Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
Glenn writes:
I’m in a dead-end job and feel a real need to make a career change.
My employer is reorganizing the department and probably going to offer
most people a package. I see this as my chance to get out and do something
different. So, what should I do - and what should I not do? I already have
a tentative job offer from an old boss and am thinking of taking it once I
get the package. Your advice?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
What should you do? If you are seriously thinking of changing careers -- not just jobs
or employers -- what you should not do is jump at the first opportunity that comes your way.
One of the most common mistakes career-changers make, especially ones who are
being forced to make a change through some sort of corporate restructuring, is to grab
hold of the first job offer that comes your way. I don’t mean to imply that it might be a
bad offer, but why not take the time to see what other opportunities are out there,
especially if you have a severance package? You need to evaluate whether you want
to stay in your current career or make a switch tom something different.
What are some of the other career change mistakes to avoid?
1. Making a career change without a plan. A successful career change can
often take months to accomplish when you have a strategy -- and even longer without one.
2. Changing careers because you hate your job. Don’t make the mistake of
confusing hating your current job (or employer) with hating your current career.
3. Making a career change based solely on money/benefits. Certain careers
are more financially rewarding than others, but that doesn’t mean they are right for you.
4. Changing careers because of outside pressure. Don’t let your parents, family,
or significant other influence your career choice; you need to live it, not them.
5. Attempting a career change without a new network and mentor. Making a
career change alone is nearly impossible, so once you have identified a new
career field start making new network contacts.
6. Changing careers without examining all the possibilities. Take the time to conduct
research on numerous career fields so that you can find the best one to fit your current situation.
7. Making a career change without assessment of likes/dislikes. Self-assessment
and self-reflection are critical to career change success.
8. Changing careers based on the success of others. Just because your best friend
is doing well in a certain career does not mean that you will also do well.
9. Making a career change without necessary experience/education. One of the keys
to successful career change is gaining experience in your new career field; and in
some cases, further education or training may be necessary.
10. Changing careers without updating your job-search skills/techniques. If it’s been
a while since you were in the job market, take the time to update and polish your job-hunting skills.
You can read more details about these 10 mistakes in this article published on
Quintessential Careers: 10
Career Change Mistakes to Avoid.
And find lots of great resources and tools in the career
change resources section of Quintessential Careers.
Q:
Delicia writes:
After graduating from college with a degree in psychology I got a job at a title
insurance company where I've been employed for the past 3 years. I am presently
working on a master's degree and feel the need to change to a more promising,
financially rewarding career. What should I do?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Unfortunately, I have no clue what type of job you currently hold, what area
your graduate degree is in, nor what your interests and goals are -- besides
wanting something financially rewarding. I think most of us -- at least the ones
not independently wealthy -- want a financially rewarding career -- so the key is
finding one that you are passionate about... a career and job that will make
you excited to head to work every morning.
Usually you get a master’s degree in the field that you see yourself entering. If
you are continuing your psychology at the graduate level, then it certainly seems
that a counseling career is appropriate.
My best advice is to first sit down and reflect on who you are and what you like
doing. Perhaps conduct some research on a number of careers that interest you.
Then meet with one or more of the professors in your graduate program (or
perhaps even from your undergraduate days) and pick their brains about
career options. Finally, once you have narrowed your career choices down,
start making a plan for how you will make the change from what you are doing
now to your new career.
Jennifer writes:
Can you tell me what classes and how long and what I need to do to become a
paralegal? I work for a law office as a legal secretary right now and they want to
promote me to a paralegal once I go to school for it. Can I go to my community
college for it??? Help!
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
First, let me congratulate both you and your employer. You are obviously a
great employee and it’s wonderful to see your employer wants to help you
grow as a legal professional. Before you take the next step, please make
sure this career step is one you want to take. I assume, working in a law
office, you have a good idea of pros and cons of being a paralegal… but if
not, now is the time to do the research. Since you are obviously very good
at what you currently do, there is no shame in staying a legal secretary if
becoming a paralegal does not appeal to you.
OK. Now to your question. There are several ways to become a paralegal.
If you do not have a college degree, then one option is to attend a local
community college’s paralegal program leading to an associate’s degree.
If you do have a college degree, there are certificate programs that lead to
a certification in paralegal studies in just a few months. If your local
community college does not offer paralegal studies, there are numerous
online programs that do - but make sure you find an accredited program.
You do not necessarily need a program approved by the American Bar
Association, but graduating from an ABA-approved school should enhance
your options (if something happens with your current firm).
Once you complete your education, you may also want to look into
becoming certified through the National Association of Legal Assistants
or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.
Paralegals and Legal
Assistants, from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics 2004-5 Occupational Outlook Handbook
Q:
Amy writes:
I am a special education teacher who has been teaching for approximately 20 years.
I would like a career change, and the one thing that attracts me is cultivating plants
and flowers. I would like to know, what sort of measures would I be able to take in
order to start a career or business, that would allow me to do this. I have often
thought of having a business where I can grow and sell my own plants in a
greenhouse, something similar to the nurseries they have alongside towns
and suburbs. However I have no background in this except for growing in
my own (small) garden.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
One of the first questions I ask people who desire a career change is to list
their hobbies, interests, and activities -- the things they enjoy doing when not
working. It’s often from this list that we discover a career field worth
researching. I think switching from education to horticulture is possible,
but before you finalize that decision, I would also recommend examining
some of your other interests -- just to see if there are any other career
paths worth investigating.
Once you decide on a career field, the next step is research. Growing plants
these days is a science, so I would recommend talking with an agricultural
agent with your county or state. I would also schedule informational interviews
with the owners/managers of several local nurseries. Once you have
developed these contacts, you might consider volunteering or working
part-time on weekends or school holidays to get a taste for the work.
After you’ve completed your research and your trial work, the next step is
whether you want to try and find work for an established nursery or horticulture
business or start your own business. Many former job-seekers and workers
have opted out of the workforce to start their own businesses -- and some
have been more successful than others. You might see if there is a local
office of the Small Business Administration (or go to its Website), where
you can find critical resources that may help in your decision. And, of course,
if you are thinking of starting your own business, you will need to speak with
your local government about zoning issues and permits/licenses.
