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A job search article:
Win the Mid-Life Career Game
by Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
Q. After
fifteen years, I finally left middle school
teaching, a career I had come to hate. Now I feel like a failure.
My skills mean nothing to the business world. I have
considered becoming a librarian, journalist or social worker, but I
can't afford to return to school. And I need a job immediately.
A. During a mid-life career crisis,
my clients soon discover, the skills to change careers are not the same
as the skills to manage a career. Many of my clients feel a
little uncomfortable when they ask questions about the job hunt. "I
should know this, shouldn't I?"
But why should they? And why should you?
Maybe the last time you job-hunted,
you were in your twenties, right out of college, bright-eyed and eager.
You probably had fewer
responsibilities. Most certainly your identity wasn't tied up in
a profession.
But now you're over thirty-five. You've gained some stature. Calling strangers to ask
for advice seems…well, different. You're peers of those who are sitting
across the desk, although you may come from a different field or
industry.
You've got some obligations.
Travel four days a week? Move a thousand miles? Your family –
especially the children – may have some thoughts on the subject!
And if you're single, you still may want to live near friends and
family, not to mention make sure the dog will be welcome.
So congratulations on
beginning the career change journey. You can look forward to
reaching your destination you'll love -- but expect a few intermediate
stops along the way.
Your
first stop: Get a perch job.
Career change takes time, energy and financial resources. So get
what I call a perch job.
Think of birds perching on a wire when they migrate south for the
winter: a place to rest till you can start moving to your real
destination. Some organizations (such as Starbucks and Patagonia) offer
benefits if you work as few as 20 hours a week.
Second
stop: Explore your options.
Once you've covered your basic needs, take time to explore each career choice in greater
depth. The fields you describe are very
different from one another. Even within each field you'll find major
differences. A social worker can have a private practice, work in a
hospital, or work for any one of hundreds of agencies, public and
private.
Talk to at least six people who are employed (happily or otherwise) in
each field. Ask how they started. Don't ask for advice: ask for
experience.
Third
stop: Learn to speak the local language.
These days, when you take a job, you're joining a tribe, with its own
culture. Even if you've been in the field ten years, your next
company's culture may differ dramatically. As a newcomer, you'll have
to earn what consultants call "idiosyncrasy credits," the right to
break rules and defy norms without getting penalized, formally or
informally.
When you try to sell yourself to a new world, you need to talk, walk
and look like a native. When you communicate in the language of
your target career – whether it's business, nonprofit, education or
legal – you'll be taken more seriously.
People rarely change careers because they dislike the work. They
usually reject the culture they're required to assimilate in order to
do their work and use their skills.
Finally, most midlife crisis career changers need help. A private
consultant will give you lots of attention: phone calls scheduled at
your convenience, email support and on-the-spot guidance if you have to
attend an interview on an hour's notice.
if finances are tight, investigate low-cost career change resources in
your area. You'll get less personal attention but you'll spend less for
the service.
And if you find yourself getting seriously anxious or depressed, your
first priority should be a visit to a qualified, licensed mental health
professional.
Yes,
you can find a new, satisfying career – not overnight, but
sooner than you anticipate. Good luck with the journey.
Recommended reading:
This article was based on Cathy's Totally
Irreverent and Highly Practical Job Search Guide. Click here to begin your job search
immediately.
Your 21-Day Extreme Career Makeover Click here for more
information.
If you liked this
article, you'll
love the
Great Career Moves Ezine. Free report:
Why most career change
fails (and how you can write your own success story). Subscribe
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