I'm Ready for a Career Change

According to the US Department of Labor the average person makes more than three career changes during their working life.

Typically, people will leave one job to accept another job for numerous reasons. Better pay or work environment. A shorter commute or be closer to home. Better work hours or less hours. For whatever reason you decide you are ready for a change you must give it some thought, do your research, and plan.

1. Will I take a pay cut and if so how deep of a cut can I take?
My advice: If you are the bread winner in your household or you support yourself this may be a question that may be at the top of your list. Do some research. Find out what that industry pays.

2. Will the work environment be better or worse than my current situation?
My advice: Talk with other people who are in the industry. Filter out opinions that can be corrected with some extra effort on the part of the employee like "I am unhappy with my boss", "There's alot of drama among the employees", "No one does their share of the work", "I haven't been promoted in 2 years".

3. Is the industry growing, declining or stagnant?
My advice: Despite the fact that companies are laying off there are companies within certain industries that are increasing their workforce in 2009.

4. How marketable am I right now?
My advice: If you are a mid life career changer you bring with that valuable experience and more maturity than someone who is inexperienced. If you spent most of your worklife in one career you may need to re-invent yourself. Read "Resume Tips for Mortgage Industry Career Changers. The tips are applicable to any industry.

5. Will I need to obtain a higher level of education or a certification related to the industry?
My advice: Some job announcements mention desired skills, certifications, or education. Someone who meets all of the requirements and some of the desired skills/experience would be considered as an "ideal candidate". You are in a better position to negotiate your salary when you are included in that mix. If you are working do not quit your job to pursue your degree or a certification. Many schools offer programs for working adult allowing you to work your classes around your schedule. It's easier to get a job when you have a job!

6. When should I make the transition?
My advice: There is no timeline or certain time of the year when you should make your transition. Making a career change takes alot of thought and planning. Take your time and don't make decisions based on emotion. Take a logical approach. >



7. Am I too old to change careers?
My advice: No. See advice for question #4.
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Resume and Cover Letter Blunders

~ RESUME ~

1. Too Focused on Job Duties. Your resume should not be a boring list of job duties and responsibilities. Go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. Do not over embellish your resume
2. Flowery or General Objective Statement. Many job seekers lose their readers in the beginning. Replace the objective with a tagline stating what you do or your expertise.
3. Too Short or Too Long. As a general rule your resume should be one page, but that page should have substance. Make sure you’ve covered everything, but don’t be too verbose.
4. Listing Irrelevant Information. Many people include their interests, but they should include only those relating to the job. Personal information should not be on the resume.
5. Not Including Keywords. With so many companies using technology to store resumes, the only hope a job seeker has of being found is to sprinkle relevant keywords throughout the resume. Determine keywords by reading job descriptions that interest you, and include the words you see repeatedly in your resume.
6. Typos. Proofread. Use spellcheck or have someone else read your resume. This document is a reflection of you and should be perfect.

~ COVER LETTER ~

1. Not Using Standard Business-Letter Format. No recipient information, no return address and no date; unprofessional.

2. It's Not All About You. You need to tell the employer about yourself, but do so in the context of the employer's needs and the specified job requirements.
3. Typos and Grammatical Errors. Proofread every letter you send for typos and grammatical errors.
4. Unsupported Claims. If you make a claim about a skill and/or ability, give some examples; employers need proof.
5. Writing a Novel. A cover letter should be no longer than one page; 3-4 concise but convincing paragraphs that are easy to read.
6. Using the Same Cover Letter for Every Job and Company. It's time-consuming but worthwhile to customize each letter for the specific job and company. If you haven't addressed their company's specific concerns, they'll conclude you don't care about this particular job.
7. Not Sending a Real Cover Letter. Some job seekers -- college students, recent grads and even those with years of work experience -- don't bother sending a cover letter with their resume. Others type up a one or two-sentence "here's my resume" cover letter while others attach handwritten letters or sticky notes. Include a well-written, neatly formatted cover letter with every resume you send.

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