Changing jobs is quite natural for many people nowadays. Specialists kept on switching companies looking for a better place to work at. But their functional responsibilities still remain the same. However, such rotation without the change of your occupation is not 100% useful. Psychological research has showed that a person will have more chances to succeed if he changes his vocation once 5 – 7 years. Thus he will acquire new knowledge and experience and he will learn how to deal with new unusual tasks.Even if you have created a dynamic plan for developing your career from a clerk to a senior manager in a particular company new responsibilities don’t substitute old ones, but are just added to the existing duties. In other words, you don’t change your activity – but the sphere of your responsibility becomes wider. In fact, a person keeps on working in the same professional area.  However paradoxical it may be, but after a few years since submitting your sales resume you are more likely to lose your sales competence than to gain or improve it.  You get tired of routine work; you fulfill your duties mechanically with no zest and enthusiasm. That is why psychologists suggest changing the content of the work not its place. Human resource managers still make the same mistake:  they are looking for the applicants with at least a year – relevant experience. They don’t consider retrained specialists or those who have no experience in the pertinent area. They don’t take into account that inexperienced candidates have considerable advantages over the experts: they have no professional stamps/ clichés, they are ready to improve themselves, and they have sincere interest for the new job and others.Today more and more people are changing their specialty. Social psychology defines this   phenomenon as professional reorientation.   Mostly it applies to young people. Older people have less flexible thinking – their professional life is influenced by prevalent stereotypes and they have too high demands for themselves. People older 35 are afraid of taking risks.  Even if his life-time dream was to become an executive of car manufacturing company, he won’t set himself to writing a resume. The idea of cardinal retraining seems senseless and even careless to older people.  Most of them can neither afford no do they want to spend their time and money for obtaining a second education.  Two categories make an exception of this statement. They are housewives, who have adult children and now are free to take up their career.  Another category is retired servicemen. Both groups come across a lot of objective and psychological difficulties. Psychologists admit that only few people with a specific temperament are capable of abrupt changing their professional life. The ability to take reasonable risk in your professional life – is the major factor of success. And on the contrary – fear of changes or failure inhibit your success.  You will always have a well -paid job if you learn to regard studies and job changing as a natural component of your working life. A well – known American businessman, the author of several books on business psychology wrote: “It is not worth sticking to your primary vocation for being rewarded a golden watch when you are retired.”  Think, may be it is time for you to stop sending your teacher resume from one school to another and consider better choices.

As the old saying goes your home is your castle. Whether you are building, improving, or just maintaining your home, many tradesmen or women will be assisting you to that end. When such a valuable asset is being worked on by another, quality is one of your foremost concerns. This quality comes from knowledge and experience in ones field as well as a certain amount of self respect and pride in ones work. Unfortunately, previous generations regarded these jobs with more respect, which has precipitated a collapse in the size of our younger labor pool. “Over the past ten years construction workers in the 20-30 age group declined from 40.5 percent to 26.5 percent. The percentage of workers in the 41-50 age group increased from 18 to 26 percent”(1).

Labor drying up has made it so “contractors of all sizes are on their own, forced to recruit and train on an individual basis. This is an ineffective process and cost prohibitive” (1). In a time when fewer workers are entering the market the industry is poised for growth. This gives employers fewer choices, causes them to settle for lower standards in workers and service, and allows competitors to gain market share who are willing to compromise service standards even further. “If companies want to fill their vacant positions, they might have to loosen up their hiring standards, too, said Jim Mize, manager of employer outreach at Pima County One-Stop Career Center”(5). Does this seem unfair for the consumer with their castle and the honest hard working Americans that have pride in their work?

Most high school students have no idea what one can earn by learning a trade, “A journeyman generally earns between $28 and $32 an hour (up to $64,000 a year)–a pretty nice wage for a 23-year-old. Most states require a plumber to have 2 to 10 years of experience at the apprentice level to qualify as a journeyman. My neighbor attended a trade school. He is a tool and die maker. He learned the skill in night classes. After spending time as an apprentice, he opened his own shop. It is now a multi-million dollar business” (3,4). A competent person learning a skilled trade can easily achieve the American dream. We at 10 best Tucson are on a mission to find the best home service professionals in Tucson and share them with the community. By uniting community officials and business leaders under the common goal of higher quality trades in the labor pool, the ability for honest companies to grow without compromising their excellent service records will be achievable. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao recently announced her “Skills to Build America’s Future” initiative. It “will reach out to a new generation of tradesmen and women and encourage them to use their skills and talents to find careers that will help to pave the way to a fulfilling career and bright financial future” (Doleta).

This message must be made clear to the future of our local labor market and to current workers who are considering changing careers. These skills that are currently cultivated by a unique few are ones to be proud of, and can be quite lucrative as well. Becoming a journeyman and with an entrepreneurial co-education or an enterprising spirit practically ensures an exalted status of financial wealth. These are pragmatic messages that must be presented to our youth. Our businesses can grow while maintaining their integrity and providing the absolute best possible service to home owners and customers. They deserve it. Keep a watchful eye on this topic. 10 best Tucson will be the catalyst for change.

-Todd Cuson Article Source

Article Reource:

1. Louis J. Coletti, Workforce development needs for industry are great, Real Estate Weekly, Feb 23, 2005.

2. Ilana Mercer, U.S. Jobs: Reach for the Stars e or a Hammer, Insight on the News, May 11, 2004.

3. Billijo Saffold and Bobbi Aschwanden Thomas, Should high schools prepare all students for college?, NEA Today, November 2005.

4. Susan Sales Harkins, Plumb perfect: sure, drains and pipes can be messy-but plumbing has plenty of rewards, Career World, September 2005.

5. Shelley Shelton, Local companies find tight market for workers, Arizona Daily Star, September 02, 2007.

We spend approximately 50% of our waking hours at work. Doesn’t it make sense to make the most of that time, otherwise what’s the point? OK, it pays the bills but shouldn’t it be about more than that. The happier you are at work, the happier you can be with other areas of your life.

If work’s getting you down or you’d like to try something different, here are a few things to consider.

1. So, are you happy at work? If not, why not? Is it the type of work you do, the people you work with or your boss? What can you do to change your situation? How could you make it more interesting, how could you improve the relationships with the people you work with? Could you do the same thing but for a different company. Could you delegate tasks to someone else in your team?

2. Do you love what you do? What is your passion and what motivates you? What values in your life are important to you – health, money, security, family, relationships etc. Follow these and you’ll be happier in your work and in life generally.

3. What are you good at? What skills and abilities do you have? Where could you make improvements? Training for the job that you do could improve your job satisfaction and your job prospects and could enable you to take on a new role.

4. Where do you want to go? Are you looking for promotion, salary increase or a job change? Sometimes we have to start at the bottom in order to get where we want to be. Have your goal in mind so you don’t lose sight of what you’re doing and more importantly why!

5. Get yourself a mentor. Find someone you respect, who’s where you want to be or done what you want to do. If you don’t know anyone at work, is there someone outside work you could discuss your plans with and who would be prepared to give you advice and support?

6. Keep your CV up-to-date. Be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that might present itself if you’re looking to change jobs. Alternatively, go out and find those opportunities – if you want to change, you need to make it happen. Opportunities will present themselves if you’re looking for them.

7. Take control of your own career. There are always things we can do to change and grow. If you’re looking for a new career then spend some time thinking about what you want from your work. What do you value, need, want? What does work mean to you? How important is it in your life? What are the things you’re good at, what sort of work do you like to do? How could you create your perfect job?

Sometimes living from day to day is fine but it helps if you have a plan in mind. Where do you want to be a year from now, three years from now? Set a goal “Next year, I want to be doing …” Then set some specific steps to get you there.

What a terrible time to make life-affecting decisions the twenties are! Who to marry? How should we know, at age twenty they all look alike to us. Where to live? Well, we only know one town, the place we grew up, so how should we know if other places are better? What should we do for a career? Search us!

But apparently, many of us pick the wrong career. You know because you hear so many forty-year-olds groaning: “This isn’t what I wanted to do!” “Boy, if I knew then what I know now!” “If I had it to do over again, I would have stuck to plumbing like Dad told me to!” and my favorite, “I’m getting too old for this!”, at age 42.

Well, here’s yet another quick career guide. Maybe it will help you, and maybe it won’t. But given how every other method for determining the outcome of your life seems to have the same odds as a coin toss, maybe it won’t be any worse than any other method.

• Step One: Completely eliminate this self defeating phrase from your vocabulary: “It is too late”. Live with how good it feels to change your life perspective. It is never too late to have your own dream career. It might be difficult for you to go after it. It might be one of the greatest challenges of your time, but if you desire it, that is when it is never too late.
• Step Two: Dare to dream, dream big, and dream deep. You do have a dream to call your own? Do you imagine yourself pursuing some other path and working in a brand new career or field? What is it that you see? How do you want to spend your days and weeks? If you already enjoy your career, how could you make it that much better? Brainstorm your ideas on a sheet of paper and think about these questions. If you are spending an inordinate amount of time dreaming about another, different way to work, it is time to do something deterministic about it. You do not have to run right out and quit your current job; in fact, please do not. But there is no harm in investigating the many possibilities.
• Step Three: Take a few moments to design your ideal career life. Now match it with your real life which you have around you. Doing the “wheel of life” exercise is great for this test. With this exercise you can visibly see how much closer your ideal and actual life really is, and determine how comfortable or uncomfortable you are with this new match. Now, design your perfect, ideal day. What would have to change in your life so that you could live more of your dream days? What are you willing to do, how far are you willing to stretch to make it a promising reality?
• Speak with those closest to you about your career ideas and dreams. Ask them to come on the journey of discovery with you, but be sure to listen to and validate their concerns and fears. If you choose to change careers it is likely that you will not be the only one who is impacted. Talk about the other possibilities. Anticipate the obstacles and leave the discussion wide open. Allow your partner the chance to sit with it for a while, and then realize that although you may have spent the past six months or ten years or so wishing you were doing something else, this may come as somewhat of a surprise to this person and you have to let him or her absorb all of it.
• Step Four: Listen to your inner intuition. What do you do better than anybody else? What comes the most naturally to you? What is effortless for you to do? What is the one thing, or many things, you can do today to let your unique gifts and talents shine? What can you do today that will make your heart sing with joy? What is holding you back from it? If you feel some fear about changing your secure situation, what is behind the prohibiting fear? What is the worst that could happen if you decided to make just one single, solitary small change? Choose to do something today that would move you ever closer to your dream day or ideal life and see how that feels to accomplish it. If it works for you, then take another step.
• Step Five: Now that you have asked a lot of these tough questions, answer this for yourself. Where do you want to be in terms of your career in another five or ten years? If you were to fully live your life’s true purpose, what changes would you then have to make? If you were doing the same thing in five years that you are doing now, how would you feel then? What regrets would you have about your path? Is that all right with you? If it is not, do something about it.
• Step Six: Evaluate the barriers that might be getting in the way of your making a defining change. Think about the role that money, expectations, time, confidence, and guilt all play into what you expect of yourself. Now take those factors away and what do you hear that remains? Imagine that you have decided to pursue your inner passions. What is the first step in your journey? Who could you talk to that could help illuminate your goal forward? What does it feel like to live in that personal space for a while? Pay attention to how that dream feels; the more you want it, the more determined you will be to get it!
• Step Seven: Do like they teach in business school, only this time working for yourself, and create an action plan. If you have decided to stay in your current career position, speak with your boss or supervisor and come up with a plan to help you get more skill invested in your work. Maybe you could ask to work on a special project? Or ask to find a way to use your strengths and experience in a new way to pick up new responsibilities. If you have decided to pursue a different career path, identify the necessary steps you need to take to make your dream a reality.

Did it work? Well, if it did, glad to help, and if it didn’t, what did you expect from an online article?

The average person will change careers three to five times in their lifetime. Are you ready to change yours?

Here are the 3 stages you need to go through to succeed:

1) Plan and Research: The key here is “Know Thyself”. Understand why you are changing careers and what is important to you this time around. Write these things down so you can reread the reasons later. Are you aiming for more money? Less stress? More responsibility? You need to have some idea of the job/career you are aiming for, and then begin the research process. Look into what the job actually requires and what the criteria are for interview. Find out what the career path is within the organisations you are looking at. Make a written plan for your career change process that includes a timeline of when you would expect to actually be starting your job. Remember to consider the financial impact of changing career. Do you need to save for a few months to pay for the downtime or retraining?

2) Retrain and Work for free: Once you know what job you want, it is likely you will need to retrain in some way or get some more experience before you are in paid employment in your new role. Retraining may be full or part-time study or even a correspondence course. Working for free is another way to gain the skills and experience needed. It also gives you an insight into what the job really is, as opposed to what you think it might be. This may involve volunteering for an associated charity, asking to shadow people in that role already or an apprenticeship program. If you have decided that you want to start your own business, then work at it in the evenings and weekends. By keeping the day job, you will put less pressure on yourself and working for free gives you more options while you consider your new career path. Remember you have choices at all stages of the process. You can change courses, or decide on a specialty. Keep your eyes open for opportunities that will appear as you gain more experience in your new field.

3) Commitment and Persistence: Changing your career can be hard work, especially if you are still doing your old job in order to pay for the move. But this is your commitment to yourself and your long term happiness. Your commitment to the process means following your plan even when it gets difficult. Persistence is important as you will find ways to give up otherwise. Surely two hours working on your retraining is worth more than two hours of TV? If you managed that several times a week, you will be well on your way. Reread your reasons to change from step 1. Remember why you need to make the change this time. What will happen if you don’t go through with it this time? Will you still be in the same situation in 6 months?

Changing jobs has to be one of the more difficult decisions a person can make; staying in the work environment we are used to can sometimes be easier than having to embrace uncertainty, and having to prove your professional qualifications and credibility in a new workplace.
The decision for change becomes that much more difficult if the new job you want means changing your career. While you will face a challenge in trying to get the job that meets your new career objectives, writing your resume should not be one of them.
On the Internet alone, there are numerous resources for career changers. From helping you decide which career you are best suited for to providing helpful advice on how to succeed in your new job, you will find an overwhelming amount of resources to help you in your new journey. While most of the information you find will be helpful, be careful about the sources you utilize in order to put together the most persuasive resume for your new career choice.
There are really two basic elements to successfully creating a resume for a career changer: research and transferable skills. Most people put a lot of thought into changing careers. They consider their families, their living and financial situations, their competitive advantage in the new field, etc. After you convince yourself that changing careers is the right thing to do, you will have to convince your potential employers to give you the job you are seeking. To do so, you have to do your research.
Demonstrate to your employer that you have an extensive knowledge of the industry, even if you don’t have the accompanying experience. Before you begin your new career, make sure that you understand what professional paths are available for you, and determine what your ultimate goal is.
This will help you form the career objective for your resume. Additional, make sure to do your research on the company you are interested in, as well as their competition (if you are interested in non-profit organizations, make sure to brush up on other organizations with similar missions); if invited for an interview, you will want to appear very knowledgeable not only about their company, but about the industry as a whole.
You will have to convince your potential employer that you the best person for the job, better than the candidates with experience to do that, you have to showcase not only your enthusiasm for the opportunity, but your eagerness to learn and your knowledge about the field.
Transferable skills, those skills that can be utilized in numerous fields, are also a key to a successful career change. Consider your qualifications to date. What experience have you acquired that can be transferred across industries?
Transferable skills include verbal and written communication, people management, customer relations, organization and project management, development of new processes, generation of new ideas or concepts, etc. Such skills can be adapted to all organizations, and you should utilize them to showcase your qualifications for the job you are seeking.
For example, if you would like to ditch the 9-to-5 desk job for a hectic, unpredictable life of a high school teacher, let your potential employer know that your previous experience in leading by motivation makes you a perfect candidate for the job (even if that marketing project you managed has nothing to do with teaching English composition).
Making a list of all your professional experiences and the qualifications needed for the job you are seeking will help you in determining which skills are transferable to your new career. Once you define your transferable skills, use a functional resume to assure most (if not all) of the qualifications needed for the new job are met in your resume.
In addition to your resume, use your cover letter or email to let your potential employer know why you are changing careers, and that your new interest is not a passing one. Make sure that your resume reflects your newfound interest in a genuine and professional manner, and you are sure to have a successful career change.

Are you unhappy with your current lot in your professional life? If you’re less than satisfied with your job, you’re not alone. According to a recent online jobsite survey, 86% of employees are not happy with their current position. The number one reason cited–management. Managers should take note: An even higher number of employees said they plan to look for new jobs within the next six months. Whether employees will decide to act on their impulses, or decide to take a sit-and-wait approach has yet to be determined.

One thing is certain: Dissatisfaction seems to be a universal trend. According to a recent “New Employer/Employee Survey” conducted for a broad range of nearly 8,000 members of the U.S. workforce, only 45% of workers say they are satisfied, or extremely satisfied with their jobs. As you might expect, only 20% felt very passionate about their jobs. These numbers suggest that the key to career satisfaction is to be in a line of work that inspires and energizes you.Education: The Key to Your New Career Path

If you ever have doubted the direct correlation between your level of education and your career potential, you would be wise to study the link between formal education and average earnings. The American Council on Education (ACE) released a recent survey showing that in 2002, bachelor’s degree holders earned an average of 88% more than high school graduates. Twenty years ago, college graduates earned an average of 61% more. The undeniable trend? Education is the stepping-stone to increasing your earning potential and unlocking doors to more career options.Stuck in a Rut with a Dead-End Future? Do a U-Turn and Get Back on Track!

According to a recent assessment conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, 88% of students complete high school in the United States. If you’re one of the 12% who hasn’t, your future career opportunities can be dismal. To get back on track with your education, obtain a high school equivalency from your local school district, continuing education units, or even community college with a General Education Development (GED) program. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of these programs. They can provide the jump-start you need to get out of a dead-end job and increase your future career opportunities. You need to have your GED before you can seek higher education. According to ACE, one in every seven Americans with high school credentials received the GED, as did one in every twenty college students.Use Your Experience to Your Advantage When Seeking a Career Change

According to recent estimates by the Census Bureau, 24.4% of U.S. citizens have a bachelor’s degree. If you’re one of the lucky graduates, you already have a significant leg-up. But, if you landed in an industry where you just don’t fit and begrudgingly report to work day in and day out, you may want to look at a 180-degree career change. Don’t be afraid to pursue opportunities outside of your current professional realm. Your personal experience, hobbies, or even affiliations outside of the office can help you land other jobs. Use your experience to your advantage. At first blush, your experience may seem to be unrelated to what you really want to do, but don’t sell yourself short. View all of your experiences as strengths and play up any transferable skills on your next job application. Keep in mind that, in general, employers like to diversify their workplaces. You may bring a well-rounded and fresh perspective to a different career path because of your experiences, which is highly sought after by many employers. A diverse background in a different career field can boast of your adaptability, and may actually be seen as an attribute that distinguishes you from your competition.Is it Time? Take a Chance and Change Your Career

Keep in mind that only you can decide what will make you happy. Be careful not to flock to a popular or hot job just because it looks impressive on a resume. Choose something that will provide meaningful, stimulating work for you. Also, don’t feel like you’re a statistical anomaly or disloyal by seeking a career change. Recent studies indicate that the average worker will change careers several times over the course of his professional lifetime. Gone are the days of toiling away for one employer and retiring after 30 years of loyal service. Know what you want, and go after it. A career change can improve your well-being and your outlook for the future. In the words of self-fulfillment guru, Walter Anderson, “Our lives improve only when we take chances and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.”