| id="body"> | | | | friend over dinner. His wife happened to know |
| Career changers and renaissance folks alike always | | | | someone who was looking for a trainer. |
| ask me: "How do I change paths without having to | | | | Within two years, she had become the director of |
| begin at the bottom all over again?" | | | | training; she managed the entire career development |
| Annoyingly, as with most things careers related; it | | | | department and she even created a new workforce |
| depends. | | | | center. Another Change of Direction After another |
| Clearly, if you want to become a doctor, you'll have | | | | few years, Maria was getting restless again and |
| to go to med school and start from scratch. A | | | | shifted to a non-profit function in higher education - |
| lawyer: back to law school, my friend. | | | | working with college students and alumni on career |
| But in most fields, there isn't just one ticket to enter. | | | | development. |
| Even though your preferred field asks for a specific | | | | Here are some pointers you can take away from |
| educational background, chances are you may be | | | | Maria's story if you want to pull off a similar transition: |
| able to bypass that. Meet Maria Last week I spoke | | | | Put It Out There |
| with Maria, who is also a "renaissance woman," | | | | Share your story, ask for help, and do some soul |
| meaning she loves variety and is one of those people | | | | searching to make sure your desire for change |
| trying to fit a million passions into one lifetime. | | | | comes from positive motivation to want to do |
| She majored in computer science and started her | | | | something new, not from wanting to escape |
| career in technology; coding, programming, etc. | | | | something old.It's important to talk with others about |
| Several years into her first job, her employer | | | | your dreams. Not just to get the mental and moral |
| facilitated a lunch hour volunteer program through | | | | support, but also because when you do, you're apt |
| which Maria got to teach career-related workshops | | | | to receive valuable input. People may have ideas you |
| to young adults. | | | | hadn't thought of, or connections you weren't aware |
| It wasn't long before working with people had | | | | of - just as in Maria's example. And, as Barbara Sher |
| become Maria's main interest. | | | | says "isolation is a dream killer." So get it out into the |
| Maria also volunteered trough Chicago Cares, which | | | | world - even if it seems an unattainable goal to you |
| connects volunteers to 200+ opportunities in various | | | | right now! Others can help you realize your dream. |
| areas. They offer one-time volunteer opportunities. | | | | Use a Phased Approach |
| No weekly or monthly commitment. She joined field | | | | If your new field or position is quite a stretch and |
| trips with seniors, did art activities with children, | | | | you're sure you can't enter it directly, do a phased |
| helped create resumes for homeless adults, tutored | | | | approach - just like Maria did. |
| in the lab, helped prepare food that was being | | | | Look at your transition as a multi-step plan. First into |
| donated to an event, and helped serve meals at a | | | | the area that offers you the easiest entry. Once |
| Salvation's Army. | | | | you're in; get some experience under your belt, |
| Tip: Chicago Cares is a great way to test out | | | | acquire some new skills along the way, and then |
| non-profit or social services work for anyone living in | | | | move on to the area you really want to be in. |
| the Chicago area. Some other cities have similar | | | | Volunteering or doing an internship is often a |
| programs (i.e.: From Science to Social Services When | | | | successful entryway into a new field. This may |
| the company she worked for folded two years later, | | | | require a financial step back, so plan ahead, or do this |
| she saw it as an opportunity to pursue her new | | | | on a part-time basis, if at all possible. |
| passion. | | | | Zigzag Into New Territory |
| Her goal: moving into social services - without the | | | | Not keen on starting all over again? You don't |
| 'right' academic background. Make that: without a | | | | have to! As Maria put it; renaissance folks should take |
| 'remotely related' academic background! | | | | a "zig-zag" approach to their career. Each time you |
| Maria was very organized about her transition. She | | | | move on to the next field, you may have to take a |
| even leveraged her analytical abilities that she used in | | | | small step back, but not all the way to entry level |
| her technology career (in which, btw, she flourished) | | | | the way someone fresh out of college would. Then |
| to plan the next chapter. | | | | you'll work your way up again, zig-zagging your way |
| She considered her options, talked to people, and | | | | through different careers. |
| saved up her money. | | | | How do you do this? By leveraging your experience |
| A few months later, she landed a training position at | | | | and skill set and quickly acquiring new abilities. Figuring |
| a for-profit university that specializes in technology. | | | | out how to promote your transferable skills and |
| Maria trained homeless and at-risk adults (18 - 60+ | | | | experience (on your resume, in conversations and |
| yrs old) in soft skills and hard skills needed in the | | | | interviews) will take some effort. If needed, work |
| workplace. | | | | with a career coach. |
| Here, she leveraged her technology background and | | | | Then there's this nice side effect of being a |
| volunteer experience with young adults. | | | | renaissance person; you're probably very passionate |
| How did she get this job? | | | | about your new professional focus and you're quick |
| Networking without realizing she was doing it! She | | | | to learn new skills. Don't underestimate your passion; |
| sort of sheepishly mentioned her plans to a college | | | | people notice it and are drawn to it. |