Careers
How to Switch Careers:
The Professional Pivot
What you need to know to break into a new industry, land a government job or join a nonprofit.
By Anne Kates Smith, Senior Associate Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, January 2010
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Your career can’t turn on a dime. A well-planned switch can take from six months to two years, and it’s best to plan the move on nights and weekends while you’re still employed. If that’s not possible, unemployment benefits, a severance check or a temporary job may tide you over. Without income, though, it’s hard to launch a reinvention. “The energy you need to think outside the box will be consumed by thinking about how to make the rent,” says Mitchell.
Do you know where you want to go next? If not, ask yourself what you’d do if money were no object (studies show money is rarely the primary source of career satisfaction). For a good overview of emerging opportunities, visit CareerVoyages.gov, a collaboration of the Department of Labor and the Department of Education. You’ll find industries or fields that are projected to add the most new jobs-currently hospitality, health care and business administration-along with which occupations will be most in demand (among the fastest-growing: event planner, fitness trainer and accountant). You’ll also find advice for career changers and links to sites that can help you assess your skills and match them to the right job.
After revamping your résumé, find ways to beef up your crossover credentials. For instance, when obliged to earn continuing-education credits in your current job, try to take classes in the field you hope to enter. And check community colleges for affordable professional certification programs.
A number of programs have materialized specifically for refugees from struggling industries. In September, for example, ReServe, an organization that matches retirees with paid public-service jobs in New York City, began a program to help print-media professionals become grant writers.
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Reader Comments (2)
Posted by: Sean O\'Neill at 12/09/2009 12:44:19 PM
Dear Kiplingers, I’ve enjoyed your magazine. I think I have a business related story that is really a microcosm for what many of my demographic, (mid-career, corporate Fortune 1000 background, college degree and you could throw in white male and hitherto somewhat exempt from the carnages of the past) are experiencing. I had an epiphany at the ripe old age of 45 that I was never going to be able to go back to the security of a corporate paycheck…and thus have to re-tool for good to face the great beyond. I am ex-corporate junkie, having had a good run as sales and business development director and a whole host of sales iterations, (Started out in sales with Pitney Bowes after chasing a dream career as an actor in NY and LA prior) in several size industries in an array of mostly services based products in corporate America. I am interested in finding a writer or writers who may be interested in people such as me who have tried to re-enter the corporate arena during this downturn and found their services, experience, education and drive completely thwarted. I’m sure I’m not alone, but I truly believe that things (business practices and hiring) have changed forever for mid-career folks like me. My point or angle here (and why this may be newsworthy) is not only my solution to the problem, for I’ve started my own business development company out of necessity (www.oneillprod.com) and now work for several clients. What I see as perhaps a real TREND that may become the norm, especially in sales and biz dev, is that I’m able to leverage my skills and can find clients who hitherto would have set up their own internal sales teams and hired me are forgoing that and realize that my skills can sell their products and services with little investment other than my compensation…perhaps for good!! And if I can successfully (although I’m white knuckling it all the way) market my services as a hired gun, than why not the HR Director, Operations Managers, IT specialist and perhaps even the CFO!? How this will affect people like me, with college degrees, experience and a track record and force professionals to adapt to this new reality is going to be interesting. Part of my pitch to clients is that I can do cheaper, less overheard and bear the brunt of Health Care etc. The more independent consultants succeed, the more the word goes out that we (co’s) don’t’ need to hire as we once did.this affects company structures across the board. I don’t know if you find my angle here interesting enough to do a story…but I think I’m on the crest of a wave that is going to forever change how we do business, and how white collar folks like me are going to survive. Any feedback or interest would be appreciated if possible. Thank you, Sincerely, Sean O’Neill soneill3@verizon.net 973-744-1716
Posted by: Frank Fitton at 12/09/2009 10:14:59 PM
Sounds like a whole lot of effort and time to try and make this transition. Indeed it could work out in your benefit, but I know an easier softer way to achieve the same things you dream of. It's not a secret, but far too few people seem to take advantage of it in a time of opportunity like we currently find ourselves in. It's buying a small to the midsize business. Right now is the perfect time to buy a small to midsize business. This economy has left a whole lot of businesses out there selling for less than their worth. Now is the time for people who want the most out of life to grasp on and take the plunge. Anyone interested in the buying of a business should check out The Business Buyer Advocate blog at www.businessbuyeradvocate.com/ . It is a great blog full of must have knowledge for anyone thinking about taking the plunge. Its frequented by quite a few experts in various aspects of the field that can help you with any questions you might have or perspective you might need. Buying a business very well could be the most important decision you ever make in your life. You have to make sure you buy the right business the right way.