De-Bunking The ?Follow Your Bliss? Myth
Hello Fellow Seekers! I don't know about you? but I'm pretty tired of hearing about how you can "follow your dream" in three or four easy steps. I've seen plenty of people leap before they sufficiently looked --and end up dissatisfied or broke, or both. I've also had clients come to me after reading a hot, new book or attending a workshop. And they still can't figure out what it is they want to do for a living. Of course not! You can't think your way to a new career ? or, at least you can't 99% of the time. The truth is that career change is no walk in the park. It takes focus, a smart strategy and guts. Focus: Anyone can start their career change effort with vigor. But keeping your fires burning for the duration of your journey is another story. Given the roadblocks and the absence of any hard deadlines, it's just the kind of "priority" that can fall through the cracks of your busy life. The key is to create an environment of accountability. Here are four ways to do this: 1. Schedule your career change activities into your weekly calendar. As Steven Covey would say, make it a "big rock" priority. 2. Register for a class or workshop that keeps you engaged and focused for an extended period of time. 3. Career change can't be done in a vacuum. Work with a mentor or coach who has a good business head and market perspective. 4. Know exactly what you hope to gain from your career change. A clear and compelling personal benefit is your secret weapon to hanging in there for the duration of your journey. A Smart Strategy: The old adage "look before you leap" is perfect advice for prospective career-changers. Keep your day job and let your paycheck enable you to take all the time you need to discover new work options and test them out. Successful career changers know that this is the essence of the process -- and it usually doesn't happen overnight. Once you are clear that a particular path is right for you ? craft a good plan to get there. At a minimum, your plan will include new training requirements and timing, building a new network, and a communications strategy for leaving your current employer. Guts: Successful career-changers know two things: First, how critical the courage factor is to their ultimate success; and, second, that it's not possible to feel courageous 100% of the time. By its very nature, the career-change journey is a wiggly road. When your courage is on the wane, try these approaches: 1. Don't confuse uncertainty with disaster. Avoid the mental "drama" that takes you to the worst possible outcome. These projections are not your present reality. 2. Focus on your gifts and talents. Acknowledge yourself ? deeply, and at the feeling level -- for the experience and skills you have gained. Write them down as a reminder of your abundance. 3. Trust in Divine Presence. As long as you continue to pursue your career change smartly, and take solid, active steps (i.e., do your part!), providence will support you as well. Finally, remember that we are indeed, a 'free agent' nation. Safe, smart career change is possible and thousands of people just like you have successfully re-invented their working lives. Without question, you can, too. May you thrive in work -- and life! Patricia Soldati Patricia Soldati is a former President & COO of a national finance organization who re-invented her working life in 2001. Now, as a career fulfillment specialist, she guides unhappy corporate professionals into meaningful work - both inside and outside the corporate walls. For more about Patricia's background and approach or to receive 5 Complimentary Career change Lessons, please visit http://www.purposefulwork.com
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Upon becoming a Patent Agent, you may gain employment writing and prosecuting patent applications at law firms, technology transfer offices, biotech or engineering corporations, and government institutes.
From there, you may decide whether or not to go on to law school and become a Patent Attorney. In addition to writing and prosecuting patents, a Patent Attorney can also litigate in patent infringement cases.
The Perfect Skill Set
Patent law is the perfect field for many creative and talented individuals since it requires so many qualities to be successful.
There is definitely a people-oriented side to a career in patent law. This is especially true when you consider the "isolated lab environment" most scientists and engineers are used to. Contrast this with the fact that an inventor's hopes and dreams will be riding on the invention and that you will be there every step of the way to help them achieve their goals. Obviously, a great deal of interviewing and excellent communication is required in order to adequately learn what was invented and write a patent application.
Which brings us to the next point; patent practitioners must also have excellent writing skills. Drafting a quality patent application is tedious work that requires the absolute best in written communication.
In addition, a strong background in either science or technology is a must. You will have to understand exactly what has been invented in order to write a quality patent application.
Lastly, as a Patent Practitioner, you should possess a thirst for never-ending knowledge. You will be right on the cutting edge of research and development. You will constantly be exposed to new and exciting discoveries virtually before anyone else!
The Dollars and Cents
It's the million dollar question. What might you expect to make as a professional in the field of patent law? Well, the pay scale varies from $45,000 up to $250,000+ for Patent Practitioners and is determined by many factors (yes I realize that's quite a span).
First, as we've already eluded, if you are a scientist or engineer without a law degree you will be classified as a Patent Agent after you pass the Patent Bar Exam. If you have a law degree and are already considered an attorney, you will be classified as a Patent Attorney upon passing the exam. As a Patent Attorney with the same level of experience as a Patent Agent, you will typically earn the higher income because in addition to writing and prosecuting patents, you may also help protect patents in a court of law.
Second, your degree level will help determine your pay. If you have a Bachelor's degree in your particular area of expertise, you will typically make less than someone with a Master's or a PhD.
Third, your experience level will make a difference. Your previous positions will count when factoring your salary. The number of years you have worked as an engineer or scientist will make a difference. The more experience you have, usually the more valuable you will be perceived by the company. The longer you have worked in the field of patent law, the higher your pay will be as well.
Lastly, where you seek employment makes a difference in your pay. Law firms typically pay the most, whereas a Technology Transfer department at a University will usually pay the least. Furthermore, the state and city you apply for work in will also play a factor.
Hot Commodity
Businesses in the science and technology sectors regard patents as their lifeline. Therefore, gaining status as a registered Patent Practitioner can open many career doors for you.
Since the fields of research and intellectual property are so intertwined, imagine the new career opportunities you would be presented with if you were trained in both areas. Furthermore, as a scientist or engineer, most of the qualifications necessary to achieve registration as a Patent Practitioner have usually already been met. It is likely that your only requirement may be to pass the Patent Bar Exam. It is a difficult hurdle, but in comparison to the time and money you already spent to become a scientist or an engineer, the time and money necessary to pass the Patent Bar Exam is reasonable.
In today's unpredictable job market, expanding your skills makes sense, especially when this can be accomplished for a relatively low expense and little time. Compared to getting a degree, setting aside even a full year (although it can be completed in much less time) to learn about the patent prosecution process and take the Patent Bar Exam is very reasonable. Especially when you further consider the fact that it will open an entirely new career door for you. Whether you wish for a complete job change or the desire to become more marketable for technology based companies, gaining skills is always a smart move to make.
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