John Williams's ShiftSurgery

Your career problems answered by the professionals.

We're really sorry, but at present we are no longer accepting new questions, while we work hard on improving our website.

If you want to get some feedback from the Careershifters community, just create an account and post a comment against any of the articles, or other content on the site. Thanks!

How can I make money using my talent for coming up with great new ideas?

Careershifter question

By Anonymous

I have a talent for inventing devices, creating new methodologies and just generally having novel ideas in lots of areas (not just science). I'm interested in so many areas, but I need to make money!

ShiftDoctor answer

By John Williams

The key to success for you is to find a way to focus your time and energy on what you're best at - creating new stuff - and collaborate with others who will keep you tuned into the market and find you funding to leverage your creations.

Read full case file


How do I pursue my career as an artist while earning a living?

Careershifter question

By Anonymous

My dream is to be a full-time artist. The plan has always been to pursue my art career in my free time, and the idea of getting a permanent job does not appeal, as I think it would be like quitting and accepting that my artwork is going nowhere. Please help! I'm lost...

ShiftDoctor answer

By John Williams

This is not a question of "Should I be an artist?" but "How do I make this work for me?". So the question becomes what do you do in order to be able to create your art and make a living - even if the two things have to be separate at first?

Read full case file

Tags:

My job is crushingly dull, but I'm too much of a coward to do something like stand-up comedy or writing. What shall I do?!

Careershifter question

By count von count

My current job is crushingly dull, it's destroyed my confidence and I'm struggling even to come up with a compentency-based cv as suggested by my career coach. I must have some transferable skills - I'm just struggling to get them down on paper.

ShiftDoctor answer

By John Williams

I must say I'm not a great fan of transferable skills and core competency lists. Think broader than "skills" - maybe you're a natural networker, a great systematiser, a killer dealmaker, or brilliant at generating bags of new ideas (even if you never follow through on any of them). All of these things are of value in the workplace if you know how to use them.

Read full case file

Tags:


Careershifters has featured in

Careershifters has been featured in national media.

What people are saying about Careershifters

"Careershifters helped me realise that there were many small steps I could take towards improving my job satisfaction. Gaining greater focus has given me a renewed enthusiasm for my work, giving me the confidence to negotiate a one year sabbatical."



Cath Rooney

“Thanks to Careershifters I'm shifting my career! Have been thinking for a while about the direction I'm going in and after looking at your website and reading some of the advice I realised that I've got to go for it.”

Justine

“As of yesterday, I officially have a new career and start my new and exciting role next week! So a massive THANK YOU to all of you at Careershifters for your support. You really do deserve every success in what you're doing.”

Liz

"This website has been a lifesaver for me over the past year!"

Lindsey

"The Careershifters workshop helped me realise that it’s never too late to change your career, that these advances take time and, I am confident that if I stick with my ‘plan’ I won’t make another wrong career move."

Claire Coveney

"The Careershifters workshop started me on the path to changing from the Practice Manager of a GP Practice to Community Engagement work that meets the needs I identified at the workshop."

Diane Cassidy

"I had a career in sales and now I run my own sales training company.  The Careershifters workshop gave me the motivation to get on and do things, as well as some good direction with regards to the sort of activities I needed to put in place."

Matt Hayden

“After attending a Careershifters workshop I had the energy and drive to start researching how to get into teaching. I applied for a course, had an interview, got a place and left my old job in less than a week. It was so easy when I finally decided to go for it.”

Nikki

"For 17 years I worked in the travel industry. In the period of unemployment and after attending the Careershifters workshop I retrained and am now employed as a trainer and coach. I'd recommend the workshop to anyone who may not know what they want to do."

Paul Kensett

Our latest Twitter post