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How to make a rewarding career change: where to start

If you are considering making a career change you might be feeling overwhelmed or confused about where to start. Change can feel crazy making. A friend once told me “sometimes we let go one finger at a time” when I called her for advice about a situation that I was having difficulty walking away from.

Change is process. There is a beginning, middle, and an end. In the beginning you may be unclear about what your options are. You may wonder whether your experience is relevant. Or you may have concerns about things over which you have no control such as your age or race. This is just your Inner Gremlin or Fearful Voice talking.  The fact you are reading this blog already tells me  you ARE employable.

Once you make the decision to explore a career transition you might be tempted to jump in and reply to postings that you find interesting. Hold off, there are some steps you need to take before you can start looking at opportunities.

You might make an appointment with a career coach expecting him or her to tell you what you would be good at. A reputable career coach will NOT tell you that instead they will give you the tools and the feedback to reach an informed decision.

A satisfying transition starts with a thorough exploration of career history, interests, and values. Make a date with yourself to go to visit a place that is relaxing. Some of my favorite places include the beach, park, or down under the Brooklyn Bridge. Bring along a pen, notebook and print out of this posting. WARNING: you may find it difficult to answer these questions, so you bring along some Kleenex, too. While you might find it painful, answering the following the questions is the first step towards a better road.

  1. What is causing you to make a change? Has there been a significant change in your industry or the culture of your organization? Are you frequently passed over from promotions? Are you unable to find work in your field?
  2. How long have you been feeling this way or thinking about making a change? Days, weeks, months, years? How often do you think about making a change?
  3. How has this affected your life? Do you feel irrelavent? alone? Do you lose sleep? Have headaches? Frequent disagreements with friends and family?
  4. What will it cost you financially, emotionally, spiritually… if things remain the same?
  5. How do you envision your life will be different once you have completed your change?

In MyCareerCoach’s next blog post I will share more tips for making a rewarding career transition

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How to recognize when it is time to make a career change

(First of 3 articles discussing the career change process)

You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.” Jan Glideswell

This quote describes one of the most costly roadblocks to change. The loss of a job can be extremely painful. One woman I know held on so tightly to the idea of getting back her former life as a top level executive in an industry that was rapidly changing. She neglected to keep up with the trends or consider other options. After 3 years of unemployment and the loss of her entire savings she accepted a much lower position.

The corporate landscape has changed over the last decade. Social marketing and other new technologies have impacted jobs in publishing, marketing, and manufacturing. Other jobs have changed so dramatically that everyone from support staff to the executive suite are forced to learn new skills. This is great if you enjoy the new way of doing things and quite stressful if you don’t .

Recently my husband read When Everything Changes, Change Everything by Neale Donald Walsh. If nothing else the title describes exactly what I suggest for you to consider. As industries change you may find that what was once a great fit is now your worst nightmare.

Signs that this might be happening to you is frequent job changes. Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated because you can cannot keep up with new technologies or strongly disagree with how business is being run. If you are unable to embrace changes in your industry, it might be time to let go.

Would you like to make a career change? Contact amditta@mycareercoach.net / 917-576-2821 about the Change Your Career, Change Your Life program, starting soon.

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How finding Mr. Right can be like finding the right career

Last night, my best friend Susan and I met for dinner. Given that she still lives in Brooklyn and I am in Westchester, we don’t see each other as much as we’d like to. The last time we got together was around the holidays. Yikes!  Had it been that long? None the less, she looked radiant.

Susan was divorced several years ago. Up until about a year agao she had been looking for Mr. Right. However, the men she dated were more like Mr. “More of the Same”; needy, immature and self-centered. Did I mention that Susan was a social worker?

The problem was Susan had been attracted to the wrong men.  Over the years, I encouraged her to be open to men who did not immediately appear to be her type. It took awhile but eventually she started to do things differently.

About 14 months ago, Susan met Mike, who was also divorced. Initially Susan thought Mike was a nice man even if she didn’t feel that spark of excitement. It wasn’t until the fifth date that she realized how special Mike really was. Over the past year, they have laughed together, overcame a crisis’ together, and more recently set up home together.

Career paths can sometimes be like dating. Over the years, I have known really smart talented people who keep going back to “More of the Same” industries and companies that keep giving them headaches and disappointments.  Let’s face it, if nothing changes then nothing changes.

If you frequently find yourself in this position it might be time for a change.

For learn more about making a  career transition or to to receive information about our new Change Your Career, Change Your Life Coaching group, email us at amditta@mycareercoach.net.

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How your inner voice can guide you to a new career

Last Tuesday, the Wall Street Journa ran an article about John Putnam, a corporate attorney turned cheese maker. The events that led to his decision were not earth shattering. He had not been laid off, his industry was thriving. On the outside he had every reason to continue his legal career. However, his transition was based on something much simpler – his inner voice.

Getting in touch with your inner voice or gut feelings can be confusing? For Mr. Putnam his inner voice nudged him while he was conducting a deposition in New York “Everyone there was very senior and making serious bucks. That’s when I looked around and [realized] I didn’t want to spend the best part of my life getting to where they are.”

Strong emotions can be a a signal that your personal goals need to change. This was the case with a teacher who I coached about a year ago. She was so unhappy with her job that she would wake up in a state of anxiety in the middle of the night.

As we started to examine her strengths, experience, and values she discovered a significant discrepancy between her responsibilities and what she enjoyed doing. The intention of finding joy in her work allowed her to collaborate with her new boss to balance her strengths with the needs of the organizaiton.

Over the past year I have met a lot of people whom, after losing a job, found themselves confused about where they fit in professionally. If you are one of these people, your confusion may be your inner voice’s way of expressing your need for a change.

Over the years I have found the people who trust their instincts, intuition or inner voice to be some of the happiest and most positive people I know. If you ever followed a hunch and had it work out, you probably understand how great it feels to be in sync with your inner voice, the universe, or whatever you attribute it to.

The willingness to trust yourself is key to living the life you want and deserve. If something does not work out as planned, try viewing it as a learning experience and move on.

The simple meditation will help you to get in touch with your inner voice:

Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your back straight. You may place your hands on your belly or in your lap. Now close your eyes and take a deep breath. Feel the rise and fall of your breath against your fingers. Next, relax your scull, your brow, your eyes, your facial muscles. Release your jaw and gently moisten your lips.

Move down to your throat, let it relax, release all tension from your shoulders. Notice how good this process of letting go feels. Relax your chest, your belly, your thighs, the muscles of your calves, your ankles and feet.

Next picture yourself someplace very beastuful and relaxing like a Caribbean island, forest, mountain top. It does matter, this is your place. It is where you go to relax. Do not worry if an image comes to mind. It is okay to feel it, think it, or just have a sense of someplace enjoyable.

You might want some shelter at your special place. It can be a lean to, tent, large crevice or whatever pleases you. Picture a golden shimmer illuminating your special place. Take in the view.As you become more relaxed you might want to ask your inner self a question about your career. Some things you might want to ask are:

  1. What would I like to be paid to do?
  2. What is my next career move?
  3. What am I most passionate about?
  4. What can I do that would be rewarding to the universe as well as my self?
  5. What is my purpose or passion in life?

If the answer doesn’t come immediately, that’s okay. The question has been asked and shall be answered in due time. Take a look around as you get ready to leave your special place. Know that you can visit it anytime you need to.

Become aware of your breathing and gently rub the tips of your fingers. Wiggle your toes. Feel the energy come back into your body and slowly open your eyes. You have taken the first step to your new and fulfilling career.

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Recession Proof Your Career, Now!

Unemployment is up to 7.2%, 13 people were laid off by my husband’s employer, my phone is ringing off the hook; the job market is looking pretty scary for everyone. Having tremendous success with the Job Club I lead on behalf of the Center for Women of New York, I was inspired to present this program in my own backyard of Westchester. Whether you are unemployed or facing a lay-off, this unique program will help you develop powerful skills and proven tools to manage your job search or navigate career change.

THE JOB CLUB:
TRANSCENDING FROM CRISIS TO OPPORTUNITY
Wednesdays: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
January 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25,
April 1, 15 and 22, 2009
Wainwright House
260 Stuyvesant Avenue, Rye, NY 10580

In a safe and supportive environment, learn how to:
• Embrace change and use it to propel you forward
• Explore and identify career paths that best fit your strengths and interests
• Prevent your Inner Gremlin from standing between you and your goals
• Effectively build and mobilize your network, even if you are shy
• Address spoken and unspoken objections and work around challenges
• Define your Personal Brand for use in your resume, cover letter, online presence,
sound bites and messages that capture the interests of hiring managers and key contacts
• Conduct an effective job search using the Dispatch Method
• Transform interviews from interrogations into business meetings
• Identify and answer illegal interview questions while maintaining your cool
• Negotiate better salary and compensation packages

Pre-registration is required
http://www.wainwright.org/Program_DittaAnneMarie_series.htm
Phone registrations: 914-967-6080, Monday – Friday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
At other times, please leave a message and a registrar will return your call and take your registration and credit card information.
12-week series
$540 for members \ / $600 for non-members

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6 Tips to Help You Stand Out Amongst the Masses

This evening Value Drugs (an independent pharmacy and housewares store) in my community was filled with holiday shoppers. Reminiscent of the old Woolworths, Value Drugs is nestled off the main road in a community cluttered with 3 CVS’s, 1 Walgreens, 2 True Value Hardware Stores, and a large Stop n’ Shop. While the parking lots of the aforementioned sat vacant, Value Drugs was bustling with activity. The reason for the increased activity was a unique promotion that invited “family and friends” to their holiday party.

With 533,000 jobs cut in November, the unemployment rate rose to 6.7%.  According to Nigel Gaust, chief domestic economist for IHS Global Insight “we are caught in a downward spiral in which employment, incomes and spending are collapsing together.”  The current situation is unnerving regardless of whether or not you have been downsized. The question is What Will You Do About It?

While you cannot turn around the entire economy, you can take control of your situation.  My bet is the people who will survive and thrive the current recession are people  like the owners of Value Drugs who use their creative talents to devise strategies that help them stand out amongst the masses. Below are some ideas to help you do this:

  1. Treat your job search, career change, or performance improvement like a major project. Have clear, measurable and achievable objectives; project schedules and deliverables; establish a budget; define who your stakeholders and resource pool are; plan for unexpected changes.
  2. Define your professional brand and include it in your resume, cover letter, elevator speech…
  3. Start a blog or contribute to one that builds on your professional brand and your unique expertise..
  4. Have lunch or coffee with someone you who you admire. These people might be  colleagues, vendors, speakers, supervisors, former bosses, etc…
  5. Call someone you have been meaning to call. Follow up with a face to face meeting, whenever possible.
  6. Put together a portfolio that highlights your greatest accomplishments. Show it to someone who can help you achieve your goal.

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