover letter can quickly expand your employment options.

Examine your strengths. If you are not good with people, do not apply to personnel jobs. If you do not have an aptitude for math, do not apply for engineering or accounting jobs. Choose an industry or career field you know you can succeed in and focus your job search in that field. Perhaps you haven't found a job yet because you are stretched across too many possible career paths. You may have missed an opportunity while you were wasting your time and applying to jobs that do not suit you. As a job search seems to drag on, it may seem tempting to try to apply for everything, but stay focused on your qualifications and job skills.

Be realistic about the types of jobs you are applying for. Most often when make a career transition into a new job market you will find yourself competing for more junior level positions then you would within your current career field. Changing careers may seem like a step backwards; yet showing potential future employers you are capable of taking on new challenges, have the foresight, and flexibility to expand your skill set across industries can become a strong asset.

4) Use Career Counseling and Career Advice Services

Get some help. If month after month has passed with no job offers or employment prospect you may need some help with your job hunt. You do not want to be put in a position where your financial obligations overtake you focusing on your job search.

Recent college graduates and college alumni can use their college's career services department. Beyond employment listings and postings, many college career service departments offer interview preparation assistance, resume writing and career advice, and can assist you in choosing a career path. These services are often helpful when you are considering changing careers or at a career transition. Also, many companies seek out students from specific universities, colleges, and specific degree program or departments. A career advisor in the schools career services can connect you with these companies.

Beyond the college or university career services centers, look into what career placement services your local city or county provides. Contact your local chamber of commerce to begin your search for these types of local services. Many of these services are either free of charge or at a minimal fee to local residents.

Depending on your specific situation, consider hiring a professional career advisor or career counselor. A professional career counselor's job is to help you figure out exactly what you want to do and advise you on how to maximize your resources and qualifications.

Before electing to get a career counselor, do some research on what services the career counseling service provides and what their recent candidate placement success rates are. This way, you will know what to expect as an end result. Will they help you find a career path, provide resume writing advice and interview preparation, placement services, and help you along the way? Do not be afraid to ask for help when the job search seems to be dragging on. Having a career advisor or an independent career service can help you revitalize your job hunt.

5) Is Your Resume Writing Reflective of your Career Objective

Refresh your resume and your professional image. If your job search appears stalled, take this time to review your resume and your overall professional image. This includes your cover letter, professional social media sites such as Linked-In, and your professional references.

If employers have already seen your resume and you have not received any responses back, then this might be your cue to give your resume a second look. Check your resume for spelling mistakes, typos, and poor grammar. Those are a definite turn-off to any potential employer.

Do you think your online resume would pass the 20 second test? Remember that 20 seconds is generally the amount of time an employer will spend looking over your resume. In that time frame, an employer will decide whether or not he or she will call you in for a job interview. If it has been a while since you have been called for any interviews, then this may indicate that your resume does not pass the 20 second test. Some resume writing changes may be necessary. Also, be sure that your resume is aesthetically pleasing and your resume qualifications, education, and experience properly flows together.

6) Using only Top Job Search Engines can Limit Your Career Options

Not all job search websites are created equal. Searching that next job opportunity using online job search engines can distribute your resume to many companies and employment centers. Although, not all job search websites are weighted the same for your professional career field or industry.

Major job websites like Moster.com and CareerBuilder.com are great choices to broadcast your resume skills and qualifications. However, your chances in getting noticed on these online job search sites are low. Thousands of career professionals and job seekers are posting and updating their resumes daily, and in a highly competitive job market, being too general with your career objectives may not result in you landing that job.

Take some time to research what are the best job search sites, specific to your industry or career objectives. If your career field is within the medical industry, look for those web sites that focus specifically on medical jobs or nursing jobs. Expand your career and look for part time job search opportunities to get into a company or organization.

Be focused and specific in your job search and make sure you are looking everywhere. Limiting yourself to just a few major job sites can be disastrous. Many of the jobs you are seeking may not be listed on the common and the most popular job search engines. So, try looking at lesser known job sites, and on industry specific ones. Check your local newspaper daily, especially on Sunday editions. Sometimes a job listing may be printed on only one day in the newspaper.

Keep checking your professional social networking sites and keep your eyes open for mentioning of possible job openings. You might be missing out on great opportunities by limiting your search to one place. If you are unemployed, be sure to tell everyone that you are looking. People talk and word will get around. Your friend's cousin's girlfriend may be in the Human Resources department in a company where they are hiring. You could be surprised where you find your next job. Whatever you do, do not stop looking until you find what you are looking for.

7) Revisit your Long Term Career Choices

What long term career planning steps have you considered throughout your professional career. Often times we can become comfortable and somewhat complacent within our chosen occupation after we have met certain education and experience requirements. However, over time we can loose our job security if our skills are not continually up to date or with economic shifts, technology innovations, or company restructuring.

If you find yourself in a position where there does not appear to be any jobs in your career field, they you may consider changing industries. Change can be good, but when you mention changing careers, often people confuse this with more schooling or education, significant changes in their schedule, or starting back at the beginning. While any change may require some retraining or new on the job knowledge, changing careers maybe easier then one would think.

Examine what parallel industries or other careers use your same talents. Seek out career counseling and take several career tests to help you determine what industries you maybe unaware of that use your qualifications. A career counselor can help you with this decision and provide you some inside knowledge on specific career fields. If you do not have a career counselor, then you may want think about who in your local area hire professionals with your skills and list all the things you loved about your old job. Then look for jobs that have those same qualities. You can also look at things you disliked about your old job, and look for jobs that do not have those qualities. Take a reputable personally or career test and consider jobs that work for your personality type.

The worst thing you can do is nothing, especially if you see major changes coming in your career field where your future employment could be effected. A proactive approach can open new doors and provide you with new career opportunities.

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Career Change - Change Careers or Change Employers?

There are several reasons people find themselves evaluating their careers. Perhaps you lose interest or you find something that interests you more. Perhaps your company is downsizing. The first step to take is to make sure what you really want to do is change careers. Following are 10 considerations to ensure a path toward career change success.

(1) Assess your likes and dislikes - A lot of people change careers because they dislike their job, their boss or their company. Identifying the dislikes and examine your likes. What do you really like doing when you are at work, when you are at home - in your spare time? What are you passionate about? If you are not sure, consider taking a career assessment test.

(2) Research new careers - Spend some time researching the types of careers that involve your passions.

(3) Transfer skills - Leverage your current skills and experiences to your new career. There are many skills (i.e. communications, leadership, planning, etc.) that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your new career.

(4) Training and education - You may find it necessary to update your skills and broaden your knowledge. If the skill you need to learn is one you could use in your current job, see if your current employer would be willing to pick up the tab.

(5) Network - One of the keys to successfully changing careers will be your ability to network. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry and introduce you to others to expand your network. Even if you don't think you already have a network, you probably do - consider colleagues, friends and family members.

(6) Gain experience - Keep in mind that you are essentially starting your career again from square one. Obtaining a part-time job or volunteering in your new career field not only can solidify your decision but give you much needed experience in your new career. Also, consider temping in your new field to gain experience.

(7) Find a mentor - Your mentor may be able to help you by taking advantage of his or her network.

(8) Change in or change out - Some people change careers, but never change employers. Remember not to start asking about a job switch until you are completely ready to do so.

(9) Job hunt - Prepare your resume, cover letter and references. Contact those in your network. Seek recruiters and search for job openings in newspapers and online.

(10) Be flexible - A new career may involve anything from accepting a lower salary at first to relocating to making a lateral move as a springboard for a bigger career change. Also, consider starting your own business or consulting as other avenues.

Use these tips and do some research to determine if you are truly interested in a career change, or simply interested in changing employers.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find employment tips and resources, such as resume and cover letter development, interviewing skills, and information for those considering a career change at http://jobs.myguidesusa.com

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How to Know If You're Ready For a Career Change in 10 Steps

Just because you are bored at work is not reason enough to throw in the towel and quit. Making the decision to change careers is a huge one that should not be taken lightly. There are many things to consider and pathways to take which we have outlined for you below in an easy 10-step process.

* Step 1: Assessment of likes/dislikes- Finding things you don't like in your job are easy if you're thinking about quitting. But also think of the things you like so you can identify them easier at an interview. Rediscover yourself and you might discover a direction for your career change.

* Step 2: Researching new careers- Once you've discovered your passions, research which jobs fit them. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook can help find a job that matches what you enjoy. Our section about on-ramping might give you some good pointers as well.

* Step 3: Transferable skills- A lot of jobs help give you skills needed in multiple career atmospheres. Figure out which skills you have that will apply to your new job.

* Step 4: Training and education- Go slowly! If you are trying to get a new degree, take only a few classes at a time to make sure you enjoy it. If you are training for something that could be used in your current job, see if they don't mind paying for it. If you are worried about paying for classes, check out StudentFinanceDomain.com.

* Step 5: Networking- Colleagues, friends and family members all are part of your network. They can help you find job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network.

* Step 6: Gaining experience- Two words: Part-time and volunteering. Remember, you're starting completely over. No job is too small and every job is valuable.

* Step 7: Finding a mentor- Pretty self-explanatory. Keep in mind that your mentor can help expand your network in your search for a career change.

* Step 8: Changing in or out- Don't overlook your current employer. Although you might not be happy with the position you have now, somewhere else in the same company might suit you better. Remember; don't bring up a change until you are 100 percent sure that it is what you want.

* Step 9: Job-hunting basics- Do not let your ego get in the way. Chances are it has been a long time since you've been on a job hunt. Research interview tactics, resume builders, cover letter resources and salary negotiation resources.

* Step 10: Be flexible- A lot of things will come at you sideways. Look at things positively and think about moving laterally to make a bigger career move later.

Melissa Rubin is a senior copywriter and Web developer at OTO Networks, a digital marketing company located in Baltimore, Maryland. Her primary responsibilities include SEO, link building and creating content for multiple sites. A preview of a site on which she has worked, http://www.ModernWorkforce.com, is available with this article.

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Changing Careers After 50 - Five Mistakes That Doom a Career Change!

You're approaching 50 or more and the career you've worked in you whole life is turning to dust. It could be the atmosphere in your work place taking a turn for the worse. Maybe the working conditions have changed, or your new boss is a jerk or perhaps the next manager up the line is impossible to talk to or combinations of all the negatives making the workplace and your career something you want to run away from.

In addition many of your interests have changed and you know you're not going to work out your career with this employer or perhaps even retire in this career. Well you're not alone; thousands every year in midlife not only change employers but move to another career as well.

Get the career change after 50 wrong and not only will you not advance but you may lose a critical year or two in the process. A career move to be successful must be carefully planned and managed. And like any important project each move must be analyzed and thought through with a built-in measure of flexibility.

Let's briefly review some of the more common mistakes many make in deciding on a career change after 50.

1. Lack of Thoughtful Study: Even though a career may fit your skill set and interests, if you fail to understand, for example, you hate to be micro-managed and most of the jobs in this career are tightly controlled from the top a career change will end in failure. Or perhaps you'll end up in worse shape that before the career changes.

As you research the proposed career field, don't neglect talking to those currently working in the field to get a proper feel for all aspects of the new career.

2. Failure to consider how your interests and skills were achieved: Rarely do your interests and skills move in linear fashion. You try something and then drop it. Your skills languish until you "get it." New interests come to the forefront, and so it goes.

If you continue keeping your eyes open and build and work your career plan; you'll be surprised many times as new opportunities and exactly the right career drops into your lap.

3. Only following the money: If you measure your career satisfaction totally based on your earnings you may miss the whole point of making a career change. Rather, you should focus on the overall impact the career change will have on you and your family and not purely on terms of income.

Career change based on only one of many factors could leave you more dissatisfied than before the move to another career. Add everything together and carefully consider the entire picture in you analysis and you'll make a better decision.

4. Lack of foresight and patience: Your current job and career seem to be so bad that you make the move before you have properly researched and analyzed the next step. More often than not, being employed and developing your career plan, is preferable to being unemployed and having to act in haste.

Successfully changing careers after 50, and really at any age, require a high level of research, a companion financial plan, and time to acquire necessary education, other qualifications and experience.

5. Failure to realize you're in charge: Often the hunting for another career is out sourced to a recruiter or head hunter. The career changer mistakenly assumes their transferable skills will be apparent and easily salable a prospective employer.

Nothing could be farther from reality. It's your new career and it's up to you to package your skills, qualifications and experience in the best way possible. Some of this information will come from discussing the career with others, some from your research and in large measure from you analysis of the needs of the prospective employer.

Where is the good career change advice?

Good advice is touched on in the discussion under the five things not to do in making a successful after 50 career change.

In summary good career move advice is: to do your homework, get the advice of others, consider all the factors in the career change, build a robust career plan (and don't forget the financial aspects of the career change), be patient, and accept responsibility that you are in charge of the career change. Be flexible and adjust your career plan as necessary.

We all want to get control over our career and our life and a midlife career change, done properly, can do just that.

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Networking 2.0 - Midlife Career Change For the 21st Century

When "career counselor" was a new word (and a "coach" blew the whistle at basketball practice), we all read the Parachute book. The standard career advice line went something like this:

"People are bored. They love to talk about what they do. So call them up and ask for information. Eventually someone will offer you a job."

In my experience, that advice is as outdated as the typewriters we used back when the first Parachute edition appeared in the bookstores.

Today networking matters more than ever before. But you have to work your way into everyone's outrageously busy schedule.

(1) Create a professional presence on the Internet, using Facebook, Myspace, and/or LinkedIn. Zoodango has become popular among corporate executives.

You can be outgoing and personal but share only what your next uptight business contact needs to know...unless you refuse to ever work with the uptight set, which is another article.

It's no accident that my "personal" public persona showcases my dog, with occasional glimpses of the cats. I've seen too many innocent disclosures get distorted... anyone following the Amanda Knox case?

(2) Attend professional meetings and conferences.

In some fields, you'll make awesome contacts. In others, you'll just get information about what's really happening, outside your own office.

And when you need to make calls, you may be able to say, "I'd like to use your name when I call your associate at MegaBig company..."

Or, "Do you know anyone who worked at SoNew Company? I'd like to get more info before applying..."

(3) Go back to school the grown-up executive way.

If appropriate, consider teaching courses at local universities and learning centers. Choose topics that enhance your most marketable strengths.

You won't get rich from the stipends but you get exposure and credibility. You'll often make some helpful contacts and gain new perspectives on the field.

Or consider the other side of the desk.

If you have funds and opportunity, a graduate degree can open doors - not just from the degree, but also from contacts you make. Programs offering face-to-face meetings on weekends or evenings tend to be most effective - and I have met people who got jobs through fellow students.

(4) Attend networking events designed for business owners (even if you love the corporate world and plan to stay forever).

You never know. Remember the Mary Poppins line: "I'll stay till the wind changes." I've met many savvy business people who encountered a tornado in their own offices.

When that happens, especially if you're over 50, you may see income faster from self-employment than from sending out resumes. I wouldn't stop job-hunting but hey, why not explore this path too?

Being around business owners will give you a boost: "If they can, I can." And if you think like an entrepreneur, you may find corporate life a little easier to take (and more rewarding, too).

Just about everyone who attends those meetings has corporate contacts...and they're very comfortable making referrals and introductions. That's how they grow their own businesses.

(5) Talk to everybody.

One of my acquaintances found herself sitting next to some corporate executives at a basketball game. Turns out they were using tickets from a corporate sponsor...and that company often had openings in her field. That particular contact didn't lead to a job, but she did gain some ideas that she used to make a quantum career leap.

University alumni groups tend to be especially friendly and open. It's an easy place to say, "I'm looking for a job in X industry. Do you know..."

Bottom Line: We're not calling strangers anymore to ask for "advice." Everybody knows what you're really after...and if they don't, they're too clueless to help. But we have newer, more user-friendly and more effective ways to build a network (before we *need* one).

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Don't Sabotage Your Career With Old-Fashioned (Out-Of-Date, Not-In-Touch-With-Reality)

It's a old idea long gone that your career should be a steady climb up the corporate ladder. It doesn't always work that way anymore.

Most modern careers do not follow the classic progression straight up the ladder. Rather, people move down, laterally, and even out in order to eventually move their career forward. Life in corporate America is much less hierarchical than it was at one time. As a result, it's a new game played with new rules and you don't want to be playing with outdated belief systems.

Here is a review of some of the rule revisions you'll need to keep in mind to keep your career on track with forward momentum:

I. A lattice structure better describes career lives in corporate America today than the old idea of a ladder. What this means is that moving down, sideways or even off the ladder is no longer necessarily perceived negatively. It depends upon your ultimate career goals. For example, many companies want top management to have had experience in all major aspects of the business. So it is conceivable that if you want the corner office with the windows you may need to take a stint in the mail room even though it may mean a temporary pay cut.

II. Plan your career today that best positions you for where you want to be in five years. Fear, convenience and velvet handcuffs often hold a person back from taking risks in their company. If career advance only means for you taking the next promotion that leads to higher compensation and responsibility and you ignore all other possibilities, you may not move in your career at all. Rather than obsessing about pay and position, make career decisions with long-term consequences in mind.

III. In an economy where unemployment is high, it can be a mistake for a laid-off person to hold out for a job at a similar pay and management level as the last job they had. The overall progression of your career will be much more likely enhanced if you accept a job that's related to your field and stay active, even if it has less status and/or pay.

IV. Making strategic career sacrifices now in all likelihood will pay off later. Here are two reasons why: 1. Once the recession is over, there will be a time in the workforce of worker mobility. Dissatisfied workers will be able to move to new jobs. The healthcare overhaul will create new opportunities for people to leave current employers and thus open up career possibilities for you. 2. Significant gaps in workplace jobs and careers will continue to increase with the wave of baby boomer retirements.

If you plan wisely and manage your career strategically, you will move your career forward. In the short run it may seem like a game of hopscotch to you. In this day and age of corporate careers, the way forward is not always a straight line. Give yourself permission to do career planning that fits modern day employment circumstances.

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Career Change Tips - The Informational Interview!

As you contemplate a possible career change you'll find the informational interview to be invaluable. Properly done it should open up avenues of required study, how to gain appropriate experience, the pluses and minuses of the possible career, where the jobs are, and future prospects for the career.

Proper planning for the informational interview is the key to getting the most out of the contact. There is however, one thing you never do in an informational interview. You do not ask for a job, the informational interview is to acquire information.

You've checked with your alumni association, local and national career associations, used LinkedIn, all to find a dozen or more individuals who are currently working in the desired career.

If they live in your area, you'll be looking for a short (15 minutes or so) face to face interview. Otherwise a phone interview should be sufficient. Again, to emphasize, you are looking for information, you should not bring up anything about looking for a job.

If you handle yourself properly, the person you interview may volunteer information about available jobs-but that is not the primary purpose of the interview.

Here are some suggested interview questions, and depending on the proposed career, you should be able to add to the list:

1. What are the typical challenges in the job?

2. What do you like the most about the job, the least? Why?

3. Are there any educational requirements for the job?

4. Any surprises in the job when you started, how about now?

5. Any idea about salary ranges to start? 3-5 years experience?

6. How has the career changed over the last few years?

7. What do you see changing in the career over the next few years?

8. Is the career integrated into a career ladder? What is the next job up the ladder? What are the prospects of moving up?

9. What are the key qualifications for the career? What specifically are employer's looking for?

10. (Briefly review your education and experience.) What do you think I need relating to added education and experience to qualify for a position in the field? (Try to get specific answers.)

11. Who else can I talk to regarding this career and this field? May I use you name in contacting them?

Some additional informational interview ideas: Write out your proposed questions. As you progress through you list of interviews you can edit the list of questions and add those that will help you gain additional information.

Take notes during the interview. If you promise some additional information or you agree to added follow-up be sure to do as promised. Promptly send an appropriate thank you letter.

If the interview is in person have a copy of your resume with you. If asked you'll have a copy to provide your contact. Leave or send some personal business cards to your contact to ensure they can pass them along if they uncover some job leads.

Finally, promise to keep them informed as you progress in you hunt for the right career and the right job.

Discover how an informational interview can get you started in a career change. Learn how to make a career change after 50, or before, using an informational interview. Go to http://careersafter50.com . Learn specific information from others who have used the informational interview to find the right career even after 50.

A Realistic Look at Career Change

There are, of course, a couple of problems with looking to change jobs when you are already in one.

o You don't have a lot of time! Looking for a job means preparing a resume, scheduling interviews, and on and on.

o You don't want your current employer to find out! Most of us don't want our current managers to know that we are on the hunt for a new job, for fear of repercussions.

o No time for training. A really big career leap might mean that you need to undergo a whole new training regime for the new job. Many people just can't handle the commitment or the time.

o What about money? If you do have to go back to school in order to train for a new career, where is the money going to come from? Not only will you have to pay for the courses, but you still have to support yourself. The more you have to pay for (mortgage, children, and car), the more you have to worry about in terms of money.

Plan Ahead; Maybe WAY Ahead

In generations past, people were stuck in a career their entire lives for just the reasons that we mentioned above; there was just no getting around the difficulties involved with a career change, no matter how unhappy one was with their current situation.

The Information Age has absolutely changed the way we think about careers and career training, however. The biggest advantage for anyone interested in a career change is that you now have the opportunity to take courses online, from your own home.

What are the advantages to career training in this way? Here are a few.

o Set your own pace. You don't have to worry about committing to two, three, or more years of school all in a row. You can take a couple of courses a semester and plan on finishing up in five, six, or more years instead.

o You don't pay all at once. Not only do you avoid the stress of taking all of those courses at once, you also avoid the expenses. It is a lot easier to work the courses into your budget this way.

o It is not a huge time commitment all at once. If you do have a family this is the perfect training solution. You will still have plenty of time in your day to spend with them; one course should take about five hours a week, and that's it. Pretty manageable in most people's lives!

For people interested in a career change but who do not immediately have to worry about switching, forming a long term plan around online education can be a great step. By training a little bit at a time, you will be ready to make a smooth transition into the new career when you are ready.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Need a Career Change? Help You Need is Here

A career change is both challenging and thrilling this is why it is always important to look for help before you make any drastic decision. There are a number of sources where you can find these and I will share some of them briefly below. Just read right on to the end.

Libraries, job support groups, booths of different government and nongovernmental organizations, career counselors, trade associations, friends and familiar persons are the best "career change help" resources.

Let me also provide some other useful guidelines that will be of great use to you.

Consider Likes and dislikes: Dislikes and likes of the old and new jobs regarding the company, boss, job etc. must be fathomed out in the proper way.

Researching new careers: Make time to have a thorough research on the new field. If you don't have time to go to the library then the Internet should be your best research tool.

Transferable Skills: Be careful enough to pick the one that contains the scope to utilize the transferable skills you possessed in previous career.

Training and Education: Consider getting some new training or course.

Networking: People in your network i.e. friends, relatives, colleagues etc. may give you t carrier leads, advice, info etc.

Gaining Experience: Any part time job or such can help you gain vast experience.

Find a Mentor: A mentor is useful while embarking on a new career who may even help by seeking help from his or her network.

Changing In or Out: What to do, changing employer or career is another important decision to pick.

Job-Hunting Basics: The basics of job hunting should be obeyed as much as possible. They include: guide to researching companies, resume of resources, cover letter, interviewing, and salary negotiation.

Be Flexible: Flexibility is a must in almost everything i.e. status in employment, salary,

The first career change help you need should come from your mind and then gradually going through the steps mentioned above can be the proper career change route to take.

Click Here Career Change Help For more information and assistance.

You can also visit:

http://bestreviewsonline.net/career-help/

Setting Up Appointments When You Need A Career Change

The key is to job hunt smarter not harder. There is no point spending all day applying to over 50 companies and get so frustrated at the end of the day because non of the employers have responded to your applications.

Don't join the rat race. Many are called but few are chosen. Why join the many when you can be among the few chosen ones without joining the crowd.

A bird at hand is better than 10,000 in the forest. You can always use that one bird to catch the many thousands in the forest because birds of the same feather flock together.

The same applies to the job market. Why apply for the thousands of jobs on job boards when you can use a contact person to attract or be introduced to many other key contacts that could help you attain the job you are looking for.

For example, if you want to start a career in project management, start networking among your friends. There must be someone you know who knows a project manager. Build rapport and create a network ladder to get to your main contact person.

Once you have established contact, you can try using this appointment generating email:

Hi Steve,

Thanks for taking my call earlier today. In relation to our conversation, Sally mentioned you were the best person to speak to in regards to starting a career in project management.

Your reputation precedes you and I feel I have much to learn from you. This is clearly obvious just by looking at your outstanding record of proven achievement within the field of successfully managing global projects.

Please find attached a quick summary my resume / CV. It explains

and details what I have been doing and how it can be of benefit to you and your department.

I am available for a meeting on either:

Tuesday the 9th of Jan

Wednesday the 17th of Jan

Thursday the 25th of Jan

Which day will suit you or do you have a more suitable time?

Kind regards

James Thomas

By Keji Giwa

http://www.careerinsights.tv

Career Change

Some people go through a phase in their lives where they want to make a big change. Change is not something that people should be scared of. It is actually something that people should look forward to. In this world that we live in, there will always be constant change.

Although changes may be influenced by a lot of factors, it is important to never lose hope and stay positive in life. One of the hardest changes that one may encounter in his lifetime is to have a career change. This may be very hard to accept especially if you have learned to love the work that you are in. Jobs and careers are never guaranteed especially in this day and age. When you work for someone else you have no control if your company suddenly decides to downsize their employees because of economic crisis or the company you work for decides to close down. Or maybe you want to have a career change because your current work does not satisfy your needs. You are not left with anything to do but to move forward.

To have a career change is another new beginning in your life. Here are some tips on what to consider before you plan your new career:

o Reassess and Rediscover yourself.

- What do you really enjoy doing? What is your passion?

o Job hunt for a new career.

- Make sure that it collaborates well with what field of work you like.

o Reassess your skills.

- In what area of work do you really excel in?

o Training and Education

- Make use of your educational background. If further education is required, try enrolling in some classes if you have enough funds.

o Networking

- Catch up with your family and friends. Maybe they can help you look for an employer.

o Be open to advice from a more experienced person.

- Find a mentor that could motivate and inspire you.

o Be flexible.

- You have to be flexible in everything since you are just starting all over again.

It is very essential to have a positive attitude when it comes to career change. The key to once again succeeding is to be confident and be open to all possibilities. Do not limit yourself to what you only know of but explore what the world can still offer you.

Kate Wilber also known as "The Marketing Momma" is a full time online business owner specializing in teaching how to start a home based business in an affordable and effective way. Visit http://www.startanonlinestore.com for more tips on starting an online store. To learn more about running a successful home based business visit http://www.themarketingmomma.com for helpful work at home tips.

Career Change Tip: Breaking Into a New Industry

When you want to break into a new industry, perhaps after doing some study or as a result of recognizing your true career goals, you need to be strategic about the way that you make yourself known.

Here are a few tips to help you target your networking and to make good contacts within the industry whilst finding out about the industry from an insider's perspective.

Targeted networking


Join LinkedIn and set up your profile if you haven't already done so
Join the professional level of LinkedIn, inexpensive and definitely worth the money for the connections it can give you.
Join a few groups directly related to your professional interests and start making some pertinent comments within the group so they know you are there.
Read the profiles of organisations that you think you might be interested in working for (through Google or direct to specific websites) then on LinkedIn look for high level execs or HR people from these organisations and contact them directly to ?see if you can have a chat with them.
Buy a few business magazines and professional journals and use these for additional research, profiles etc.

Informational interviewing


Contact people respectfully and appropriately through LinkedIn, journals or through anyone you know (friends of friends etc) who work within the industry or companies that interest you. ?I emphasize "respectfully and appropriately".
Don't approach them with the intention of applying for a job, but rather with the attitude of asking to talk to them about the reality of their industry and their advice about getting the sort of work that you are considering.? Make it very clear to them that you aren't looking for a job just seeking their expertise and opinion about breaking into the industry, so do it before you are seriously job-hunting.? Don't expect to get more than 15 minutes of their time.
Have a few really good questions ready, but not too many because they won't be happy if you take up too much time.
End on a really positive note and send them a note or an email to say thanks for their time.

Let me know how you go. ?I'd love to hear about your successes through targeted networking and informational interviewing.

http://JenniProctor.com Jenni Proctor is a career consultant based in Brisbane Queensland Australia. Through her Career Counselling business http://CareerClarity.com.au she specializes in mature aged career change. Many clients recognised online business as being a portable business model that could develop into an income stream to enhance their retirement savings. In response, Jenni now offers internet business coaching as part of her services to her clients.

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Career Change - 7 Tips For Survival

What do you do when you are dealing with a career change or shift?

If you have been downsized? Have lost your job due to a company merger? Are feeling misery and complacency in a career lacking in passion?

Then I say, "You are knee deep in shift(TM)" in your career!

Sometimes, we just get "signs" from God, Spirit, The Universe, whatever you want to call it. We know it is time to move on in our career, but we feel stuck. We need the money. We do not have the energy to update our resume and do a job search. We are exhausted already!

When these feelings are very prevalent in your life, it is time for a career change or shift. If you do not take action when you are feeling these feelings, you may suddenly experience a job loss, unexpectedly.

Based on the principles of the Law of Attraction, what you put out comes back to you. Sometimes you may be thinking that you need a break from work and you are fantasizing about leaving your job. If you do not take action to voluntarily do something about it, then the action may just happen to you! That is the Law of Attraction showing up, responding to your thoughts.

What do you do, if all of a sudden, you are hit with a job loss, a company downsize or a blatant firing... or maybe you just decide to walk out and quit?

Here are 7 initial tips to deal with the career change:

Tip 1. Although it is very difficult to do, try really hard not to get into the 'blame game' and become a victim. That puts you into an extremely dis-empowered state.

Tip 2. Do something that you have wanted to do for a long time, that you did not have the time, or did not take the time to do. Something that brings you joy and uplifts your spirit.

Tip 3. While it is important to allow yourself to feel your feelings around what happened, do your best not to wallow in them. Look at the bright side, you have a new journey ahead of you. Even though you may experience a lot of fear and anxiety around your career shift, trust that it happened for a reason, a "higher purpose" is waiting for you. Believe and trust in that!

Tip 4. Write down things in a journal or on a piece of paper that you know you do really well. Take an inventory of some stories in your last job or other jobs of 'how good/talented you were' in certain situations. Focus on your gifts and talents. We all have a few things that we shine at, what are yours?

Tip 5. Do some extreme self-care to help you heal. If you have some extra money, go get a massage or to a spa and get a few treatments. A massage, body wrap or facial can put you into a "heavenly state" and relieve a lot of stress. Spas are not for women, men deserce to be pampered too!

Tip 6. Depending on your financial situation, you can take a real break or you may need to get that resume updated and brush up on your job hunting skills. The book, "What Color is Your Parachute" by Richard Nelson Bolles is a wonderful book you can buy or get at the library, that can provide you with many insights into your next area(s) of career shift.

Tip 7. Hang around people who really care about you. If you are really down, ask them to help you figure out some of your gifts and talents. Sometimes we need to be uplifted by others who look at us with loving eyes vs. listening to our own self-recriminations!

What is most important is to not crawl up in bed, under the covers and wallow in your misery. It is human nature to want to do that, and you may do it for a little while. But, do not allow yourself to do it for very long. It will keep you stuck and not able to move forward. Pull yourself up by the boot straps to get up and get out!

You have special talents and gifts that you were given to bring to the world. If you have not used them at your fullest potential, the time is now. It is time for your career shift to give you the opportunity to shine in your magnificence! Yes, we all embody magnificence. It is up to you to find the gift(s) in your shift and move on to bigger and better things!

Believe you can and you will!

All the best in your career shifts,

To receive "free" Shift Soulyoutions TM which are revolutionary shift coaching tools and tips I invite you to go to the Shift Coach website at http://careershiftcoach.com/ These free tools and tips will help guide and support you through your process of career change. You may also check out the Shift Coach~Shift and Uplift blog at http://shiftcoach.com/blog/ to check out more articles about how to handle shifts while going through your career change. All the best in your career shifts,

Christina Carpentier

Master Shift Coach
Specialing in career shift coaching for people desiring career change...NOW!
~in Business~in Life~in Spirit

Career Exploration - Career Change Done Right!

Career exploration-career change done right - so let's get started.

You're ready to take the next step in making a career change. Now you have to find the right career for you.

You've looked carefully at you talents and skills. You've listed all of your interests including what you do not want to do as a career. Now you need to find and gather up all the information the careers in which you have an interest.

Critical career information that you need to uncover in your career research includes: job descriptions, experience requirements, educational needs, current salaries, special training requirements and trends with industries and where you might be employed.

More career information is better than having gaps in your research. The information on the proposed careers can at times be overwhelming. You'll be able to make sense of it all by taking it one piece at a time. Keep notes and write out possible questions or additional areas of research.

Search the internet and find a national or better yet a local association based on the proposed career. They should be able to answer your questions concerning the career; also, their website will contain additional career information. Normally these associations have regional and national meetings. It may be productive to attend these meeting and get additional questions answers and to network with those working in your targeted career.

The association will have members in your area. Also, search Linkedin for those working in the career. Make contact with a dozen or so professionals working in the career. Contact them and ask if they would be available for a short, fifteen minutes or so, informational interview. Do some research on how to get the most out of your contact. Write out your questions.

In the informational interview you are not looking for a job but rather you are looking for career information. Ask for referrals on the names of others that may provide you with additional information. It's polite to send a thank you note. Keep your network informed on your progress.

Be aware that career information is rapidly changing. Industries that were important a few years age are morphing into other activities. Are the careers are keeping pace with the exciting changes?

Additional sources of information in your proposed careers can be found on the internet. Articles, videos, and other information are on a variety of web sites. Look at the job announcements in you proposed career. Web sites of employers who employ individuals in the career could be another source of valuable information.

Job and career internet forums are another great source of career information. You can ask questions and review the career related answers. All will give you current career based information. Moreover, industry trends and projects are discussed in these forums.

You may find that a career at your first look or recommendations from others you thought would be a good fit but you now decide to go in a different direction. Thank yourself in finding this out now rather that a year or two into an unsatisfactory career change. Keep looking, keep gathering information, do your due diligence and you will find the right fit.

Stay flexible; to qualify for the right career might require several interim jobs. Your research will outline the path for you.

Overall career knowledge is power. It will point you in the direction of your dream career, give you information to qualify for the wanted position and make the career change on your terms rather than something you cannot control. Happy hunting and exploring.

Career study, research and career planning can pay big dividends. Learn how to get started at http://careersafter50.com. Discover how to get started on your journey to find the right career through effective career-exploration.

All Time Worst Career Change Mistakes

Ultimately I hate writing about mistakes because I always feel like I am the bearer of bad news. I don't like things that insult people or that make them feel bad for doing things that they were sincere about but just went about in the wrong way.

But, the truth is...

We make some really crazy mistakes, especially when it comes to our careers, and for some reason, career changers are the worst offenders.

Maybe it is because they have that anxious, almost desperate quality about them (I can say that because I have been one!). When you make the decision to switch careers, it is a big deal.

(1) You are in a hurry to get out of your current situation. You feel frustrated or fet up or just tired of whatever it is you have been doing.

(2) You've finally figured out what's next for you in life. Maybe you chose your first career to make your parents happy or because it seemed like the most lucrative option when you were 20. And now you have outgrown it. Or maybe you've been extremely successful and are just looking for a new challenge. Either way, now that you have figured it out, you can't wait to get started!

(3) You're getting older, still have bills to pay, and a certain lifestyle to uphold, so you are just anxious to get this thing resolved.

All that excitement and nervous energy is a good thing, but if you aren't careful, it can lead to some costly mistakes. Here are some of the worst ones I have come across when working with career changers:

o Giving Up Too Early. We live in a society that simply cannot wait for anything. We've made up our mind, and it has to happen now! All job seekers want the job search process to go as quickly as possible. It is a painful process at times, and that is definitely an understandable reaction. However, when it comes to career changers, in particular, we need to learn how to wait. A job search for a career changer can take twice as long as one for someone looking in their field. But, again, we don't like to wait. And as soon as things don't seem to go our way as quickly we would like, we quit. I understand, you have mouths to feed, right? Well, that should have been taken into consideration in the first place. There is a cost to pay for going after your dreams. That doesn't mean you don't pursue them, but you must do so understanding the market you are in and the sacrifices it might require.

o Wasting Time with Recruiters. Here is a concept that seems to elude most job seekers. Recruiters are looking for the best, ideal candidate to present to their employers (because that is how the recruiter gets paid). If you are a career changer, that is NOT you. You are just getting your feet wet. You aren't going to have the years of insider experience and the top credentials.

o Submitting a Functional Resume. Without going into too much detail about the functional resume, let me just say that unless you are right out of college, the functional resume is not the tool for you. I could tear my hair out at all the bad advice out there that has many seekers stuck on using a functional resume. They seem to think they can hide things from potential employers this way. The problem, of course, is that potential employers are not stupid. And they like what they like. And they like chronological resumes! Employers want to see what you have been doing, where, in what context, and what achievements you have had. Now this doesn't mean that you can't prepare a profile section at the top of the resume that highlights some of your transferable skills, but at the end of the day, you need to line up your accomplishments with your work experience. And you know what, that's OK. Be proud of your past career and use it to show how it leads to where you are today. That is your best selling feature. Let's face it...a career change is an uphill battle, but it is better to deal with it head on than to hide from it.

By now I think we have pretty much covered the fact that a career changer's job search is likely going to be longer and slower than most candidates' searches. But it is certainly not an impossible task, and it can be extremely rewarding at the end of the day. So don't be afraid to make that change. Just make it with your eyes wide open.

So who am I anyway? Why do I think my advice is so valuable?

My name is Stephen Van Vreede. My company is called No Stone Unturned, and I have been in the career consulting business since 2002 with 8 years of hiring experience prior to that. You can check out my website at http://www.nostoneunturnedllc.com

The short story is that I have a B.S. degree in Business Administration & Finance from the University of Maryland and an MBA in Marketing from Villanova University. I am a certified professional resume writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC). As I mentioned, I paid my dues in the corporate world eventually running a large-scale call center for a major truck rental company, and I have spent the past 6 years with No Stone Unturned, assisting job seekers in achieving their goals.

I know that my products will work for you because they are based on commonsense principles leveraged with good, solid expertise and knowledge of the job search process. After working with countless job seekers, I have become more and more convinced that most of them do not properly prepare for a job search and rely way too much on online sites and trendy articles to tell them what to do. Thus, they waste a lot of time, money, and energy.

If you still aren't sure whether our services are right for you, feel free to give me a call toll-free at 1-866-755-9800 or e-mail me at steve@nononsensejobsearch.com. Better yet, check out our Products page at http://sites.nononsensejobsearch.com/info to get started with us today!

5 Tips For Using the Internet For Making a Mid Life Career Change

The Internet can be an invaluable asset to somebody looking to make a mid life career change - if you know how to use it to your advantage. Whether you're looking for attorney jobs or nonprofit jobs, almost anyone can utilize the web to find the job of their dreams. To help you get started, here are five tips for using the Internet for job placement:

1. Google yourself. These days, almost every employer uses Google before making a final hiring decision. What does Google say about you? You want search engines to find nothing but positive things about you - not a newspaper article about an old DUI or bankruptcy. This is especially important for people looking for high profile positions, like attorney jobs.

2. Update your resume. Before you can get started on the path to a mid life career change, you need to have a career change resume. Update yours to include information specific to the type of job you want. For example, if you want to work for a nonprofit, highlight any volunteer work you've done for past organizations.

3. Post your resume online. The more websites you maintain a presence on, the more people will come across your resume. Try Monster, CareerBuilder, Yahoo! Hot Jobs, anything and everything. Go beyond just posting your new career change resume on these websites - use them to actively search out the type of job that you're looking for. You've got nothing to lose by putting yourself out there, and everything to gain.

4. Network your way to the job you want. Websites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter aren't just for kids. Your future employer is probably on these sites, too - and you could be missing out on opportunities by not having a presence there. Have a specific company that you want to work for? Follow them on Twitter, and you'll be the first to know when they're hiring.

5. Don't give up if you get frustrated. Getting the hang of using the Internet for job placement can be challenging if you've never done it before. Don't give up! Eventually, you'll become an Internet job hunting expert...but it takes time. Sooner or later, your dream employer will find you!

If you do not have the time to become an internet job search marketing expert, or if you simply want to off-load that function, Career Strategies can do the work for you! We can even apply to posted positions on your behalf. For more information, please contact Bruce Blackwell at 914-683-5330 ext. 15.

Bruce Blackwell, President, Career Strategies International, has two decades of corporate marketing and management experience. His company Career Strategies International specializes in Attorney Career Change and Career Change Attorney.