Depending on the company or industry, it is fairly common to see annual turnover rates that run from 15% to 20%, sometimes even more! This means that each year at least 1 out of 5 working people change jobs and even careers. In some industries and businesses the turnover rate is a lot higher when compared to the others.
These figures tell us that it is very important to realize that you may have to face several career or job changes during your work life. Whether simply moving over to a new company or changing careers completely, you’ll probably have to face the challenge of deciding whether or not to take a course change in your working life many times. Here are some more points to consider before making your decision.
What to consider before getting started with a new Career
-Never use money as your motivator when it comes to changing jobs. If it’s only money that you’re looking out for, then you should probably ask your current boss for a raise. It is easier to do this than to switch over to a new career field itself. However if you aren’t comfortable with the prospect of negotiating with your employer and are determined to get yourself a new job in a new field, then you could use the services of a recruiter. A professional recruiter will aid you in areas such as salary negotiation and company policies and the possibility of you getting a better job or a better career will be stronger.
-Don’t let others make career decisions for you. Never allow friends or family or even recruiters to tell you what kind of a job or career path to follow. Yes, it is always good to listen to the advice and suggestions of well-wishers, but in the end it is you who is going to make the final decision and so you have to reason it out with yourself. The idea of changing your career is completely yours and the people who are close to you can be involved to verify your decision and to give advice and suggestions.
-Be determined and patient. Don’t expect a new career prospect or a new job to suddenly materialize before your eyes overnight. Remember that a career change – and finding a suitable job within that career – can be time consuming and frustrating, to say the least. It is important to be determined in order to find better opportunities. When you are dealing with a career change patience and determination are the two most important factors in order to find what you are looking for.
-Get started with a job search; be creative and use common sense. Thinking “out of the box” is an age-old cliche, but a sensible one – when planning a career change, try not to do those things that you have already done such as sending out hundreds of resumes, answering paper advertisements, and so on. There are many more effective ways to go about conducting your job search. Talk to friends and family and even colleagues who can help you with your searching. Make sure you are original and creative in your job search.
Before jump-starting your new career, try to introspect and understand certain facts, such as why you are looking for a change, what it is that you want, what you think you will get out of a career change, and so on. Once you are sure of the fact that you are going to leave, then devise a plan of action to obtain a new and better job. After all, if you’re only looking for a pay hike, then asking your employer for one is far easier than changing your job. Career change can be daunting, intimidating and absolutely backbreaking! But, all in all, if done right, it will always be worth it.

Are you considering a big change in your career? Do you feel let down, bored, burned out? Maybe you think there is something bigger and more meaningful that you are meant to do. Perhaps your company downsized you into this predicament. Regardless of the reason, there are some common mistakes to avoid while you evaluate and select new career options. Avoid these pitfalls and you can stay motivated, keep your balance and move forward successfully.Mistake #1 – Making Decisions in Haste

Tempted to just quit and wing it? Everyone is now and then, but unless you just can’t stand your current situation another day, resist! Instead, write down everything you hate about your current situation, then one by one, look at the most intolerable issues and see how you can turn each around to make it more tolerable for the present moment.

It is easy to get so excited about the future that you decide to forge ahead without a plan and hope everything naturally falls your way after that. It will require more energy to sustain your new career and make it work well for you than it will to identify and start it. It is better to come from a place of higher energy and stability than to start out already burned out or worried about how you will pay the bills. Consider seeking the help of a qualified career coach, life coach or career counselor to help you identify your next career path. An objective, trained third party can help you strategize and phase it in for the best results and the least amount of heartache.Mistake #2 – Ignoring the Finances

“I can’t stand this any longer! I would rather eat dog food than put up with this another day!” Whether you are pursuing a new career voluntarily or involuntarily, you must pay the bills. Do pursue your dream. Do look for the career that brings out the best in you. If you have plenty of savings, good for you! Resist the temptation to go through it and be left without. If you have a dream, by all means hang on to it! But if it won’t realistically get off the ground for three years, find another way to earn a living in the meantime. The need for income is a reality you cannot ignore.Mistake #3 – Filling Your Head with Negative Stuff

What do you read? What do you view on television or the Internet? With whom do you spend free time? When you’re looking at making big life and career changes, you need lots of positive energy around you. If you spend time with negative people or fill your mind with anything that isn’t useful, guess what? It fills you with negative energy. Instead, surround yourself with people and things that give you positive energy and encouragement. Read books that motivate and encourage you. Go places that inspire you. Do everything you can to be what you want to be like after you land the next great career opportunity, and you will be more likely to attract it into your life!Mistake #4 – Getting Bogged Down by Decisions

If you’re an intelligent person who has enjoyed any measure of success, chances are there are a lot of different choices you could make in your next big life or career change. Clients often tell me they are overwhelmed by all of the thoughts and ideas that keep running through their minds. And as the overwhelm sets in, it is very easy to just shut down. As we work together, I remind clients when making tough decisions to ask themselves, “Is this going to move me forward?” If the answer is yes, proceed. If the answer is no, either revise the decision or drop it entirely.Mistake #5 – Not Having a Plan

There are two reasons this is important. First, life is unpredictable and it is dangerous to relinquish security before the next career arrangement is lined up. Second, changing careers is a lot like dating. You are always more desirable when you are unavailable. You are more attractive to a prospective employer if you are already working. And if you have already lost your job either voluntarily or involuntarily, it is even more important to have a plan so that you are then more likely to achieve it. If you see success, you will be successful. (Conversely, if you don’t have a plan, how will you know when you’ve succeeded?) Mistake #6 – Ending your Preparation Too Soon

All I can say here is, prepare, prepare, prepare. If you’re looking at several possibilities, don’t immediately drop one when another looks good. Think about all of the big tests you have taken in life (college entrance exams, finals, certification exams) and how you prepared for those. Did you study way in advance and take a big, long break before taking the test? Or were you still reading the material as you walked in the door on test day, wondering if you could still be better prepared? When you’re embarking on a new career or life change, give it all of your available energy, skills and attention. If you have a goal in mind, resist relaxing when you think you almost have it. Prepare and stay sharp right up until the day you start. This will help keep you from losing confidence at the last minute.Mistake #7 – Getting Discouraged Too Easily

Does this happen to you when you face hurdles in the midst of your goal? Instead of giving in to the pain, pay attention to what specifically is making you uncomfortable and make adjustments to get you through. For example, if you’re in career transition and you find that it is painful to go through the tedium of making phone calls, sending resumes, going on interviews where the competition is tough, etc., find the formula that gives you a break without stopping the process. Try devoting an hour or two each morning to these tasks and letting it go for the rest of the day, or only making a certain number of phone calls or interview appointments per week so that when you’re finished, you can feel good about giving yourself some time off. Don’t stop. Adjust.

Remember, a career change is a life change. You didn’t arrive at your current level of education and experience overnight, and don’t be disappointed if you don’t immediately uncover “the thing” you want to do next. Allow yourself time and space to explore and make an educated decision. Get the help you need along the way (i.e., career coach, career counselor) to help you do it strategically, not emotionally. If you avoid these mistakes you are much more likely to end up in a new career that complements and fulfills your life.

One of the newest ways for people to realize career development in their jobs is through e-learning.  The Internet is a powerful tool in the job market and so many people have career development plans that they need to work into their busy lives.  That’s where e-learning can be such a great place to start.

What is e-learning?  In its simplest form, e-learning is learning that is accomplished over the Internet, a computer network, CD-ROM, interactive television, or satellite broadcast.  That means that you can take classes and learn new skills in career development without ever setting foot in a classroom.  We live in a very busy society.  Most of our time is taken up with our jobs.  But not everyone is satisfied with staying where they are at in their job.  They want to advance in their careers and have made extensive career development plans that they need to find time to achieve.

E-learning gives the busy professional a way to achieve their career development goals while still keeping up with the busy pace of their lives.  A lot of e-learning is done online through online college courses that allow you to work at your own pace on your own timetable.  Online classes are offered in a variety of formats.  If you are taking them through your local college, the class will take place over the course of their semester dates.  Different e-learning online courses can be taken at any time you choose.

Another way to obtain e-learning for your career development is through telecourses that come on CD-ROM or DVD.  You are given a class syllabus and a packet containing all of your quizzes and tests.  You watch the video and then take the tests submitting them to an instructor once you are done.  If you are especially eager to complete your telecourse, you can actually complete the course in a matter of days.

The business world is competitive and having a career development plan is important if you want to achieve your career goals.  E-learning facilitates career development goals by offering the everyday person a variety of options to get additional training that can help them advance in their career without having to take the time to attend a class.  You will get the same education as that person sitting in the classroom, but you’ll be able to get it on your own timetable.

The beauty of e-learning is that you complete it when you want to complete it.  If you can’t sleep at two a.m., get up and take some notes.  Have a little time at lunch to kill?  Take that next quiz.  Just remember that e-learning and career development go hand in hand and it’s available to you right now!

Part of a successful career change and/or picking a career is career development.  Many colleges have career development departments that can help guide you toward a satisfying career that you can succeed in and be happy doing.  Career development is an important part of the career planning process, and great care should be taken to effectively developing a plan for where you want to go in the future.

First, you need to decide what type of career interests you.  You can take a variety of career interest tests at various websites online like www.careerplanner.com.  These tests will help you find a career that matches your personality, your interests, and your abilities.  You may be surprised at some of the results that come from these career tests, and you might find that you are best suited for a career you never thought of before.

Once you’ve decided on a career path, you can start your career development plan.  That means setting goals for getting the right training for the career you’ve chosen and then finding a job in that field.  You will want to set both long-term and short-term goals for your career.  For example, a short-term goal would be to find a job.  A long-term goal would be to advance into a management position or something similar to that.

Career development is an ongoing process as it also includes educating yourself on job requirements, getting additional training, and always working at making yourself the best you can be in your chosen career path.  The business world is constantly changing and you will want to keep up with those changes and constantly improve what you are doing.  Gaining new skills will only work in your favor, so remember that when you are thinking about your career development goals.

You will need to develop goals and strategies to make your career dreams come true and employers are interested in hiring people who can demonstrate their skills and abilities.  They are also interested in people who are constantly looking to improve not only themselves, but their job skills as well.  That’s why you will want to keep career development first and foremost in your mind at all times.

Choosing a career or making a career change is an important decision and one that you should not take lightly.  You have to have plans and goals.  That’s why career development is such a huge part of succeeding in a job.  Having an effective career development plan will almost insure that you will be able to not only work in your dream job, but that you will also be able to succeed in your dream job.

Are you a high school or college student who just isn’t sure what you want to do with your career path?  Don’t fret because career planning can be one of the most overwhelming situations in your life.  It’s never too early to begin career planning, but it can also be mind-boggling if you don’t have a specific job in mind that you’ll want to do and where you want your life to finally end up.  But don’t worry; there are resources and help that are at your disposal which you absolutely should take advantage of when it comes to planning your career.

The first place you need to look at is inside yourself.  When we’re little, we all have dreams about what we want to be when we grow up.  While some of us never really want to grow up, the reality is that we will eventually have to earn a paycheck.  Unless you’re Donald Trump’s child, you won’t be able to survive in the world without a job.  So why should you spend so much time working at a job you’re not happy with?  That’s why career planning is so very important – even in high school.

After you’ve identified a career path you think you might want to pursue, it might be a good idea to find out if you’re on the right track by taking a career interest test.  These tests are available in many places online and take about twenty minutes to complete.  Based on the answers you gave, you will be given a list of possible careers that will fit you and your personality as well as your abilities and talents.  You should then take a good look at this list and find a career path that appeals to you.  That’s when you can begin your career planning in earnest.

When beginning career planning, you need to set short-term as well as long-term goals.  A short-term goal in career planning might be to get a job in the music industry.  A long-term goals would be to own your own recording studio.  Goal setting – just like with many different things in life – can help keep you focused and realize what you need to accomplish in order to achieve your goals.  Without goals, you are just wandering aimlessly, and that won’t get you anywhere in life except down the wrong road.

After you have set your goals, the next step in career planning is to set about getting the training you need that will get you into the career you have chosen.  That usually means education and/or training.  For most jobs, you will need to have some type of education and/or training.  You should immediately figure out whether or not you need to have a degree to work in the career field you have chosen or whether an internship will give you the experience you need.  Then you need to register for the classes and get top grades which can make the ultimate difference in your first job.

Of course, career planning has many more steps, but the above advice should get you well on your way!