The 10 Biggest Career Change Mistakes - And How to Avoid Them
Career change is no walk in the park. If it was easy, the castle gates would have burst long ago under the stampede of restless corporate warriors. Even with a burning desire to escape, the gritty issues of money and future work loom larger than life. Add in the trauma of a lost security blanket and you've got a love-hate relationship that keeps you marching stoically in place. It doesn't have to be that way. Successful career-changers take one step at a time. Learn a little?make a little progress. Learn a little more. Take a giant leap forward.
You control the process from beginning to end. When you're energy is strong, act boldly; when you're feeling less confident, slow down. Learn all you can about the process of change?and educate yourself about the most common mistakes career-changers make, too. Here's a list of the 10 biggest ? and how to avoid them. 10 Biggest Career-Change Mistakes 1. Not seriously focused. Career change is a big and amorphous creature. Like any major life event, it takes consistent focus. Don't dabble! Jump in solidly with both feet. Schedule regular "career change" time into your calendar. 2. Poor support. Career change generally doesn't result from just reading a book. It requires a variety of resources and partnering with mentors who are both knowledgeable and objective. Create a "short list" of who could be most valuable to you. 3. Too few clues. To identify new work possibilities, you need a robust set of specific clues about your values, motivational preferences and skills. Start with about 20 ? 25 values, passions, skills and preferences, and hone it down to 12 ? 15 that resonate most for you. 4. Too much in your head. You can't think your way into work you love ? it requires moving into action ? asking questions, seeking advice, networking, experimentation. 5. Waiting for the perfect time. There isn't one, so take the first step now. Career change usually takes from one to three years. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll enjoy work that honors all of you ? body, mind and spirit. 6. Living in hope. That things will change?magic will happen?someone will come along and fix it. NOT!. You control your destiny?one day at a time. 7. Doesn't take the long view. Reluctant to re-train or take other steps to "wire" yourself for success. Career change is long-term. Bite it off in small chunks. 8. Accepts emotional pain as a way of life. Truly, it doesn't have to work this way. Loving life isn't just for weekends. 9. Fails to create financial reserves that can enable change. Try this out -- see how much you can cut expenses and keep, virtually, your same lifestyle. I think you'll surprise yourself. 10. Thinking you are too old. You are not -- whatever your age. The average age of my client list is 45; the mean is 48; the oldest is 57; the youngest is 36. Each day, you have a choice about how you want to live your life. Make it one that will give you all the peace and fulfillment that you deserve. Patricia Soldati is a former President & COO of a national finance organization who re-invented her working life in 1999. Now, as a career fulfillment specialist, she guides unhappy corporate professionals into meaningful work -- both inside and outside the corporate walls. For more about her background and approach or to receive 5 Complimentary Career Change Lessons, visit http://www.purposefulwork.com
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Formal Business Attire is Making a Comeback
The dot com boom of 1990s brought with it a laissez-faire attitude to dress code. Business casual was not a word that was part of our daily vocabulary.
Tales From the Corporate Frontlines: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
This article relates to the Job Security competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. After a large scale cut in personnel, this particular group of employees needed some extra support. Examining the issue of job security measures how your employees view their job security within your organization. In today's often volatile or contingent labor market, it's crucial to understand the level of security your employees feel about maintaining their jobs. Studies show that employees who do not feel secure in their jobs are less likely to be committed to best assisting customers. Evaluating this competency can be especially useful if your organization has suffered recent layoffs or firings.
The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process
Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events. For our purposes, the interview process is a "development of events". Creating and maintaining momentum throughout the interview process is critical to attracting and securing top candidates in today's competitive market. Momentum or "The Big Mo'" as I frequently call it is a term widely used by sportscasters to describe the modification of energy between two parties to in a sporting event or game. As a recruiter, we see both sides of the hiring process. Rather than have momentum shift from one participant to the other, we seek to have momentum or positive energy shared and exchanged by the participants, moving in unison with each other towards a common goal.
Personal Grooming: 8 Top Reasons Why You Can?t Take It For Granted In Your Career
Most people when they landed "the dream job" after an interview or even got "the deal" of the lifetime in their businesses, sadly to say tend to slack on their grooming habits and it even goes to the point that they are wearing their pajamas going to the office. It seems that's very extreme but it happens.
Avoid Mistakes and Gaffes in Your Job Resume
Having mistakes and gaffes in your job resume spell disaster for your job search. The last thing an employer needs is to look at a poorly written resume. The employer is looking at possibly dozens of resumes a day, and if yours is not up to par, don't expect to hear from him/her.
Why Become A Truck Driver?
There are a great number of good reasons for someone to become a truck driver. First and foremost among those reasons would be the great pay. Did you realize that most truckers, their first year out on the road, earn an average of $35,000 a year? And, that after just a few years out, those same truckers are making an average of $45,000-$50,000 annually? And finally, veteran drivers who own their own trucks make average salaries that are over $100,000 a year. What other profession can you get into, where the pay is that good?
Kill the Hype
She was waiting for me when I returned from a meeting. Standing outside my office door, I could tell by her downward glance, Jodie was not there to give me good news on the project. Despite her confident, enthusiastic and definitive style, she failed to deliver what she had pitched. It was not the first time.
How To Write A Resume Cover Letter That Will Get Your Resume Read
A Resume Cover Letter has only one purpose - to stimulate the recipient of your resume to review your resume. This free resume cover letter tutorial assumes that you will be sending your resume and resume cover letter by email.
So Youre Thinking of Changing Careers
"You don't have to take life the way it comes to you. By converting your dreams into goals, and your goals into plans, you can design your life to come to you the way you want it. You can live your life on purpose, instead of by chance. ~ Whatever it takes" - The Goal
Career Killers to Avoid
Many professionals and managers are so involved in day-to-day crises and fighting fires that they forget about a key leadership characteristic: self-management. Effective leaders are first of all effective in managing themselves ? their time, their focus, their emotions and their careers. It's too late to figure out what's next for you once your company has merged, had lay offs, changed strategy or whatever. Here are the biggest mistakes leaders make in their careers.
How To Get Promoted - Take Control Of Your Destiny!
It Is Up To You
Unlimit Your Life!
Do you have a tendency to think in absolutes?
Discontentment in the Workplace
While more people are finding employment, more employed workers are discontent and experiencing frustration. In most cases it can be boiled down to four factors: feeling undervalued, unappreciated and powerless, and world events.
Career Searching: A Vision Without A Plan is a Hallucination
Success is not always something you necessarily find when you arrive. It may be the journey that gets you there.
How Can You Find Freelance Writing Jobs?
Do you think that there is a big sign that reads, "Freelance Writing Jobs, Apply Within"? There just is not. In fact, you may have a hard time finding writing jobs of any type advertised in any employment magazine or newspaper either. So, how do you find freelance writing jobs? Let us talk about this for a moment and see if we can't find an idea or two that will work for you.
How To Find A Job As A Copy Editor
Jobs for copy editors may seem like they are hard to find, but really you can find them and you can do so with many of the qualifications you already have. But, if you do not have any qualifications, this may be the first step in finding the copyediting job that you have been looking for. Jobs in this field are available, but it takes a good, solid portfolio and set of skills to get them. Here are some things to get you going in the right direction though.
Thankk-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career
There is one little practice that is vital to generating the interest of potential employers. It is critical, but very few job seekers actually do it.
The Not-So-Effective Cover Letter
Here's a newsflash: Cover letters work, plain and simple. This is why I'm intrigued by the fact that a) jobseekers rarely submit them and b) hiring managers seldom read them. As a result, I started asking questions. Specifically, "What's your problem with cover letters?" Here's what I found out.
How To Stay Calm in Tryng Times
That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break once the addiction gets hold of us. Been there. Gave up "smokes" long years ago but it took lots of willpower to kick the habit.
Top Ten Reasons to Start A Catering Business
There is little doubt that Americans still have a deep abiding love for all things eatable. Despite the health craze that has forced Ronald McDonald to sport a jogging suit, Whoppers, Big Mac's, and French Fries is truly why we have fat thighs. So what's the answer? We need great home-grown cooks who are not into the fast food obsession. Do you love to cook and suffer from severe withdrawal when denied the opportunity to prepare your famous spinach stuffed chicken breast served with broccoli and roasted garlic? Do you want to profit from the food you prepare in your kitchen?
|
