“The Indispensable first step to getting what you want out of life is this: Decide What You want.” -Ben Stein

Let’s say you reach a fork in the road and have to decide which way to go on your career journey. This is naturally a difficult place to be in, but you have to make a decision.

Values clarification becomes indispensable when you are at a point where you must choose between two or more career options, but you’re uncertain which option is best for you.

At such times, you must ask yourself this question:

What are my most important career values?

The rub is that when you choose one option, you often leave behind some values connected with your alternate option. The trick is to be certain that in the end, you choose the option that is most closely identified with your top values.

For example, I recently spoke with a graphic artist employed by a small publishing company. The key to his career success has been his mentor relationship with the soon to retire company president. He knew that he did not want to work with the incoming president. He was paralyzed, however, to choose between his two remaining options; Either move to a new company where he feels positive about the executive leadership. Or, start up his own business.

What to do? Make sure you clarify your career values in order to make your decision with confidence.

First, under each option list your top 3 to 5 values or benefits to you, of each. In this case:

Option One

Option Two

Here’s the challenging part, now rank your top five values drawing from both lists.After several go rounds and some major soul searching, this individual ranked his top five values:

You can see that the majority of his values including his top two values, are drawn from list one. Although choosing which projects he takes on is important, when push came to shove he ranked it lower than the opportunity to work with a new mentor and not having to do marketing and sales.

After taking a step back and carefully considering his competing values, this individual chose option one.

When facing this kind of difficult choice, the above described coaching process insures that you make the best decision for YOU. One that will make your career soar and brings you joy and pride.

To learn more about how Seth can help you and to download his free Special Report: “10 Ways to Jump Start Your Career by Leveraging Your Strengths,” visit his website: http://www.CreativeVisionCoaching.com or email him: Seth@CreativeVisionCoaching.com

(c) Copyright – Seth Kaufman. All rights reserved worldwide.

Would you like to join the millions of people that are looking for an exciting new career? If so, it’s not as difficult as you may think or may have been lead to believe. Many individuals that have been in a certain career for years feel that it’s too late for them to change careers. They couldn’t be more wrong. Retraining for a new career can be exciting and very easy. In fact retraining for a new career will probably be easier than it was to train for your original career years ago. Let me explain the theory behind this.
More Choices than Ever Available
If you’ve been at the same career for many years, you probably remember the training that went into your chosen career. It may have been a technical school, a fully accredited college or a succession of classes until you’ve completed the program and earned your degree. You may also remember the choices you were limited to at that time. Today, however, the choices of careers available are endless. For every one field there may have been 20 years ago, today there are twenty or more choices in that same field. The number of different career fields has expanded as well. Let me give you a little example.
Years ago a female that wished to get into the medical field had the options of a doctor, registered nurse or practical nurse. While there may have been a few more choices available in large cities with large major colleges, almost everyone else was limited in their choices. Today and individual wanting to enter the medical field has choices like you wouldn’t believe such as surgical assistant, emergency room technician, x-ray technician, physician’s assistant, nursing assistant, physical therapist assistant to name just a few.
Accessibility Due to the Internet
In addition to the many choices now available to make career retraining possible, we also have many more choices due to the internet. The internet offers online schools and universities that give you the opportunity to earn your full degree while continuing at your current job. Unlike the past when you had to attend college full-time every day, the internet allows you to take courses at your leisure and at your own pace. You learn as fast or as slow as you can fit into your life. Retraining for a new career is not only fun but can be very exciting, especially when it’s done on the internet.
If you’re interested in retraining for a career change, don’t waste another minute thinking you don’t have the time or can’t afford to take time off work or any other excuses you may have used in the past. A new career may be right around the corner-all you have to do is start your research. Searching online will become a full time job in itself when you start looking for the many careers you may be interested in retraining for. You’ll also be given all the information you need regarding program requirements, fees, course descriptions, etc. You’ll be amazed at how easily retraining will be, especially when you choose a specific career choice.

If there is anything positive to come out of a redundancy situation, it is probably the hindsight which comes from being forced out of a role, and consequently, out of a possible rut as well. Stuart Lindenfield, Head of Transition Services at Reed Specialist Recruitment has given the topic some careful examination and come up with some insightful recommendations about how to make a successful career change after redundancy.

“It wasn’t a big surprise really – things had not been going well – in retrospect, I don’t suppose I was giving it my all, nor was I particularly suited to that role anyway…”

Stuart explains that this type of comment illustrates a ‘typical post redundancy notification’ feeling. It demonstrates that many people are truly unaware they are stuck in a rut or unhappy in their jobs until a major event like being made redundant makes it clear. At such a time people tend to re-evaluate their careers and confront how they really felt about their previous jobs, as well as looking at their long term prospects. But why does it take such a major event for people to reassess their careers and to get out of a dead end job?

There are major tell tale signs which should indicate to you that all is not well at work early on. The first sign is a dip in motivation. An interesting job, with a challenging but manageable workload is energizing; it should give you a buzz about what you do and make it easier for you to get up in the morning. But, if this enthusiasm starts to wane, then it is time to take stock and ask if there is a bigger issue at stake.  People often fall into jobs without really working out if it is the best fit for their personalities and skills. A good question to ask is whether or not your contribution is adding value to your organisation. Do you get the chance to use your skills most of the time? Does it play to your strengths? Does it make you feel valued? If the answer to any of these is no, then it is time to rethink.  You will spend more hours at work than with your family or close friends, so it is important to work in the kind of environment that suits you with people you get on with.  Colleagues don’t have to become close friends, but it is important you can relate to them.

Equally, it is important that you respect the values and ‘beliefs’ of the organisation and whether or not these are ‘lived’ by the employees. Respecting your company’s culture and values can make you feel proud of where you work and encourage a feel good factor.  Of course no job is perfect, but a surfeit of ‘negative’ answers to the above questions should provide a loud and clear warning signal that it is time for you to take control of your career…. before someone else does.

Seen in this light, this is of course a golden opportunity.  But is it wise to move jobs when the economy looks uncertain?  Obviously, you can appear a stronger candidate when job-seeking from a position of employee than unemployed.  But even in today’s uncertain economy, the risk of changing careers must be balanced with a proactive approach to ensuring you are progressing your career. The “What with all the problems of the economy, and seeing half of my colleagues already having recently disappeared from the organisation, I’ll just keep my head down until it’s all washed over…” attitude is a very dangerous and ultimately a career-limiting approach which could also potentially have a negative impact on your self esteem.

Getting out of the rut, where to start? Question: “So what made you decide to become an accountant?” Long pause, then “I don’t really know….” ..is a very common interchange I have with people who have worked in the same sphere for many years…Even if you don’t feel in a rut, if you are wanting to confidently take control of your career, you should do a regular career review and consider what possible new career avenues might fit with your longer term life goals and your developing talents.You should also ask yourself some key questions including:

Who do I know who is successful and really enjoys their job? – The chances are that if you are feeling in a rut, you may be surrounded by others feeling similarly stuck. It is good to rub shoulders with someone who might inspire a more positive perspective. If you don’t know anyone like that, make sure you network and find several!

How can I de-label myself? – Many highly successful people have ‘reinvented’ their careers on a number of occasions. But if you’re surrounded by people who only ever know you as “the woman from Finance who takes time to authorise our expenses” or “the man from Marketing who checks all our materials to ensure they tie in with our brand values” – it may be difficult for those you work with to spot any further potential. Again, networking can help you meet new people who will not have a pre-determined idea of what you can offer – hence providing you with a chance to re-fashion your story to a new audience. I have countless examples of clients who have done this and carved out exciting and fulfilling new careers for themselves. 

Find a good mentor / counsellor – an expert in career transition / management. Find one through your network or through word of mouth referral. This will help you sharpen your insights into your own authentic talents, skills and strengths. It will also help you find ways to powerfully illustrate these to maximize their impact on others when you tell them. To help you interpret what you want out of your career you should consider taking a self-assessment test designed to help you clarify the kind of working environments that would suit you best. A mentor will help to support and encourage you through the often tough process of moving forward in what may be a new direction, to challenge you when appropriate and to support you through the inevitable ‘downs’ of the process. They will also help foster your creativity in finding the right way forward for you and provide practical advice about preparing CVs and how to shine in interviews. 

 Network. Network. Network.

Confident networking, coupled with targeted research using leading-edge business intelligence tools, can get you in front of the right people at the right time and uncover the ‘hidden jobs’ market.  Engage with the most relevant helpful agencies – You should ensure you choose a recruitment consultancy that specializes in your business area because the Consultants will be knowledgeable about the market place and up to date with the opportunities that exist within it. 

They might also have great contacts to introduce you to and should have links into the leading companies you wish to target. They will also be able to tell you if you have the right skills for a specific role or career and if you have to retrain, they will be able to advise you on the best route to take and the qualifications you will need.  What’s more, they will have a feel for how buoyant the market is and where the opportunities lie.  Don’t waste time on generalists who might not have the contacts or the information you need to get ahead in your career.  If you visit a specialist advisor they should provide information which will be an invaluable starting point to finding your chosen career and set you on the right path. 

Furthermore, there are plenty of resources available online to get your started, from CV advice to interview tips, there is an abundance of useful information to set you on your new career path.

So what are you waiting for?

Career means profession, which we want to adopt for earning livelihood, and planning means proper flow or to make proper decisions.

Pre- planning in our life plays very important role in every aspect of life, to work in a proper flow, and pre-planning for career, which we want to pursue in our future ahead after acquiring certain level of degree is also very necessary in today’s competitive world.

According to the Thorndike dictionary

“A goal that you desire to achieve in a selected field or occupation with a well-thought out plan, to get you there is called Career Planning.”

The world is now moving very fast, and the time has come when this meritocratic society accepts only those, having right qualification and right skills.

Olden days are gone, when just a degree would help an individual to get high profile job by giving bribe or using some other mean. Now it’s high time, when the transparency in job recruitment has taken place.

Challenges and competition are the part of today’s society, and therefore, Career Planning is the only task, which can guide us to do what we want to do in our life, rather than just aimlessly changing job all the time in future.

We have seen many Pakistani, who after completing Intermediate don’t know where to go, what to do and we have also seen graduates, who aimlessly do graduation without any specialization. As a result, they earns just in 6-8 figures.

Career Planning is one of the broader aspects of learning in our existence. We all have some intentions and we all think to have stability in our future lives, and for that purpose, CAREER PLANNING serves as a key to success.

Career Planning makes a person to think suitably about their positive and negative aspects. All about their interest, about their creativity becomes possible through proper analyzing ourselves.

Career Planning basically starts, when a person finishes Secondary/ Higher Secondary level of education. After that level, a person could opt for that educational degree, which would help them out to have a good job opportunity according to their skills at the right time.

Career Planning helps us to design and formulate our future smoothly. Like, If a person wants to be a banker, then he or she would choose to go for ACCA or CA or MBA in finance after completing Intermediate in commerce and Graduation in commerce/ business administration.. Else he/ she would go for CAT course or Masters in Commerce or even upto doctorate level.

This pre-planning would be effective and would give him/her benefits after achieving educational targets effectively.

It also helps us to evaluate our own personality, which helps us to know that which kind of job would suit us according to our need and capabilities.

In short, Career Planning is like mapping our future.

Without proper planning, no one could think of getting a desired job in future.

Think what we want to do and finding out more about the kind of training, education, and skills we will need to achieve our career goal is the core objective of career planning.

It help us knowing the nature of the jobs that interest us, such as educational requirements, salary, working conditions, fringe benefits, promotion chances, future prospectus, and help us focusing in the right dimension.

Career planning directs us, motivates us, and helps us to accomplish what we want. A career goal is a specific vision such as an architect or a teacher or a career goal can be a particular field, which we want to work in, such as Media, Education, Medicine, Engineering etc.

For those who will think about their future and career after completing education without any long term desired goals are the one, whose all attempt might end in smoke.

There are some cases and situation, which bound a person to pre-plan in advance, such like family high family business status, lack of interest in studies or traditional job, low motivation, low financial status etc or some past educational traumas, which had made a person to plan after wards.

Career planning is a life time process we are always learning and growing, and as we do, our interests and needs also change. Career planning is not just making plans to obtain our career, but it also help us to make many adjustments there will be along the ways we learn throughout our lives.

Those who have successful careers like educators, business man, manager, pilot, architect, banker, doctor etc are the one, who has made their ways through proper guidance.

No doubt, that our parents have some wishes and expectations from us, but we have our own too. Therefore, we should also consider others opinion. For that we could take guidance from an educational counselor to get better guidance towards new dimensional fields as well. Teacher, professionals, career guidance websites, Head educational consultants can also guide us, to have a better approach for our future.

We must have freedom of speaking and freedom of choosing our career as we have to lead our lives which interest us. We must try to have an open mind in order to choose the right career on right time.

According to one renowned professor,

“Few of us like to opt for those degree courses, which their family or friend has advised them to adopt and this inappropriate knowledge trapped them into a great mistake and

In this way, they are unable to get good job opportunities according to their interests. Only Proper Career Guidance would help an individual to be on the right path before hand. Few of us try to seek the right path and take guidance from family or teacher to tell them what is good for them, which career is in demand and which career suits their interest.”

The future is un-predictable, however, we could still make our place in this meritocratic world by making career goals and plans in advance, for getting better opportunities in todays pluralistic and globalize world.

We must pre-plan our goals under the supervision of professionals in conscious state of mind, so that we could strategically maintain our goals and follow it towards the path of successful future.

One of the hardest decisions you will probably encounter during your professional career is either a change in position or a change in occupation. Many people think the safe decision is to stay in your current job or line of work, which is the place where you know what to expect and where you feel secure. On the other hand, many feel they will have no idea what to expect if they secure a new position. The whole process can be very intimidating, making it a difficult choice and for this reason many procrastinate.

When you are considering a career change, you have to also think about how it affects the people around you. This could be something that may affect your entire family, your financial situation, and maybe even where you live. Before you take the leap, make sure that you have considered all of the possible effects it will have on your life. It is a great idea to make a career change, but make sure you begin the process by being informed.

Many think the worse part about changing your career path is how you will rewrite your resume to target the newly desire position in a way it will appeal to a potential employer. The good news is that rewriting your resume doesn’t have to be an intimidating experience – the key is to find transferable skills.

The internet is an excellent source for finding information and advice about drafting your resume as well as making a career change. Not only will you find information, you will also find that there are numerous resources that will make the resume writing process considerably easier and more enjoyable. The problem is that the sheer amount of information you find can be overwhelming. When you are looking for advice about how to draft your resume, be careful about the advice you take, and use your common sense.

When you are drafting your resume you should know that there are two basic elements you need to know. Firstly, you need to list the things that are going to look the most promising; things that you have learned about your new career and your transferable skills. It is up to you to prove that you will be able to adapt to the demands of your new career.

Before you start to write your career change resume, set some time aside and do some research about the career that you are considering. The more you know about what you hope your new job will require, the more you can target your resume to meet your potential employer’s expectations.

Your transferable skills are proficiencies that you will be able to use in a variety of fields. Take time to think about what skills you have that will transfer to the position you desire.  Transferable skills may include excellent communication skills, budgeting, strong management skills, staff development, customer relationship management, adaptability, project management, or organizational skills. If you research job postings and description and discover what they are looking for and identify what skills you have that coincided. After this make a list of how you have used those skills, like success stories. This uncovers relevant accomplishments… what did you do in the past that would relate to the new line of work.

One of the most effective career changing tactics is to network, network, network. Individuals in your network will have the ability to assist you in job leads, provide advice, and give you essential information about the business.

Changing careers doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful. The key is to start with a targeted resume and cover letter that highlight your transferable skills and accomplishments.

Are you bored with your current job and considering whether or not it’s time to move on? You’ve thought through the benefits and challenges. And, finally, you’ve made a decision to move forward and change careers.

Now what?

Making a move to a new career can be incredibly exciting, but it can also be frightening. That’s understandable, since you’re moving toward the unknown and away from the stability of your current position. It may be good to know that there are steps you can take so that the transition is as comfortable and smooth as possible. Just follow this three-part formula:

1) Do your research.

Your new career is going to require new skills, new knowledge, and a strong understanding of a new industry. Do all the necessary reading and research on that industry to prepare yourself. Do some online checking, contact colleagues and friends in the area you’ll be transitioning into, read trade or specialty publications, and so on. Utilize all the resources at your disposal in order to develop a solid base of knowledge for your new career.

2) Bring relevant skills with you.

There is likely to be a lot of crossover even though you’re changing careers and transitioning into a new industry. But many people make the mistake of completely clearing the slate and not recognizing the places where their old skills can help them in their new jobs. For example, let’s consider that you’ve opened your own bakery and left your job at a bank. Well, just because your new job is creative, don’t let yourself swing too far over to the artistic side without bringing along some of your business savvy. Remember that all jobs require a balance of creativity and professionalismyou can invest your profits wisely by using your head to create a cost-saving budget.

Even if you’re making a less dramatic shiftsay, from public relations to advertisingyou will still need to show perspective employers that being new to the field doesn’t mean you’re not bringing desirable qualities to the table. This idea that skill sets overlap from industry to industry is an important one to keep in mind as you shift careers because it will provide a sense of emotional continuity.

3) Don’t change everything all at once.

You’re setting yourself up for emotional frenzy if you quit your current job, buy a dog, break up with your girlfriend or boyfriend, move to a new town, and purchase a new home all in the span of one month. Make life easier for yourself, and make change more palatable, by taking small steps, and take them one at a time. Try to maintain as much continuity as you can while making the big change of shifting careers.

Are you dissatisfied with your job? Do you want to find a new one or at least make a move to another department within your company? Do you need certifications in MCSE, MCP and any of those other abbreviations? You need to sit down and decide what career path you wish to take if you want to go the Microsoft Certification route.
First of all, do you have any prior experience in the business world? If so, no matter what you decide to do, whether it is MCSE training or MCP training or anything else, you will be ahead of others with no prior professional expertise. However, if you choose to make a career change that is a complete 180 degrees from what you are doing now, you will have some trouble finding gainful employment without some concrete experience.
For instance, if you are an Administrative Assistant and decide to go for a Microsoft Certified System Engineer, better known as an MCSE, you need to have some practical experience (the basic requirement is about a year of previous experience) under your belt before even starting your MCSE training. How could you go about doing that? You have several options. Find a mentor. Maybe another person within your company who has an MCSE could give you pointers and some on-site knowledge into his job. Volunteering through a nonprofit or some other community organization could net you some valuable experience. Serving as an intern, whether paid or unpaid, is another option.
A volunteer position or an internship also is beneficial for those people with a fresh Microsoft certification but no practical, hands-on experience. Practically every nonprofit organization or community group has computers. Some of them are small groups and others have computer labs (perhaps state-run job placement places) with no budget to hire full-time staff. You have got to think outside the box for ways to gain that practical experience.
Networking mixers or social time is another great idea. You can mingle with professionals in the field you are trying to break into and find out about their internship opportunities. It is the perfect venue in which to sell or market yourself. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce for any local trade organizations in the prospective field as a starting point in this networking endeavor. Many times, you can find out some priceless information about the ins and outs of your potential area of certification. Learning from the experts could be an eye opening experience for you. Heck, you could even change your mind from braving those MCSE boot camps and the seven tests for MCSE exams. Isn’t it better to gain that insight before you spend the time and money?
Once you have completed your certification, whether it is navigating through MCP courses or any other Microsoft certification, be prepared to start from scratch in your new endeavor. Just remember, anything having to do with technology will change again in a year or two, so you have to keep up with new trends and that means continued instruction. As long as you travel the Microsoft route, you’ll be successful.

Different businesses have different goals, values, and objectives and you must decide which industry best matches your individual skills. To be successful in your chosen career, you will need to have an open mind as well as a flexible schedule.
Gone are the days when students graduate from college and then begin working immediately in their field of study. You may find that the degree you have earned is not the career you really want. This is where you need to be flexible. In order to land that rewarding job you may need to change career paths altogether.
Below is a list of steps that can assist you in making necessary changes.
Keep an Open Mind
Maybe you have always dreamed about working in a particular industry or job. Maybe you have worked so hard to earn a college degree only to find out that you’ve made the wrong choices. Either way, it is never too late to change directions.
You may need to return to school and earn a different degree. Or you could enroll in a training program that will give you the necessary skills to break into a different field. Evaluating what your options are will give you a realistic idea of what it will take to get you to where you really want to be.
Set Small Realistic Goals
To advance in your chosen field, it is important to set small goals with a definite but flexible deadline. Zero in on the skills that will be needed for you to succeed in your new occupation.
A timeline will give you help keep you focused on your goals while providing you the direction of how to get there in the first place.
Maintain Your Flexibility
As you continue working in your chosen field, certain circumstances and people come along and influence the way we see ourselves. They also offer a different perspective on how we can best utilize our skills and abilities. Being open for change will help you to make the most of these opportunities.
As you are able to revise your plans, you might be able to see a more prudent way of making your dreams become a reality. Being able to maintain your flexibility is an important part of the career changing process.
A willingness to seek wise counsel will ultimately help you achieve your goal.
Evaluate Your Goals
Evaluating your career path frequently will help you to determine if you are making forward progress. You always need to assess your skills and, when necessary, take action – so that you remain competitive in the business world.
It is not wise to wait until your annual employee review to make a self-assessment. The idea is to strengthen your weaknesses before your employer points them out. Do not forget to always continue your education, as doing so will only make you more marketable in the future.
So even if you are not unhappy with what you are currently doing, it is wise to think ahead and prepare for the future. You want to keep your options open so that you’ll be prepared when an opportunity presents itself.

You have recently made the decision to exit one career and enter a new one, which can be both exciting and a little bit scary. But while the choice to make the career switch was probably a grueling one, the prospect of explaining your lack of job experience to potential employers is probably downright terrifying.
Though you may be concerned about drawing attention to this missing portion of your career history, don’t spend too much time dwelling on it. The truth is, if you really desire to move into your new career, you can do it. You just have to believe in yourself and present this belief in your cover letters. Let’s look at how you can do it … Be Honest about Why You’re Changing Careers
When you begin explaining why you’re switching careers in your cover letter, it is best to be as honest as possible. You can do this by remembering that at some point you sat alone and contemplated your reasons for making this major life decision. So take this time to revisit those reasons. Are you switching because you weren’t fulfilled in your previous career? Or do you believe that you’ve always had talent in this field and now you want to pursue it?
Whatever your reasons may be, express them well. Doing so may help prospective employers better relate to your new-found passion. Even more, it may inspire them to take a chance with you, even if you have less experience in this specific career than other candidates. Discuss Your Relevant Experience
As mentioned previously, you may not have an extensive background in the career you are pursuing, but that’s okay. If you have relevant professional experience, you can simply dig that up to show the prospective employer your ability to perform.
For instance, you may have years of experience working as a PR manager. However, you would like to become a marketing manager because you’re interested in branding products, participating in trade shows, and getting the company name out to the public. As a PR manager, you may have experience talking to the media on behalf of your company, and developing strategies to help create the proper public image. So you can note these and other relevant PR experiences in your cover letter to show that your understanding of the company’s public image and products can easily be applied to a marketing career.Do You Believe in Yourself?
You should question how much you believe in yourself before writing your cover letter. Why? Because you are making a major change in your life that requires courage, and could possibly face a little rejection. If you hold fear in your heart, it can easily translate on paper. So before you write your cover letter, it is a good idea to develop and nurture your belief in your capabilities. This can boost your confidence and possibly help the potential employer take a greater interest in you.
Switching careers can definitely be an intimidating prospect to consider. But if you have confidence in your abilities, the skills to back it up, and a great cover letter to boot, you will be well on your way to successfully entering an exciting new career in the field you absolutely love.

When “career counselor” was a new word (and a “coach” blew the whistle at basketball practice), we all read the Parachute book. The standard career advice line went something like this:
“People are bored. They love to talk about what they do. So call them up and ask for information. Eventually someone will offer you a job.”
In my experience, that advice is as outdated as the typewriters we used back when the first Parachute edition appeared in the bookstores.
Today networking matters more than ever before. But you have to work your way into everyone’s outrageously busy schedule.
(1) Create a professional presence on the Internet, using Facebook, Myspace, and/or LinkedIn. Zoodango has become popular among corporate executives.
You can be outgoing and personal but share only what your next uptight business contact needs to know…unless you refuse to ever work with the uptight set, which is another article.
It’s no accident that my “personal” public persona showcases my dog, with occasional glimpses of the cats. I’ve seen too many innocent disclosures get distorted… anyone following the Amanda Knox case?
(2) Attend professional meetings and conferences.
In some fields, you’ll make awesome contacts. In others, you’ll just get information about what’s really happening, outside your own office.
And when you need to make calls, you may be able to say, “I’d like to use your name when I call your associate at MegaBig company…”
Or, “Do you know anyone who worked at SoNew Company? I’d like to get more info before applying…”
(3) Go back to school the grown-up executive way.
If appropriate, consider teaching courses at local universities and learning centers. Choose topics that enhance your most marketable strengths.
You won’t get rich from the stipends but you get exposure and credibility. You’ll often make some helpful contacts and gain new perspectives on the field.
Or consider the other side of the desk.
If you have funds and opportunity, a graduate degree can open doors – not just from the degree, but also from contacts you make. Programs offering face-to-face meetings on weekends or evenings tend to be most effective – and I have met people who got jobs through fellow students.
(4) Attend networking events designed for business owners (even if you love the corporate world and plan to stay forever).
You never know. Remember the Mary Poppins line: “I’ll stay till the wind changes.” I’ve met many savvy business people who encountered a tornado in their own offices.
When that happens, especially if you’re over 50, you may see income faster from self-employment than from sending out resumes. I wouldn’t stop job-hunting but hey, why not explore this path too?
Being around business owners will give you a boost: “If they can, I can.” And if you think like an entrepreneur, you may find corporate life a little easier to take (and more rewarding, too).
Just about everyone who attends those meetings has corporate contacts…and they’re very comfortable making referrals and introductions. That’s how they grow their own businesses.
(5) Talk to everybody.
One of my acquaintances found herself sitting next to some corporate executives at a basketball game. Turns out they were using tickets from a corporate sponsor…and that company often had openings in her field. That particular contact didn’t lead to a job, but she did gain some ideas that she used to make a quantum career leap.
University alumni groups tend to be especially friendly and open. It’s an easy place to say, “I’m looking for a job in X industry. Do you know…”
Bottom Line: We’re not calling strangers anymore to ask for “advice.” Everybody knows what you’re really after…and if they don’t, they’re too clueless to help. But we have newer, more user-friendly and more effective ways to build a network (before we *need* one).