In Business Since 2001 We accept Paypal
Home Article Directory
More from Bill Platt
"Bill Platt for Book Authors" Youtube Channel
Training for Book Authors
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
FictionPlots.com (350+ Plots & counting)
Please Support Our Advertisers

 
D9 Hosting


Put Your Change Of Career On Hold Now - I'll Tell You Why

Copyright (c) 2007-2023

Thinking about a career change is a challenging and often stressful time in a person's life. If this career change you are making was a choice you made on your own, good for you. If the company you worked for has opted to push you out the door, good for you also; some people need a push. Regardless of the reason behind your career change, there are three initial steps that need to be addressed by you in preparing for your next profession.

Step 1. Evaluation - This is where you perform the reality check of yourself and your situation. Yes, it is an emotional time; and you will feel, to some degree, anxiety about what the future holds. This is normal and a needed part of building a new foundation for a successful transition. Let your emotions out, and let's get on with the evaluation. As part of the evaluation process, you must take stock of your financial situation, as this will dictate what type of actions you will take in step 3. Evaluate these items first.

  • Financial - If you were living paycheck to paycheck, you will continue to live paycheck to paycheck. So the easy solution is to get a job that will sustain you through this period while you are working on getting the job you really want. Yes, you are going to work hard. Yes, you will make sacrifices to get through this, but you and only you will control this effort. You Can Do It! Be realistic and seek professional advice and help if there is any doubt about how to establish and meet your short-term expenses based on your current income situation.

  • Reflection - You have been successful and can be again. Start reflecting and documenting your career, experience, things you do well. List skills you are proficient at, professional achievements and continuing education. Begin thinking about how all of these attributes will come together in a professional summary that forms the first part of your résumé.

  • Future - What do you want to do for a career? Simple question to ask, but for most people a very tough one to respond with a good answer without first thinking about it. You just got out of a job that you may or may not have really enjoyed. Do you want to go back and do the same thing with a different company? Maybe you want to go into teaching, retail, food service or open your own business. You must decide and do so in a timely manner. List all the possible career options or jobs you can think of, and then really scrutinize these down to three. For these three, list the positive and negative for each. If done correctly, this process will yield your next career or desired job.

    If you cannot decide or the results are unclear, try it again and let your gut instinct play a part. Maybe a little more research or information is required. Again, take the time to make a comprehensive and informed selection. It is your future we are talking about.

    The Evaluation step is the most important and toughest step to get through. Do Not Give Up. This takes time ... walk away and come back if you get overly frustrated. Take some time and refer to old documents or résumés as needed to assist you. I found these very helpful in simplifying a historical timeline and organizing my keywords and activities. This effort creates your career template.

    Step 2. Readiness - Now that you have completed the evaluation step, let's get ready to present yourself to a future employer, business partner or the marketplace. Remember, you are now going to have to sell yourself and create value.

  • Résumé - Create a comprehensive and focused résumé containing a lead-in paragraph of your professional summary. I cannot go into all the types of résumé formats that are acceptable these days. Do a little research and decide what format is best for you.

  • Introduction - Prepare and practice for the initial meeting with a prospective employer or marketplace representative. It is critical that you practice this introduction in front a mirror and with friends. Think about when you meet someone. In most new face-to-face situations, there are about 30 seconds of real attention; you either sell yourself or you do not in this initial meeting. Make it short, easy to follow, have it contain keywords without a lot of fluff and get to the point. It is a good idea to get personal business cards with contact information on them so when you meet someone, you can hand them your card.

    Step 3. Action – You completed the evaluation and readiness step; now for the exciting and most engaging step, taking action. Research the companies you desire to work for, and utilize your network of personal and professional contacts.

    Let your network of contacts know you are interested in a career change, solicit references and let them know you are available if they need any help. During this step, attitude and assertiveness are key elements to keep in mind. Be persistent, because you never know where your next opportunity may come from. Attend professional meetings, church group gatherings and any other social event you think can offer a lead or two. Explore and pursue all priority leads that support your desired job, even if they may not exactly match. Sometimes the words fail to describe the job or position adequately. Again, you will not know any of this until you explore.

    Positive attitude yields great results. Keep it up and good things will come your way.


    About The Author: Shop Amazon - Top Gift Ideas
    Kent Jacobson, a.k.a. "Mr. Success" is a trusted authority in the success field and provides valuable success information for free through his website at: http://www.Shortcut2Success.com . You can also read Kent's Success Blog to find more success secrets at: http://www.Shortcut2Success.com/blog

    VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
    Needs Work >> 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 << Excellent Article

    Tell our authors what you think about their article.



    Top-Level Category: Career Articles

    10 Most Recent Articles Written by Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success

    Praise and Recognition
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-07-28 | Word Count: 278 | Page Views: 4243 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.11
    When was the last time you praised your child, told someone good job or even simply said thank you. In the rush to get all of our day-to-day activities and trying to complete tasks, I doubt very much we stop and think about praise and recognition. If you are a coach, teacher, manager, peer, mentor or parent, you must on a regular basis stop and praise the efforts of those around you.

    Job Etiquette Rules – How Many Do You Know?
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-07-28 | Word Count: 869 | Page Views: 6873 | Votes: 15 | Rating: 2.07
    There are 10 basic rules of job etiquette you need to follow when you begin a new job or transfer to a new organization with in your company. Above all, you must be prepared to...

    Why You Must Manage Your Emotions?
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-07-19 | Word Count: 358 | Page Views: 4879 | Votes: 17 | Rating: 2.41
    How many times have each of us been involved in or observed the dominate emotion, anger, overtaking a given situation? Way too many I suspect. Emotions, especially negative ones can surface at work, play, with family, friends, in the boardroom or on the ball field. Independent of the situation, anger is one of the most detrimental of the emotions you must learn to recognize and control.

    Family Business – Why Some Work And Others Fail
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-07-17 | Word Count: 829 | Page Views: 4080 | Votes: 17 | Rating: 2.24
    Running a business with members of your family is a desirable prospect for a lot of people. I have found out Five (5) key tasks you need to consider and plan on completing. These tasks must be well on their way to completion before you get to a point of no return in you endeavor because any shortfall may influence the chances of you business being successful and possibly straining your family relationships.

    Eight Keys to Success
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-07-11 | Word Count: 452 | Page Views: 4403 | Votes: 12 | Rating: 2.33
    Who among us does not want to be successful? Everybody wants to achieve some level of success, whether it be in their personal life or in the business world. Below are eight keys to success that everyone should follow in their daily routine.

    Never Settle For Ordinary!
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-07-10 | Word Count: 412 | Page Views: 4104 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 1.75
    I have discovered a common attribute among successful people no matter the age, profession or location in the world ... they never settle for ordinary.

    A Good Teacher Never Stops Learning
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-07-06 | Word Count: 419 | Page Views: 17655 | Votes: 49 | Rating: 1.98
    Think about the phrase, a good teacher never stops learning. What does that phrase mean to you?

    Is Quality Really Free?
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-07-03 | Word Count: 355 | Page Views: 4324 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.00
    We have all heard the phrase; 'Quality Is Free', but is that statement really true? I think it is true from the perspective when you personalize 'quality' to an individual, not a product or consumable item.

    Dollarizing Your Time
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-06-29 | Word Count: 480 | Page Views: 3842 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.67
    Everyday we all end up waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting . . . so have you thought about what this wasted time is costing you in personal and professional productivity? Better than that, how about $$$$!

    Stop! Don't Go to Your Interview Until You Read This!
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-06-28 | Word Count: 616 | Page Views: 5074 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 2.30
    You got the interview now what? I Have a short prep list of 10 *must embrace* tasks for you to complete prior to your 1st interview.

    All of Author's Articles on this site:

    Most Recent "Career" Articles

    The Keys to Writing a Killer Resume Cover Letter
    Written by: Gerald Penniston | Distributed: 2013-07-24 | Word Count: 904 | Page Views: 5427 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 1.60
    As a job seeker, you must understand the importance and value of a professional resume... Do you, however, also take stock of the importance of a well-written cover letter? Many job seekers fail to realize that a cover letter completes a resume, and both should go hand-in-hand.

    How to Write a Resume - Simple and Complex at the Same Time
    Written by: Rebecca Hawkes | Distributed: 2010-12-09 | Word Count: 438 | Page Views: 6781 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 1.89
    Writing an effective resume is as much a creative art as it is a logical puzzle. How do you take 500-600 words and make them jump out and scream "hire me" to an employer? It's a skill that needs constant refining.

    3 Cutting Edge Steps Show You The Real Way To Make Money Online
    Written by: Ryan Parenti | Distributed: 2010-11-16 | Word Count: 742 | Page Views: 5994 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 0.40
    Tens of thousands of people all over the globe are quietly cashing in on what may be the only recession proof industry -- at the very least it's one of few industries maintaining consistent and enormous growth! These people... well, these are just regular folks who have decided they want some extra income and have turned to information publishing for profit (staggering profit). Here is how they do it.

    The Perspective of Dawn
    Written by: Barbara Wulf MS, ACC, CPCC | Distributed: 2010-03-15 | Word Count: 560 | Page Views: 5187 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 0.80
    For years, I have been a night owl as opposed to an early bird. I embrace beautiful sunsets, bur rarely, on purpose, strive to witness a glorious sunrise. Recently while on a Caribbean cruise, with Diane Ackerman's book in hand, I challenged myself to be an early riser to discover the beauty of sunrise rather than my standard, sunset. It was a chance to try a different perspective. And, it was rather enjoyable.

    The Top Ten Mistakes Made in Job Interviews and How to Avoid Them
    Written by: Cecile Peterkin | Distributed: 2010-03-11 | Word Count: 650 | Page Views: 5601 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 0.83
    A job interview is your chance to shine. Now that you've been given this opportunity, it's critical that you don't waste it. Here are the top ten mistakes made in job interviews and how to avoid them.

    The Decline and Fall of the Retirement Empire
    Written by: Irene A. Majchrzak | Distributed: 2010-03-10 | Word Count: 1317 | Page Views: 4759 | Votes: 2 | Rating: 0.50
    "I have a pension and it'll have to be enough!" As a financial Advisor over the past 10 years I have often heard this statement. It was difficult 10 years ago to explain to future retirees why this was an impossible belief to hold. 10 years ago no one would believe the changes that would occur in our world view.

    Plan Ahead: Your Personal Body Art May Carry An Unforeseen Cost
    Written by: Eileen Howerton | Distributed: 2010-02-25 | Word Count: 532 | Page Views: 4838 | Votes: 2 | Rating: 0.50
    Over half of all tattoos that are given each year are spontaneous, and given without plan or thought. While these tattoos seemed like a great idea at the time, many young people are finding out that these tattoos are costing them more than the charge to have them put on.

    New Year Still Is A Time Of Uncertainty For Economy
    Written by: Barbara Wulf MS, ACC, CPCC | Distributed: 2010-02-02 | Word Count: 509 | Page Views: 5783 | Votes: 2 | Rating: 0.50
    As we look back on the first decade of the new millennium, we realize in many ways it was a dud and disappointment. We witnessed the World Trade Towers being toppled with senseless terrorism. We closed the decade with the toppling of the global economy that resulted in high unemployment and massive job loss for young and old, skilled and unskilled.

    She's After Your Money
    Written by: Scott Bywater | Distributed: 2009-12-14 | Word Count: 460 | Page Views: 4821 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 0.33
    Who would you rather be? The guy who had just managed to inherit a tidy sum from a bank before he left and had $700,000 in the bank... but had no money and limited skill? Or the guy who had invested the last five years of his life to gain the knowledge to practice as a specialist in this country with highly sought after skills. Many people would probably say the first guy.

    Job Searching and Staying Marketable in a Recession
    Written by: Cecile Peterkin | Distributed: 2009-08-11 | Word Count: 507 | Page Views: 4784 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 1.36
    Job searching is never fun, nor is it something that is particularly comfortable for the majority of people out there. It can be frustrating, but ultimately, it can prove to be an extremely rewarding experience. There are additional challenges that exist, however, when it comes to job searching in a recession. Here are some helpful tips to ensure you'll be successful.

    Most Viewed "Career" Articles

    Why Becoming a Pharmacist Means You Don't Have to Worry About Student Loans
    Written by: Jennifer Charleston | Distributed: 2008-09-26 | Word Count: 692 | Page Views: 37362 | Votes: 102 | Rating: 3.00
    So you want to become a pharmacist but are not sure where to start? Unlike other careers, there really is only one way to go about becoming a pharmacist. And that is to attend a university and gain a degree. For this reason all prospective pharmacists must have fantastic study abilities as well as the commitment to see out a long six year degree.

    10 Killer Job Interview Questions and Answers
    Written by: Carole Martin | Distributed: 2006-10-04 | Word Count: 1094 | Page Views: 23321 | Votes: 83 | Rating: 2.42
    Behind every interview question there is a concern or another question. Your job is to process the question thinking about what the interviewer's concern might be. In other words, why is the interviewer asking you this question?

    Why a Nursing Career is the Most Highly Rewarding Career You Can Choose
    Written by: Jennifer Charleston | Distributed: 2008-10-06 | Word Count: 766 | Page Views: 23144 | Votes: 40 | Rating: 2.60
    Nursing careers provide a richly rewarding career option. If you enjoy helping people and making a difference in their lives, then nursing is a wonderful career choice for you.

    How to Know if You'll Make a Good Police Officer
    Written by: Jennifer Charleston | Distributed: 2008-09-24 | Word Count: 789 | Page Views: 19681 | Votes: 37 | Rating: 3.16
    Becoming a police officer means you'll be taking on the most noble of jobs. Police officers are highly respected members of any community who risk their life daily in order to protect citizens. For this reason, becoming a police officer can be risky although very exciting. No two days are ever the same for a police officer out in the field.

    Questions You Should Ask During The Job Interview
    Written by: Carole Martin | Distributed: 2006-09-14 | Word Count: 680 | Page Views: 17430 | Votes: 16 | Rating: 2.50
    At some point, usually at the conclusion of the interview, you may be asked, "Do you have any questions?" A common answer to this question is, "No, I think you've covered everything very well." This is the wrong answer!

    One Star that Doesn't Need to Shine: The truth behind the Order of the Eastern Star
    Written by: Siobhan Gamble | Distributed: 2007-07-09 | Word Count: 831 | Page Views: 14366 | Votes: 41 | Rating: 1.54
    Standing firm by the side of the organization that many of us know as Freemasonry, is a woman's auxiliary which was founded in 1868 known as the Order of the Eastern Star. It is the largest Fraternal Organization in the world. Also known as the "Star", OES is only open to women with specific Masonic affiliation and men who are Master Masons.

    Job Interview Answers - What To Say If You Got Fired
    Written by: Bob Firestone | Distributed: 2007-03-12 | Word Count: 747 | Page Views: 12789 | Votes: 21 | Rating: 2.67
    Have you ever been fired from a job? Use these winning job interview answers to beat this tough question and get hired into the job you want.

    Building and Sustaining Positive Relationships in the Workplace
    Written by: Gail Solish | Distributed: 2006-10-04 | Word Count: 539 | Page Views: 11396 | Votes: 15 | Rating: 2.60
    It's Monday morning and you've only been at the office for a couple of hours. The phone has not stopped ringing, you've barely made a dent in your emails, there is a project deadline looming, a team meeting to lead and your boss is concerned and hassling you about the project outcome. Does any of this sound familiar to you? Does it feel overwhelming? The truth is that order to be successful, productive and less stressed, you need positive, supportive relationships at work.

    There's More to Culinary Arts Than Being a Chef
    Written by: Jennifer Charleston | Distributed: 2008-10-09 | Word Count: 797 | Page Views: 11223 | Votes: 20 | Rating: 2.50
    Culinary arts is simply the art of cooking. Working in the field of culinary arts usually involves preparing meals which not only taste good, but look great too.

    The Pros and Cons of Teaching Abroad
    Written by: Justin Burch | Distributed: 2006-10-31 | Word Count: 720 | Page Views: 9273 | Votes: 28 | Rating: 2.82
    As it has been said, teaching abroad isn't for everybody. Each program you will encounter will require some prerequisites and the proper attitude, but will offer unique challenges and personal incentives to the right individual. Here is an impartial analysis of opportunities confronting both sides of the arguments you need to consider before deciding to teach abroad

    Highest Ranked "Career" Articles

    How to Know if You'll Make a Good Police Officer
    Written by: Jennifer Charleston | Distributed: 2008-09-24 | Word Count: 789 | Page Views: 19681 | Votes: 37 | Rating: 3.16
    Becoming a police officer means you'll be taking on the most noble of jobs. Police officers are highly respected members of any community who risk their life daily in order to protect citizens. For this reason, becoming a police officer can be risky although very exciting. No two days are ever the same for a police officer out in the field.

    Create Success-With Whatever You Have! 7 Practices for Creating What Matters Most In Life And Work
    Written by: Bruce Elkin | Distributed: 2007-12-25 | Word Count: 1103 | Page Views: 5542 | Votes: 19 | Rating: 3.00
    Seven Practices For Creating Almost Anything -- These 7 practices are no magic formula. But they will help you create outstanding results-with whatever you start with.

    Interviewing And The Electric Toothbrush
    Written by: Carole Martin | Distributed: 2007-01-18 | Word Count: 697 | Page Views: 4549 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 3.00
    Many electric toothbrushes have a shut off mechanism that turns off the toothbrush after two minutes of brushing – which is the time that someone decided was enough teeth-brushing for any one period.

    You Give What You Get In Your Career
    Written by: Deborah Brown-Volkman | Distributed: 2007-01-23 | Word Count: 653 | Page Views: 4664 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 3.00
    How do you treat the people you work with? Do you say hello in the morning or stare at something else as you walk by? Are you friendly or aloof? Are you only nice to those that you deem as necessary or can further your career?

    Why Becoming a Pharmacist Means You Don't Have to Worry About Student Loans
    Written by: Jennifer Charleston | Distributed: 2008-09-26 | Word Count: 692 | Page Views: 37362 | Votes: 102 | Rating: 3.00
    So you want to become a pharmacist but are not sure where to start? Unlike other careers, there really is only one way to go about becoming a pharmacist. And that is to attend a university and gain a degree. For this reason all prospective pharmacists must have fantastic study abilities as well as the commitment to see out a long six year degree.

    How Generation *R* Got It Right!
    Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success | Distributed: 2007-06-14 | Word Count: 472 | Page Views: 4575 | Votes: 12 | Rating: 2.92
    Who is generation R? I'll tell you, they are our retired mothers and fathers, and even our grandparents who were born in the 20's and 30's. Why am I writing about this generation of people?

    Federal Jobs Are Plentiful
    Written by: Benji O. Anosike | Distributed: 2009-02-26 | Word Count: 1351 | Page Views: 6182 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 2.90
    Think there are no job hiring anywhere in america today? Have you tried to job search in one place? Truth is, there are plenty of federal jobs with the federal government right now, with even increased worker hiring scheduled. And here's how and where!

    You Gotta Go Through
    Written by: Deborah Brown-Volkman | Distributed: 2007-04-25 | Word Count: 676 | Page Views: 4976 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.89
    Are you facing a situation in your career that you thought you'd never face? Working in a job that you are overqualified for? Reporting to a boss that doesn't get or like you? Unemployed after years of hard work? Interviewing endlessly when in the past jobs came to you?

    Online Medical Assistant Schools
    Written by: Mark Stout, BSc, MD | Distributed: 2008-06-05 | Word Count: 399 | Page Views: 5243 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 2.88
    Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner's specialty.

    Key to Success: 10 Success Tips for Maximum Achievement
    Written by: Sharif Khan | Distributed: 2006-05-23 | Word Count: 1787 | Page Views: 5380 | Votes: 35 | Rating: 2.86
    First off, I would echo the voice of 18th century French philosopher Voltaire, made popular and relevant in today's leadership lexicon by "Good to Great" author Jim Collins, who said, "Good is the Enemy of Great."











    Download an eBook today
  •  
    Directory Navigation
    Locate By Category:

    ALL Categories
    Arts & Crafts
    Arts & Entertainment
    Automotive
    Business - Offline
    Business - Online
    Career
    Computers
    Education
    Family
    Finance
    Food & Drink
    Health & Wellness
    Home & Garden
    Humor
    Internet
    Nature & Pets
    Real Estate
    Religion
    Self Improvement
    Shopping
    Society
    Sports & Recreation
    Technology
    Travel & Leisure
    Uncategorized
    World Events
    Writing & Speaking

    Change Number of Results:
    50 - 100 - 200 - 500
    Article Reprint Rights
    Creative Commons License

    This work is
    licensed under a
    Creative Commons
    License


    You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
    Article Statistics
    Word Count: 938

    Total Views: 4775

    Article Rating: 0.33 of 5
    Votes Cast: 3

    More Articles By Author:



    Last Distribution Date:
    2007-08-01 15:24:00

    Internal ID: #5132





    All Articles are Copyright © 2001-2023 of the Defined Authors.

    All other material and images on this site are:
    Copyright © 2001-2023, ThePhantomWriters.com