Change Your Career
Are you bored in your present job? Is your employer cutting back on personnel, shipping jobs overseas, or going bankrupt? If so, perhaps you're contemplating a change before you find yourself unemployed. Whatever the reason, if you're thinking about a career change, there's a lot to consider, not the least of which is what kind of change to make.
If you're employed by a stable corporation with several different departments, maybe a "horizontal" move would be sufficient to spark new interest and open up new advancement possibilities. Maybe it's time to swap the blue collar for a white one with a necktie attached to it. There are some clear advantages to this route, for instance you may be able to retain the benefits you've been earning, like insurance, vestment in thrift plans, etc. In some cases, you may also be allowed to keep your seniority across departments. Check with your HR department to see what your options are.
If your situation calls for a more drastic change, then there are several questions that you need to ask yourself. What careers match your skill set? How about your interests? Are you willing to start at the bottom to train for a new profession? Will you have to pay for training? There are dozens of important considerations and in these times, it's worth the time to weigh the answers carefully. You may also want to talk with friends and family. Chances are you'll gain some valuable insights about different jobs and your own strengths.
One important issue stands out in the present economic climate: What career choices or industries are still growing in the face of financial crisis? After all, a move to the best job in the world isn't much of an improvement if the job disappears 3 months down the road. The US Department of Labor publishes statistics on a regular basis that list the fastest growing career fields. At present, the most outstanding of these involve computer technologies and health care. There are an incredible number of individual careers associated with these two general fields, so the choices just within these industries are plentiful. Do a little research and you may find just the niche for your skills and interests.
There's one more option to be considered and it's probably crossed your mind at least once. I'm talking about starting a business of you own. While this may be the most rewarding, it is also the most risky, and given the current economic crisis, it may be hard to imagine taking the risk. Fortunately, technological advances over the last century gave us the Internet, cell phones, PDAs and a plethora of tools we can use to launch a business with low overhead, flexible hours, and a world-wide customer base. Unfortunately, we can't all become eBay or Amazon, but you don't have to be an overnight millionaire to have a successful career. If you're self-motivated, willing to work long hours and very brave, entrepreneurship may be your ticket to a better life. How do you get started? That's a topic for a whole new article.
Whatever your motivation for a career change, before you jump into the deep end, a little wading first may save you from becoming another victim of tough financial times. Consider all your options carefully, but don't be easily discouraged. Your ideal career is out there. Go let it find you.
Mr Pohl is the owner and founder of United E-Commerce. When he is not managing his businesses, we enjoys sharing the lessons he has learned from starting and running his own business. If you are looking to dress well on budget he suggests you have a look at the following cheap neckties and cheap cufflinks.