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"I kept seeing electronic resumes wanted by companies I was applying to. Not being computer-smart, I had no idea what that meant. I searched the sites and used you guys since you seemed professional and affordable. The electronic resume you prepared for me looks better than my regular resume. I didn’t know you could make regular text so appealing. I owe you my job." |
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Should I Change Careers?
The Wall Street journal reports that over half of Americans wish they could change not just their jobs, but their entire careers-but when is a reluctance to get out of bed in the morning a product of fatigue, and when is it a symptom of burnout that's not going to depart after a vacation? Will changing your field allow you to find a better match for your personality and skills, or will a few adjustments to your current environment provide you with what you need to face that seven o'clock alarm with a better attitude? Take a look at the questions below, and check either (a) or (b). Total your answers in both columns, then compare them to the key below.
1. When I was first looking for a job, I
(a) couldn't find work in the specific field that I was trained for, and settled for my current job because it was related and paid reasonably well.
(b) Easily found work in the field I chose, but have since become less than happy with my current position.
2. When I feel like I'm not accomplishing anything at work, it's mostly because
(a) there's a big gulf between what I feel I could be doing and the job description for a typical employee in my field
(b) my current job doesn't allow me the resources or flexibility to accomplish what I want
3. The most difficult part of my job is
(a) finding ways to translate my skills into tasks that actually relate to my work
(b) coping with either too few or too many challenges
4. I look forward to vacations because
(a) I finally have a chance to spend time doing the activities that I enjoy
(b) Relaxation time-no fax machines, phones, or depressing cubicle
5. When I'm bored at work, it usually
(a) lasts for months on end, because of work that is unchallenging and never increases in complexity.
(b) Lasts for a short period of time, until I'm assigned a task that I enjoy.
6. When I consider making a move, I generally
(a) find myself glancing wistfully at the parts of the classifieds that are more in line with what I perceive my talents and skills to be, but putting the paper away when I realize that I have bills to pay.
(b) Wanting a promotion in my own company, or a new position in a competitor
7. The number of opportunities for continuing education at work are
(a) Extremely limited. I've gone where I can in my field, although I wish I could do more.
(b) Limitless. If I had the time to go to more conferences or workshops, I could definitely use what I would learn in my job.
8. I would be willing to take a salary cut if
(a) My work wasn't so mundane. I would accept less if I could leave work with the feeling that I'd done something during the day that nobody else in my company could.
(b) I was given fewer responsibilities, and worked fewer hours.
9. Outside of work
(a) I like to dissociate myself from what goes on in the office. Work is something I'm paid to do-there's no need to concern myself with it once five o'clock comes.
(b) My best friends are also my colleagues.
10. My field
(a) has changed drastically within the past few years. What I was hired to do is very different than what I'm actually doing now, and less enjoyable.
(b) Is largely the same as it was when I was first hired, and, with some continuing education, I could update my knowledge and get the promotions and raises I want.
Mostly
(a)s: A career change might be just what you need to revitalize work. You've expressed not just an unhappiness with your environment, but a fundamental need to pursue opportunities that your current field cannot offer. The next step is to assess what skills you want to utilize in another occupation. If you've made the mistake of settling once, don't do it again. Even an entry-level job that you love is better than another Monday morning wishing a power outage would close your office indefinitely. Most importantly, look for warning signs that a field offers potential precisely because it is new to you. When the novelty wears off, you don't want to find yourself in the same position where you are now.
Mostly (b)s: Your career isn't the problem, but your current job might not be offering you what you need in terms of challenges and responsibilities. On the other hand, you might have too much on your plate, and need a break. If your financial situation will allow you a long vacation, take it. Chances are you will return to work more relaxed and ready to do what's necessary to leave the cubicle behind for a real office, or take those extra seminars that will provide you with the edge you need in order to play a more important role in your workplace.
Analysts report that those born after 1970 can expect to hold not just three jobs, but three separate careers in the course of their lifetimes. Finding a new niche isn't impossible, but make sure that the effort you're about to invest is directed towards the right ends. There are many fields that could potentially be a good match for your skills, and it's important to know if you're in the right one already. A few environmental changes could make the difference between dreading the sound of the alarm clock and getting into work early in order to get a head start on the day's tasks. But if your skills and abilities are directing you towards another career, pay attention. If a mind is a terrible thing to waste, so are thirty years of life.
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