Changing careers a risk worth taking
The once-popular board game Careers allowed players to seek new professions simply by rolling the dice. Yet switching careers, even in these tough economic times, need not be such a gamble, says Kari Marcum, career services director at Everest College in Merrionette Park, Ill.
"A careful assessment of your career goals and interests, and a well-conceived plan on how to achieve them, can lead to a more rewarding job," says Marcum.
In fact, a recent Everest College poll revealed that 61 percent of people daydream -- while at work -- of starting a new career. And, 58 percent said they would change their career if nothing stood in their way.
Marcum says converting that new career dream to reality begins by analyzing these factors:
n Your interests;
n Your value system;
n Your skill level;
n Occupations in areas of high demand that also offer growth and upward mobility, such as health care and information technology;
n Occupations that are rewarding and increase personal self-esteem.
"Your career needs to fit with your personality and interests, and deliver rewards in addition to income," Marcum adds. "Write down your thoughts and map out your desires. That's the formula for working at a job that energizes you and makes you happy."
Often, retraining or additional education is required to make a career change, however. This creates challenges for those who must keep their current jobs to pay the bills and put food on the table. Fifty-six percent of the workers in the Everest survey stated they would consider returning to school some day to prepare for a new career -- if nothing stood in their way.
If further schooling is needed, Marcum suggests finding an institution that provides flexible scheduling to meet your needs. Also look for schools that schedule classes on weekends, or even classes that start in the early morning. Career-focused schools should also offer:
n Programs in fields in high-demand professions;
n Instructors with "real world" professional experience;
n Short-term, intense training programs that accelerate the education process .
Courtesy of ARAcontent
