| As you move through life, your needs, | | | | and the Strength Finders Profile (skills |
| goals, and interests can change. If | | | | and aptitude). |
| you've lost your spark for your current | | | | Finding Inspiration |
| career, you may decide that it's time | | | | Many successful career changers will |
| for a major change in occupation. While | | | | tell you they took their passion and |
| this can be a scary process, following | | | | turned it into a career. A great book |
| these tips and guidelines can help you | | | | for putting your interests and dreams to |
| make a career change successfully and | | | | work for you is Wishcraft: How to Get |
| more easily. | | | | What You Really Want by Barbara Sher. |
| Review Your Current Career | | | | This book will show you strategies for |
| First off, you may want to decide if | | | | determining your interests and |
| it's your career or your job that needs | | | | discovering your skills and strengths. |
| changing. If you find that your company | | | | It can also help you develop a game plan |
| or industry holds promise, you may want | | | | to achieve concrete results. |
| to consider if there is another position | | | | Analyze Your Income and Savings |
| within the company that would be more | | | | Making a career change can mean a change |
| compatible with your job skills and | | | | in income, especially if you've decided |
| interests. Don't be afraid to talk to | | | | that you need more education or |
| your boss and to ask around in your | | | | training. Before moving forward, sit |
| company about other available positions. | | | | down and analyze the time and money |
| Employers have an investment in their | | | | needed to get a degree or certificate in |
| employees, and an employee that | | | | your new career. You need to decide if |
| expresses the need for growth and more | | | | you'll be able to continue your current |
| responsibility can be considered an | | | | job while attending school to fully |
| asset. | | | | determine your monetary situation. |
| List Your Skills and Aptitudes | | | | Do Your Homework! |
| Take inventory of your strengths and | | | | The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is an |
| weaknesses before making a change. Your | | | | excellent way to learn about different |
| list of attributes should consider not | | | | careers and the income potential, |
| only what you think you do well, but | | | | expected growth, and training and |
| also where you have received your | | | | educational requirements. Research your |
| accolades in and outside of work. Also, | | | | chosen field by going online, reading |
| be honest with your list of "needs to | | | | trade magazines and testimonials, and |
| improve." | | | | talking to those in and around the |
| Assess Your Interests | | | | profession. Volunteer or take a |
| You should also write down what you | | | | temporary job in your new field of |
| enjoy doing in your spare time. Is there | | | | interest. Doing so will allow you the |
| any way you can take a hobby and make a | | | | opportunity to decide whether or not |
| career out of it? If you find this | | | | your new career is a viable one for you. |
| process difficult, you can use career | | | | Take Your Time |
| assessment tests online or at a college | | | | Remember, be honest in your assessments |
| or university. These tests analyze your | | | | and take time to research carefully. |
| personality traits, skills, and | | | | Career changes are a big deal, and we |
| interests. Some excellent assessment | | | | want yours to be successful. Time spent |
| tests include the Meyers-Briggs | | | | now in preparing for your new career |
| (personality assessment), the Jackson | | | | will lend to your success and enjoyment |
| Vocational Interest Survey (interests), | | | | of it later. |