Changing Careers: Step Four - Take Action

If you've followed our posts throughout the week, you should know enough about your new career choice to make a decision.

Maybe you've found that your choices aren't as great as you thought they would be?  Don't give up!

You can start over and pick a few more new career choices and keep doing the same research until you do find something.

If you do have a choice or two that has kept your interest, it's time to take action.

Gather all of your research and look at educational and skill requirements.  It's very likely that you already have some of the skills needed already but make a list of ones that you may need to acquire.  Decide if you really need to go back to school or if there's a free or low cost workshop whether online or close to where you live so you can get up to speed.

You may also want to talk to a career counselor.  They can help you narrow down your choices and look at how you might fit into a new or different position.  You can ask them if they can provide some career aptitude tests to make sure you will be a good fit.

It's important to remember that if you're unhappy or unfulfilled in your current job, take steps to make it better.  Work is a very important part of our lives and we spend most of our waking hours working.  That's a lot of time to spend unhappy and it won't get better until you take action to make it better.

Have you changed careers in the last few years?  What were your challenges?  Please share your stories with  us in the comments below.

Changing Careers: Step Three - Talk to an Expert

By now you should have a pretty good idea of the new career(s) that you're interested in.  If you've taken the  time to follow our suggestions you should have the following information:

• salary information
• job duties
• future job outlook
• opportunities in your area or online

If you're still interested in your choices, it's now time to take things more seriously.  One of the best ways to find out more details about your potential career is to talk to an expert.

Who qualifies as an expert?  Anyone who has worked in that profession within the last few years.  You may already know someone or have a friend or family member who does.  If not, see if you can find someone in a job forum or in a local networking group.  

If you still can't find someone, post a question on LinkedIn.  It's free to sign up and they have a forum where you can post a wide variety of questions.  Post a general question at first, something like - "I'm considering a career in ...., can someone knowledgeable in that profession answer a few questions for me?"  Once you have some responses, you can contact those individuals separately and ask your questions via email or whatever method of contact you agree to.

It will be important for you to come up with a list of questions that you can ask them.  Ask questions like:

• How long have/did you work in that profession?
• What is a typical day like?
• What do you like about the job?
• What don't you like about the job?

Try to be respectful of their personal information like salary and compensation but some may be forthcoming without even asking.  By asking someone who already knows about what it's like to work in that profession, you can get some insightful information on what your new career will be like.

Tomorrow we'll talk about some final steps in your research and how you can get started in your new career.

Let us know how your research is going.  Share your stories with us in the comments section below.

Changing Careers: Step Two - Mock Job Search

Now that you have a list of a few careers you're interested in and you have some idea of salary information and what the job entails, it's time to start looking for what opportunities are out there.

Start by doing a job search just as you would look for any other job.  This will help you to:

• see what opportunities match what you're looking for
• find out what's available in your area
• additional information about the job duties
• salary information and other qualifications

Just as with any other job search, don't limit yourself to the newspaper or the typical job sites.  Do a Google search on recruiters in that career field, or just type in "career name + jobs" and see what comes up.  Also, take a look at some of the project sites like Elance or Guru.  Depending on the career type, you may find that there are opportunities where you can work from home part time and also some additional job details.

Remember, you're just doing research for now.  You will want to do additional information before you actually start applying.  By now you should start getting an idea of what you like or maybe don't like about your choices.  This is why it's important to go through these steps in deciding on any career.

Tomorrow we'll take a look at some easy ways to find experts that you can answer your questions about your potential new career.

Let us know your progress in finding your new career.  Please share your stories and comments in the section below.

 

Changing Careers: Step One - Research

In Monday's post, we talked about making a list of at least three career choices different from the one you have.

Now that you have that list, it's time to do something with it.

The great thing is you can do the main part, if not all, of your research online.  In the past, you'd have to trek to your local library but now you can find what you need through internet searches.

A key research tool for you will be the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.  On this site you can view a lot of information about the potential careers you have chosen.

This site gives you information on:

• salary information
• education required
• future job outlook
• typical work environment
• overall job description

This information will give you a lot of the tools you need to decide if the career you've chosen is right for you.  You may also find it helpful to visit salary.com to give you additional salary and career information related to your specific location.

If you want additional salary or career information, there is also a lot of salary guide information available online.  You can find the most popular ones by doing a Google search.

Tomorrow we'll talk about doing the next step in researching a career change.

Has viewing the Occupational Outlook Handbook helped you find your career?  What resources did you use when you researched your profession?  Share your stories with us in the comments below.

Is It A Good Time to Change Careers?

Is it a good time for you to change careers?

It will mostly depend on your situation and what your comfort level is.

If you're already employed, you may be miserable in your current position for a variety of reasons.  You may be at your job simply because there were no other jobs available at the time or you may have been in the same profession for a long time and are looking for a change.

If you're not employed, you may be having a hard time finding a job in your field or you feel like this is your chance to make a change for the better.

You may feel apprehensive about making changes due to the downturn in the economy or because you just don't like change.

The problem is if you don't make a change, things will remain the same.  You will either continue to be unhappy in your current job or you may never find the job that will fulfill you.  This isn't to say that everyone who is unhappy with their current situation should make a change but if you are thinking about it, there's no reason you should delay it.

The most important thing you can do to get started is to do your research.  Since changing careers could have a significant impact on your life, both professionally and personally, you will want to look at a lot of factors.

Start by thinking about what you want to do.  Maybe you always dreamed of doing a specific thing for a living but you never gave yourself a chance.  You may have thought doing what you want means making less money or you don't know enough to be successful.

List at least three things that are of interest to you and we'll talk about your list in tomorrow's post.

Are you doing what you've always thought you would?  Or are you wishing you could make a change and make as much money or more than you do now?  Share your comments with us in the section below.

Job Fair Information

Please view the information on upcoming job fairs:

Natchitoches - Northwestern State University

Northwestern State University’s Office of Counseling and Career Services Annual Career Fair

Tues. Sept. 25th 

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio 

JOBFEST Fall 2012

Thurs. Sept. 27th

If you would like more information on job fairs in your area, please visit the Choice Career Fairs website.  You can also share any other job or career fair information you know of in the comments section below.

Should You Access Your Social Media Accounts at Work?

On Monday, we talked about allowing an employer access to your social media accounts whether you're trying to get hired or if you already work for them.  There's still the issue of accessing those accounts while you're at work.

Is it a good idea to issue those accounts at your job?  Given some employer's stance on wanting to access your accounts, it probably isn't a good idea.

You may want to check your employer's policy on accessing personal information while at work.  Most will have policies against accessing personal email accounts so it may be safe to assume that social media is against policy as well.

This is especially the case if you're using your work computer to access this information.  It may be safe to use your own personal devices but you still may want to be cautious if you work in a place where you are visible to others.

Another thing to note is if you do use your work computer to access your social media accounts, you may be giving your employer access to that information without even knowing it.  Depending on how sophisticated your employer's network is, they may have a way to monitor what you're doing throughout the day.  If they see you're on Facebook or your personal email, it could lead to disciplinary action or possible termination.

If you must access your email or social media accounts during the day, try to stick to using your own personal device and use it only when you're on a break or at lunch.  The more precautions you take, the less chance you will have of causing any problems with your employer.

Have you or someone you know ever had an employer issue a reprimand for accessing personal information while at work?  What was the outcome?  Please share your stories with us in the comments below.

Job Fair Information

Job Fair Information

Two Day Job Fair Event - Denver, Colorado
September 18 & 19, 2012
First Transit hiring drivers, mechanics, and instructors

Click on the link above for address and detailed information about the event.


If you'd like to share information about other job fairs coming up, please share with us in the comments below.

Should Employers Have Access to Your Social Media Profiles?

A somewhat disturbing trend has arisen due to the popularity of social media sites like Facebook.  Employers are now asking job candidiates, as well as current employees, for access to their Facebook page.

Why are they asking for this information?

Most are considering it as part of their "background investigations."  Considering how much is available to the public online, is this really necessary?  Isn't this a violation of an individual's privacy?

Unfortunately, unless you change your privacy settings on Facebook, someone doing a search on you can see what your postings are.  Even if you do change your settings, some employers are asking for your password.  Aren't most employers emphasizing that you don't share your work passwords with others?  How can they expect you to do the same in regards to your personal life?

If you're looking for a job and a potential employer asks for this information, it's a good idea to be prepared with an answer.  While not giving them your password information may prevent you from getting the job, would you want to work for a company that doesn't respect your privacy?

Some people would say that if you don't want anyone to see anything discriminating information about you, it shouldn't be posted on Facebook.  We can all agree on that to some extent but remember it is a social media site.  It's meant to be a place to interact with others and have fun doing it.

There are also some concerns that an employer can use information like race, religion, sexual preference, or age that they may find on Facebook against a potential job candidate. 

In the end, it's up to the job candidate to decide on what information they wish to provide during the interview/hiring process.  It may be helpful to ask a company what their exact policy is on social media and how they process the information found there.

Do you think employers should be allowed access to your social media accounts?  Have you ever been denied a job for not providing your password?  Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Job Search Series: Part Five - Work Online

This week we've talked about different ways to search for a job.  We've discussed telling people you know, using social media, going to job fairs, and contacting a professional hiring agency.

There's an additional resource that you can use to help find a job.  Unfortunately, it's something that has somewhat of a negative view surrounding it.  The resource is working online.  Yes, there are a lot of scams out there but there are also a lot of legitimate companies out there that provide many people with a viable source of income.

The key to finding legitimate companies is to do your research.  Make sure the company is well-known and guarantees their services.  Some reputable companies are Elance.com., Guru.com, and Freelancer.com.  There are plenty of jobs on these sites for administrative, IT, accounting/finance, writing, marketing, engineering, and legal professionals.

You will need to bid on projects when you use these sites but it's really not that different than submitting a resume for a job.  While you may be looking for something more permanent, there are quite a few jobs on these sites that will lead to bigger and more long-term opportunities.  Another nice thing about these sites is that your pay is guaranteed.  Once you are awarded a project, the company has to fund an escrow account that you will be paid from.  The only way you won't get paid is if you don't do the work.

The important thing to remember with these sites is that they provide you with a stable source of income.  You not only gain employment but you can maintain a flexible schedule and work from home.  These sites also can help you pay the bills if you're looking for a part time opportunity to supplement your income.

Do you work online?  What do you like about it?  What don't you like about it?  Please share your stories with us in the comments below.

Job Search Series: Part Four - Make Yourself Known

Given the tough job market, it's important to get the word out that you're looking for a job.  We've already talked about a few options this week but today we wanted to talk about going public.

In addition to telling friends, family and people you come across in everyday life, there are a few other options that you can utilize to maximize your job search.  One option is to attend a job or career fair.

Here on the Online Career Center blog we post information on job fairs throughout the United Stated on a regular basis.  This can be a great tool in your job search.  Most events are free to attend and it gives you the opportunity to reach a lot of potential employers at once.

If you're planning on attending a job fair, make sure to follow the guidelines listed.  Some will want you to register online while others require you to register at the actual event.  Dress professionally and bring a few copies of your resume.  Some job fairs will also have workshops on how to interview and resume tips.

Another option you may have to get noticed is to attend networking events.  While some networking events can be for small business owners, there are those that are for individuals seeking employment.  Do a search for groups on either LinkedIn or Meetup.com to see if there is a similar group in your area.  If not, look at some of the other groups listed there that might be of interest to you.  You never know who else within those groups would be a great person to connect with to help you in your search.

When you're unemployed, it's easy to sit at home and not interact with others.  The more you get out and meet other people, the better your chances of finding someone who can help you in your search.  By meeting with others, you will not feel so isolated and you will feel more productive.

How has attending events helped you find work?  Feel free to share your story with us in the comment section below.


 

Job Search Series: Part Three - Contact a Recruiter

As we've mentioned a few times before, not all available jobs are listed or viewable to the public's eye.  A lot of times an employer will only announce a job internally or on their website.  Sometimes they'll list it with a hiring agency.

They may want all of the hiring to be done by an outside agency so that the candidates can be screened or they may just not have the time to perform the hiring process.  The only way to be a candidate for these jobs is to sign up with a recruiting agency.

You can google your profession and add "recruiting agency" or "head hunters" to find a recruiter that specializes in your field of work.  Depending on the agency, they may also be able to place you in a temporary or contract position until you find full time work.

Do your research and make sure it's a reputable agency.  They shouldn't charge you any money to apply and have an interview with them.  The potential employer will pay all of the hiring fees.

Also make sure that you treat them as you would a potential employer.  Always act professionally and dress appropriately if you do get invited to meet them for an interview.

Using a recruiter to help you find a job should be one of many methods you need to use in your job search.  The more methods you enlist, the better your chances of finding work.

Has working with a recruiter helped you to find a job?  Let us know by sharing your story in the comments below.

Job Search Series: Part Two - Social Media

If you're already using social media, you know how powerful it can be to reach many people at once.  It's also becoming a widely used platform for finding work.

While you don't want to use social media to beg someone for a job or try to gain people's sympathy, you can still use it to make everyone aware that you are looking for a job.  You're status could say something like - "I'm really excited about my interview tomorrow!" or "I sent out 10 resumes this week, I hope one gets me an interview".  This should inspire additional conversations with those who follow you.  Try to find a way to post a status that makes people ask you about the type of job you're looking for or what your experience is.

Another great way to find a job through social media is LinkedIn.  If you have a complete profile, they will actually tailor job openings to your background and experience.  When you've logged in to your LinkedIn account, look over on the right hand side.  You should see a section in that column with the heading of  "Jobs You May Be Interested In".

These jobs should be directly related to your previous jobs and experience.  It even lets you apply to them or refuse them based on their relevancy to your current situation.  We don't know if these jobs are listed anywhere else, but it provides you with another opportunity to find work.

Use social media as part of your job search and open your possibilities to getting hired sooner rather than later.

Has using social media helped you find work?  Share your story in the comments below.

Job Search Series: Part One - Tell A Friend

When you've lost your job or are just looking for a new one, you want to make sure that those close to you know your situation.  It's hard to reach out for help sometimes but that's actually one of the best things you can do.

It can be hard to admit when you've either lost your job or struggling to make ends meet.  This is exactly the time when you should put the word out that you need a job.  By telling people that you need help, it provides you with options you might have never had.

A friend or family member may know of an opening at their place of work or from someone they know.  So many jobs aren't advertised through the normal channels anymore.  Most jobs are found today through word-of-mouth or through someone who knows you.  It only benefits you to get the word out that you're looking for a job.

You probably have other opportunities to tell people in your life that you're looking for work that you hadn't thought of.  At least once a week, we do one or more of the following: go to the store, go to the doctor, eat out, or any other things that bring us out among other people.

You've probably been to the store or at the doctor and started chatting with the people there.  Find a way to work your situation into the conversation.  You could mention something like you're looking forward to an upcoming interview or that you're excited about changing careers.  Anything to bring up work and that you're actively looking.

The point is to talk about it.  You'd be surprised to find how many people are willing to help you.  Just remember that they can't help you if they don't know you need it.

Share your stories in the comments below about how you've talked to people about your situation.  Have you been hired based on just knowing someone?  Let us know!

 

Benefits of Taking a Career Aptitude Test

Benefits of Taking a Career Aptitude Test

Career aptitude tests can help you discover a lot of things about what kind of work you'd be best at, what types of skills you possess, and what type of work environment is best for your personality type.

Most of us took a career aptitude test in high school.  While it's a good starting point for a teenager to assess where his or her strengths are, it's important to continue that assessment throughout our careers.

If you haven't taken one since high school, or you've never had the opportunity to take one at all, this is the perfect time to take a career aptitude test.  By taking it, you may discover things about yourself that never would have been uncovered.

In reality, who we are as high school students changes over time.  We encounter many life experiences in our late teens and early 20's that shape us as we enter into adulthood.  So many teens don't even know what's important to them as they graduate and face the world.  As a high school student, you've been told for most of your life what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.  When you're making a big decision such as what to do with the rest of your life, it can be overwhelming and most students haven't had the chance to prepare for a major life decision.

That's why it is recommended to take a career aptitude test every few years.  Some people are perfectly happy with the career choice they made early in life.  Others struggle with it their whole career and often wait too late to do something about it.

Even if you've recently been laid off or been a victim of "underemployment", taking a test could help you to discover some hidden skills or opportunities that you hadn't thought of before.  This may help you to enhance your resume or look for employment in a different field.

There are various types of tests out there that can help point you in the right direction.  Some are free while others can be a bit expensive.  If you do decide to take a career aptitude test, make sure you meet with a career counselor or professional who can help you to analyze the results and tailor them to your situation.

Have you taken a career aptitude test?  Did it help you in choosing your career?  Share your stories with us in the comments below.

 
**NOTE - Visit our blog next week for our series on Job Searching.

Job Fair Information

Here are some job fair events happening over the next week:

Saturday, Sept. 8th
St. Louis, Missouri
Chesterfield, St.Clair Square Malls Job Fair Event

Thursday, Sept. 13th
Madison, Wisconsin
Criminal Justice Career Fair

If you know of a career fair that you'd like us to know about, please post the information in the comments below.

You can also view job fairs across the United States at Choice Career Fairs.

What to Do If You've Been Laid Off

What to Do If You've Been Laid Off

The first thing to realize if you have been laid off from your job is that you are not alone.  Company closures and downsizing have caused layoffs for millions of people across the United States over the last few years.  As hard as it is to deal with, it’s important that you don’t take it personally.  A layoff isn’t a reflection of you as a worker.  It simply means that your employer is having a difficult time meeting expenses and had to make cuts.

We have put together some ideas of what to do and not to do when you have been laid off.

Do

1. Seek unemployment benefits within 24 hours of notification.  It’s important that you claim your unemployment benefits in a timely manner.  Most states have a 1-week grace period before they’ll start paying your benefits.  If you wait too long, you may end up waiting an additional week or two before you see any payment.  Most state unemployment offices are overwhelmed and behind on getting people into the system.  If you wait, you could delay the process even further. 

2. Start looking for work right away.  It may be hard to let go of your past job, especially if the layoff wasn’t expected.  The worst thing you can do is wait and delay getting back to work.  With so many people looking for work, you’ll want to get back into the swing of things as soon as possible.   

3. Update your information.  Make sure that your resume is up to date with your most current information including the job that you were just laid off from.  Your reference list should have at least three professionals that you worked with in the past. 

4. Find constructive things to do.  You can’t possibly search for a job every minute of every day.  Even if you did, you won’t last long.  You’ll need to find constructive things to do with the time you spend away from your job search.  Avoid doing mind-numbing tasks like watching daytime TV or playing video games.  They won't do much for your morale.  Go for a walk, take a trip to the local library and catch up on some reading, or take some online courses to improve your skills.

Don’t

1. Bad mouth your employer.  When you get the bad news, don’t curse out your employer.  Chances are they aren’t any happier about it than you are.  Laying you off is a sign that they’re business is struggling and that’s not good for anyone.  In addition, don’t put negative comments on your Facebook page or speak badly of them in a job interview.  Employers can and will look at your social media sites to see how you conduct yourself outside of the job.  If they see that you’re badmouthing a previous employer, your chances of getting hired are slim to none. 

2. Let negative emotions overcome you.  No one said that a layoff is easy to deal with.  Again, remember you’re not alone.  Whether you’ve been at the job for a few months or 10+ years, it’s never a good feeling.  If you’re having trouble coping with a layoff, seek professional help.  If that seems a little extreme, start your own support group.  Chances are you weren’t the only one who was laid off at your company.  See if you can start a group with some of your former co-workers or even start a group online through social media.  

3. Ignore opportunities.  In addition to looking for a new job, don’t ignore the opportunity to do something different.  Maybe you’ve been wanting to work in another field but never gave yourself the chance.  Have you been wanting to learn a skill or get a degree?  Now could be the perfect time for you to pursue new career goals.  You may end up doing something that you’ve always wanted to and end up loving it! 

Have you been recently laid off?  What did you do to make the best of a difficult situation?  Let us know your thoughts and comments below.

Job Fair Information

The following job fairs will be held in the next few weeks:

Thursday, September 6th
Springfield, IIlinois
The Greater Springfield Job and Career Fair


Wednesday, September 12th
San Francisco, CA
HIREvent


Please make sure to visit the website link provided and follow the guidelines posted there.

Take Time for Reflection

Happy Labor Day to our American followers!

Our post today changes focus a little bit in order to remind you of how important it is to take time to reflect on your life and reevaluate what's important to you.

Whether you work 40, 50, 60 or more hours a week or you are unemployed, this is key to health, wealth, and happiness.  We're all guilty of focusing so much on a certain thing that we often leave behind our true priorities.  Since most of us are fortunate to have a day off today, take the time to reflect on how you can improve certain aspects of your life.

If you're unemployed, you're probably spending countless hours looking for work.  While it's understandable that this is your main focus, you may want to take a day like today to take a step back and evaluate your progress.  When you take a break, you allow your mind to relax.  By relaxing your mind, you actually help it to come up with more creative or focused ideas of what you're looking for.  You may find some free classes online that will help you improve your skills.  You may also look into working online through project sites to cover the bills.  You might even come up with some ideas of changing your career altogether.

Maybe you can talk to more people about what type of work you're looking for.  You can take the time to research job fairs or networking events that can help you sell yourself to potential employers.  You may even realize some of the things that you always wanted to do but never gave yourself the chance.  This is the perfect time to flesh those ideas out and take action.

If you have a job, you may not even have the day off today, but make sure you take time off for yourself to achieve the same goal.  By being true to yourself, you may find a path that was once hidden to you.  If you're working in a job that isn't fulfilling or you're tired of living paycheck to paycheck, maybe it's time for a change?

Even though jobs are harder to find these days, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to remain stuck.  You could look into creating additional income streams that may not take much time out of your busy schedule.  You could look into writing or other creative opportunities that you could do part time.  Depending on your situation, you may want to branch out and be your own boss.

The point here is to take the time to think and plan what you want for your future.  Don't let a bad economy or a bad situation control your life.  In the end, it's up to you to find the happiness you deserve.  Give yourself the ability to think and have an open mind and the possibilities can be endless.

Do you feel more energized when you take a break?  Do you find that you're more creative when you do?  How has taking time to relax helped you in your career path?  Share your experiences with us in the comments below. 

Five Things That Will Kill a Job Interview

There's only one reason that we know of to go on a job interview - you need a job.  If you need a job, getting an interview is a crucial step.  Not to mention that with all of the candidates out there looking for a job, if you've been selected to go on a job interview, you are among the chose few.  After doing some research, we were amazed to find out the common reasons why interviews aren't successful and how easy those reasons are to fix.

Here are five things that will kill a job interview (sometimes before it's even started!):

1. Follow Up - Always follow up with the interviewer!  Once they've met with you, it's important that you follow up with them to let them know you're interested in the job.  In a recent study, 10% of employers stated that was a mistake that job candidates make.
2. Arriving Late -  You may not be familiar with the area or town where your job interview will be.  You may not be able to control a traffic accident along the way to the interview.  But you can control what time you leave and how much time you allow yourself to get there.  There are many ways to research the route you need to take an about how much travel time to allow yourself to get there.  Always leave way ahead of time so that you don't arrive late.  If you have to, give yourself an extra hour to arrive.  If you still arrive early, you can read a book or stop in to a nearby coffee shop while you wait.  Employers state that this reason alone is why close to 25% of job candidates don't get the job.
3. Cell Phones - There's no nice way to say it - turn it off!  Or better yet, leave it in your car so that it won't be a distraction.  You don't want it ringing while you're in an interview.  It's an unwelcome interruption and it makes you look very unprofessional. 
4. Not researching the company you're interviewing with - Did you know that nearly 50% of job candidates don't have a successful interview because they don't know enough about the company they're interviewing with?  If you're asked to come in for an interview, be proactive.  This could be the company you end up working for, act like you're interested in it by at least reviewing their website.  This could also provide you will some material for questions you could ask during the interview.
5. Personal Habits - While we're not here to tell you what you should or shouldn't do, there are some things that are just common sense.  Don't chew gum.  Don't over use perfumes or anything with a strong or overpowering scent.  Don't arrive hungover or even worse intoxicated.  Don't fall asleep.  Do all of these sound a bit ridiculous?  Believe it or not, these are all things that employers complain about in job candidates coming in for an interview.   

Follow the above items as well as the suggestions we've made in our posts this past week and you should have a successful job interview.  Have any other suggestions?  Please share with us in the comments below.

Is your resume keeping your from getting a job?  Contact us today for a free-10 minute consultation to see how we can help.