Finding the Right Career
Changing careers can be a difficult and stressful endeavor, but it is something millions of Americans undertake every year. Don't lose heart. If you are thinking of changing your career, it is possible to do so in a way that will not leave you with sleepless nights and unpaid bills. By staying informed, organized, and planning ahead, you can easily and seamlessly transition into the career of your dreams.
The following series of articles cover how to successfully change careers. Articles go over everything from going back to school for career education to the importance of networking while in school. .
How to Pick the Right School for Your Career
If you are a working professional planning on switching careers, this may require you to pursue further education. In this case it is very important that you choose the right school to help you in your new career.
Choosing a school as a working professional is different than selecting a school as a high school senior. If you are still working a fulltime job while trying to go to school then your choices will be more limited. Also, when switching professions you will probably need a more specified degree than you would as an undergrad. With these constraints in mind here are some other things to consider when choosing the right school for your career.
Degree ProgramsThe most obvious thing to look for is which schools offer the degree that you need in order to pursue another career. By starting with this crucial part of the selection process you can make an initial list of possible schools and go from there.
You may find that there are different types of degrees for the same career. Make sure you have researched all of the different options in order to be sure that you are choosing the one that best suits the line of work you are looking to do.
Quality of Education
The reputation of your school can be very important to eventually landing your dream job. Before enrolling in a program or institution, speak with alumnae and see how they are doing in the post-college world. Has finding a job been easy for them? Are they successful? Further, look at school rankings. Whether these are important to you or not, they are likely important to your employer.
School's Location
The school's location should be a huge factor when making your final decision. If, for instance, you are planning on keeping your job while attending school, you need to be on a campus that is close by and easy to commute to. If you are considering moving, try to pick a location that will allow for internships and networking opportunities in the field of your choice. Finally, if you foresee class scheduling as being problematic, consider distance learning. Today, there are many fantastic online schools for you to choose from and they allow for the convenience of flexibility. When making a final decision, keep all of these factors in mind.
Class Times
Class times are incredibly important if you have a child, plan to continue working, or have a variety of other life commitments. When choosing your school, take these factors into deep consideration. Many higher education courses offer night classes, while others are held entirely online. If you are dedicated to the idea of pursuing an education, the plethora of schooling options available today should make it entirely within your reach.
Accreditation
If you enroll and physically attend a major university or college then you most likely will not have to worry about the school accreditation status; but, you must be careful if you choose to pursue an online or distance learning education.
There are many scams on the Internet that offer a quick path to a degree. Be wary of these and check with the U.S. Department of Education for the validity of a program's accreditation status.
School Culture
This is important to consider when choosing the school that will be a right fit for you, no matter what career path you have chosen. Things to consider are the size of the school and classes, the number of undergraduates vs. graduate students, and the average age range of the student body.
Networking
Since you are a professional choosing a new career you should also consider the networking possibilities that a school can offer you. This is mostly affected by the make-up of the student body and alumni.
Check with the school to see if they have any job placement programs and how many job opportunities are posted through alumni networks.
Article Resources:
Peterson
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How to Change Your Career
People change, interests wane, and entire industries can shift, which are a few of the reasons why it is becoming increasingly common for professionals to change careers after years of having worked in a particular field. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that up to 17 percent of American adults change careers 15 or more times during their lifetime, often moving into new fields or industries in the process.
Transitioning from one career to another can be an exciting endeavor, but it also comes with its own sets of challenges, as well. Whether you already know the specific industry you are planning to enter, or you are just beginning to seek out information on where to go from your current position, we have put together a few tips on the best ways to transition into a new career.
Meet with a career counselor. Whether you need help narrowing down your choices or finding something that interests you at all, meeting with a career counselor is a great place to start on the path to changing careers. Not only can a professional counselor give you pointers on what to expect—or not expect—from any different jobs, but he or she can also lead you on a path to discovering your inner passions and translating those passions to the working world. Any money you spend on a career counselor will be well worth it once you have figured out once and for all what it is you are meant to do.
Do research online. The Internet provides a wealth of information for job seekers, not just on available positions but also about what is required to attain them. From glossaries that define industry-specific terms to complete guides that detail what it takes to get involved in a particular profession, there is no limit to what you can discover online by doing a little research.
Go back to school. Returning to school and taking college courses is one of the fastest ways to prepare yourself for a career in a new industry or field. Even if you do not have the time or financial resources to obtain an additional degree, such as an MBA or Ph.D., that does not mean you have to give up schooling altogether. Instead, check out a few continuing education courses at your local community college or undergraduate campus. Not only are these courses often cheaper to take than those that are required for an advanced degree, but many colleges offer career-specific classes intended to provide training for those entering a new occupation.
Gain experience in the new field. Internships are not just for high school or college students anymore. If you are interested in transitioning into a career in which you have no previous experience, it may very well be worth taking the time to spend a few months as an unpaid intern working in the industry. Not only can you expect to learn a lot from the experience, but you will most likely be making valuable connections with other professionals, as well.
Attend networking events. Professional networking events are a great way to make connections and gain valuable insight into what is really involved in a specific career. It is a myth that you have to already be working in a certain industry in order to attend these events, as many are open to anyone who interested in stopping by. By attending networking events that are put on by trade groups or professional associations, you can expect to make valuable contacts from within the industry who might be able to give you information on job leads and openings at the companies they work for.
Article Resources:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClear Management
The Utah Department of Workforce Services
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The Benefit of Career Fairs
If you are looking for a job or thinking about changing professions you may want to consider attending a career fair. Cities and higher education institutions host career fairs all across the country, as well as on the web. There are several benefits to attending one of these events in person.
Finding a Career Path
Career fairs are great for recent graduates or students who do not yet have career path in mind. With the plethora of employers attending you will be able to look around and see what type of companies are hiring. By speaking with the representatives there you may get a better idea as what career path you would like to follow.
Networking
Attending a career fair is a great networking opportunity. This is more helpful for individuals who already have some experience in a certain field and may be looking to start a new job or change employers. A career fair gives you the opportunity to seek out companies that employ individuals that have the same skills as you.
At these fairs you have the opportunity to network with the company recruiters in the attempt to get a hold of the hiring managers and possibly setting up an interview for yourself.
Discovering Opportunities
By attending a career fair you may find out about jobs that interest you and that you had never heard of before. Even if you are looking for a specific type of job, there may be matches for you at the fair that you could not find posted anywhere else.
Putting a Face to a Name
The largest challenge you have when competing for a job is to make yourself stand out from the rest of the applicants. Usually to do this you will have to distinguish yourself with your resume and/or cover letter, but at a career fair you have the opportunity to meet with a company representative face to face. By giving the company a face to put with the name on a resume you may be giving yourself a step up in the hiring process.
Circulating Your Resume
While attending a career fair you may have the opportunity to actually hand in your resume to certain companies. While searching for a job it is important to be able to get your resume out to different employers. This will increase your chances of landing an interview with one of these companies.
First Hand Information
Career fairs are great sources of information. One of the best things about them is that you can talk directly with a company representative or employee. You can learn a lot more from these individuals than you can from the company's website. This also gives you the opportunity to ask them questions that you may have.
Local Job Market
By attending a career fair you can more easily assess the make-up of the local job market. This may be helpful is you are unsure as to what it is you want to do, or if this is an area that you are thinking of working in. This will also give you a good idea as to what kinds of companies are actually hiring.
If the job market represented at the career fair does not match what you are looking for then you may want to look for employment in another area.
Practice Makes Perfect
By attending a career fair and conversing with recruiters, you are gaining valuable experience that may one day help you in an interview. While talking to these recruiters you should be practicing your conversational skills (do not interrupt, speak confidently, make eye contact, etc.) as well trying to highlight your skills and experience while speaking with them.
Article Resources
Press Release Point
Case Western Reserve University
Quintessential Careers
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Should I Choose a Vocational School?
The following list provides reasons why an individual may choose to go a vocational school.
1. You Know Exactly What Job You Want
If you have a specific job that you are pursuing then a vocational school that teaches those skills could be ideal for you. This is especially true if you are looking to become a mechanic or any other skilled trade.
2. Specialized Education
Vocational schools focus more on training individuals in certain skills rather than educating them in certain areas of study. By focusing on these specific skills you will not have to deal with credit distribution, which you may find at colleges or universities.
3. Quicker Graduation
Because the training is focused on specializing in one skill, vocational education is generally shorter than that of a four-year or even a two-year college or university.
4. Flexible Hours
Vocational schools generally have more flexible hours when compared to colleges and universities. They offer a wider range of weekend and evening classes.
5. Hands-On Experience
Most vocational schools provide its students with hands-on training in the field of their choice. This is necessary because many of the trades taught at vocational schools are hands-on by nature.
6. Number of Schools
Vocational schools are located all over the country. They can even be found in cities that do not have a college or university.
7. Smaller Classrooms
Since these schools are offering a more specialized education, and they are more numerous you will generally find that you will be working in smaller classrooms, giving you more one on one time with the educators.
8. Cost
Because vocational schools do take as long for students to graduate, they are generally less costly than typical colleges and universities.
9. Higher Chance of Getting a Job
Since you have been trained to work with a specific skill set for a particular job, it is easier to land a job right after graduation as compared to someone who may have majored in something more vague.
10. Launching Your Own Business
Since you have learned a certain trade, a vocational school education can get you started on launching your own business.
Article Resources:
Go College
Education Compass
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The Importance of Networking While in School
Networking with professionals can be intimidating, sure. But if you are one of the hundreds of thousands of university students hoping to find a job after graduation in this competitive market, then making the right connections through networking is more important than ever.
Despite its reputation as an anxiety-inducing activity that only the most outgoing undergraduate students should take part in, networking—when done right—is actually something that nearly anyone can do. With just a little preparation, a little ounce of courage, and a lot of hearty handshakes, you can be well on your way to meeting and making connections with the influential professionals in your chosen field or industry.
How to Get StartedIn order to network, you need to have somewhere to go. That is why it is so helpful when college students sign up for professional associations and career-oriented clubs on campus. Not only does membership to these groups look good on your resume or CV, but belonging to them can also become your key to getting in contact with power players in your industry.
The majority of professional clubs have one or more networking events each semester. These are typically the best place to meet executives who already have jobs in your intended profession. However, if the career club on your campus does not host any networking events, then that might be a sign that you ought to spearhead an event and put it on yourself. By taking the initiative and inviting professionals to attend your networking event, you will set yourself apart as a leader, which is always a great impression to make.
Who to Talk To
The real fun begins once you open the doors and arrive at a networking event. The first hurdle: Deciding who to talk to. There really is no science to this, and it is in your best interest to speak with anyone and everyone who seems interested in your background and career aspirations.
More important than who to talk to is how many people to talk to. Networking events are about meeting a number of different professionals, which is why it is rude—and unhelpful to your own cause—to hog one professional's time for the entire evening. Instead, spend between five and ten minutes talking to as many people in the room as possible. Find out where they work and be sure to tell them about yourself—your background, interests, and career goals, of course.
What to Bring
More than anything else, it is important to bring a positive attitude with you to any career networking event. You never know when you will run into someone who is an important figure in the industry, which is why it is so imperative that all college students keep their A-game on the entire time throughout these events.
In addition to a positive attitude, it may be helpful to bring along a few "networking cards"—essentially a business card with your contact information and email address—along with a resume or CV. While most professionals will not be asking for a resume during a networking event, it is always helpful to have one available just in case a hiring manager or executive in attendance would like to have a look.
What to Avoid
Networking events can sometimes be awkward or boring, but your job as a student in attendance is to never let that show. When attending a career event, avoid looking bored or uninterested, no matter whom the person you are talking to may be.
It is also important that students realize that just because a networking event is hosted at a bar or pub, does not mean you should start drinking heavily. Although it may be acceptable to have one glass of beer, anything more could send the wrong signal to potential employers or future business contacts.
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