Careershifters blog

Throughout this process of trying out career areas it’s really important to give yourself credit for taking these trials and testing things out. Every new experience is a lesson and something to build on, even if you’ve tried something and it felt like a complete waste of time - it never is, there’s always a lesson to be learnt.

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The overall impression I’m getting from mass media, and the public who voice their views in the mass media,  is that the only work path (still! Still in 2010 they think this!!)  is to run yourself ragged trying to impress/appeal to employers and examiners. There is no mention of setting up your own business, or going freelance, or having a portfolio career, or even taking a less- than-great part time job to financially help you while you get your real dream career going.These ideas and options could really help young people right now.

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I found fear.less stories a few months ago and some of the people they interview have amazing insight and wisdom that could help you with your career change.

The site produces free downloadable magazines each month and they are always worth a read (and like me you may find yourself highlighting choice insights).

They also have a zippy blog with related posts, so if you're dealing with your fears and limiting beliefs about career change at the mo, get yourself to their site!

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In day to day life, we're not so often aware about how we put a spin on every circumstance that happens to us (or that we make happen). We don't sit around and debate what 'spin' we're gonna put on eg a job loss or our spouse relocating for work.

But the 'spin' or 'take' that we put on these things (often big, life changing things) is crucial as to an extent it determines our emotions and feelings to these happenings, which in turn will determine our actions. And this is also true of when we start to think about potential careers that we might like to do in the future.

Read on!

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Simon from Position Ignition recently wrote an article for us about graduates who go straight into professional careers with a lot of specific training (such as accountants, lawyers, doctors) and find after a few years that they really don't enjoy their line of work.
I have some friends who are in this situation and I think it will become very very common for graduates in these areas to leave the profession earlier, rather than spend forty years doing work they don't enjoy. You can read my take on the issues and ideas that come up in this blog post!

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You may have tried out some of the online tests Nisa Chitakasem tested in her recent article. Well, we have another one for you!

It's hosted by the University of Essex's online business support portal VentureNavigator, and is totally free to use by anyone at any stage of their career.

You receive personalised feedback and tips linking through to skills related articles on VentureNavigator by signing up at http://www.venturenavigator.co.uk/skills

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For a while now i've been picking up a free magazine each Wednesday when I pass through tube stations here in London called 'Stylist' magazine. It has a couple of full page features every week that are relevent for career changers, male or female! I always find them interesting to read, and may help you consider jobs you might not have before, as well as stories of people who have their own businesses.

I believe you can get it in main cities in the UK, at central London tube and rail stations, in some French Connection shops, and better yet it's now available online here

Relevant pages are: 'Work Life' (around page 13) and 'Sixty Second Therapist' (the last content page in the magazine)

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I've been thinking about how many of us are looking for careers and working styles that afford a greater measure of variety and independence, with scope to grow and change, and how this relates to changes in lifestyles generally over the past ten years or so. In this blog post i'll be looking at how being part of the international digital generation has a clear influence on our working life choices... and argue it should be a good thing!

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I’ve been thinking about dream career changes – and actually, a lot of the time when I let my mind wander to what could be, it becomes more than just the job itself.  Often a ‘career change’ can be more like a life change – it can mean relocating, working in a different way (eg freelance rather than employed by a company), focusing more on friends/family/hobbies, and creating a different way of living your life. Not only can the job itself be an important part of the change, but how about how you get to work? To have no more long hours of commuting on tubes and crowded suburban trains is a huge lifestyle change. Or, if you relocate to another place, your commute could be windsurfing to work (oh yes, there is a guy in Brighton who does this!)

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