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By Aeolienne
By Sass2010
By scottdm1966
By Vanessa
By Selina Barker
By Niscof20
By Selina Barker
By cookster
By Selina Barker
Hi there, thanks for writing in. First thing that struck me with your post was 'I know if i were to look for another job I would struggle to get close to this'. This is something that we all do - make an assumption and then make out that it is true. How do you know you would struggle to get a job at this salary? Have you thoroughly looked into it? Have you looked at jobs you'd like and discovered that none of them would offer you the salary that you need? Never make assumptions - always find out what the reality is. There will be a job out there that you look forward to that pays you the salary you need. You just need to know what you want (this takes time but use our exercises in Expert Advice to help you) and then go and find it or create it.
And making a career transition can be gradual. It doesn't have to be a decision of stick with this job or quit now. Start your career change now while you're still working. Figure out what you want and what it takes to shift into that new career and find a way of doing it without having to put you and your family into any kind of financial risk.
What I'd recommend for you at the moment is to get right back to basics and for the next few months start exploring and getting involved in activities and interests that you really enjoy. Forget for now whether they are career related or not. Get the passion back into your life and see where that passion leads you.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Selina
Co-founder, Careershifters
By Vicster
By Selina Barker
Hi Vicster,
First things first, if you love writing then make sure it is a regular part of your life, whether it earns you a living at first or not. Start a blog, write short stories, do a writing course. Whatever it is that appeals. I always knew that I wanted to be a writer, but didn't know in what capacity. As content director for Careershifters I write all day on a topic I find endlessly fascinating and it is a regular income. I got into it by starting my own blog on changing career.
Have a look at what it is you like so much about writing as well as what other activities and interests you love
As for the loss of confidence and loss of trust, it's important you don't brush that under the carpet. Find people that can help you to deal with it - whether that be a friend, coach, therapist.
Good luck and keep writing!
Selina
Co-founder, Careershifters
By allsoldout
By Blackcat
By Selina Barker
Hi there, I'm afraid I don't know myself, but finding people to speak to that work in HR is the best thing to do. In fact I'd speak to a number of different people in HR and make sure they are people that enjoy their career in HR or you could be given negative responses that are more about their disatisfaction with their career!
If no one in HR responds to you on here then I would suggest you send an email out to all your friends and contacts asking to be put in touch with any HR professionals that they know so that you can ask them a few questions. Or use LinkedIn to find HR professionals.
Good luck with your career change!
Selina
Co-founder, Careershifters
By Star
By chrispy
By ClaireM
Yey! Good on you. Just wanted to say I know how it feels - I was exactly the same! Even if you have to take a temp job (or jobs!) for the money thing, it's the freedom in your mind. Work hard, and search yourself for what you really love!
By Star
By TheLifeForMe
By Selina Barker
Congratulations! It takes courage to take a step like that, but it's wonderful that you're already feeling a positive impact from it. Sounds like you have an exciting journey ahead. Write in if you need any guidance and if you're interested in blogging about your experience (it can really help) then just let me know and I'll set you up as a shiftlogger.
x Selina
selina@careershifters.org
By indigo66
By mercat
By Sab
Dan - how about teaching people how to fly? If you were based at a private flying centre i'm sure the hours would be quite regular and you wouldn't be moving around too much, i don't know anything about how you go about doing it but it's just an idea!
x
By dan79
By Selina Barker
Hi Dan, it's great that you're giving yourself plenty of time to plan and execute your change in career. Looks like you have a few key career criteria already and your next steps are to start adding to that key criteria: strengths, interests, activities you enjoy, values, ideal work environments and workstyle.
There is all sorts of guidance and support out there to help you build up a clear list of criteria: career coaching, books, workshops. Check out the Getting Started section on the Careershifters site, our workshops and of course the essential Careershifters Guide.
Providing a good standard of living will obviously play a large part in your new career choice but always keep the attitude that there is a way of doing something you enjoy and earning a good living - it's just a matter of discovering what that career option is. There will be one. In fact there will likely be more than one option!
Selina
By icebabyem
By Selina Barker
You actually sound like you're doing all the right things, being proactive, keeping yourself inspired, exploring options. You're ticking all the right boxes on how to go about changing career successfully.
FIrst of all, I'd say 'don't panic!' - I know that 'not knowing' phase is uncomfortable and we all want to find an answer quickly but finding the thing in life that you want to dedicate yourself to and become an expert in, isn't a decision that can be rushed into over night. So hang in there.
In the Careershifters Guide we suggest people break down their career criteria into 5 (and now I'm going to say 6 questions):
1. What activities make you come alive?
2. What subjects do you love and find endlessly fascinating?
3. What are your strengths? (worth asking other people what they think your strengths are too)
4. What environments do you thrive in?
5. What are your values
6. What lifestyle do you crave?
Each week focus on a different question and use exercises from the expert advice articles or those in the Careershifters Guide to help you answer these questions.
Then use those answers to the 6 questions to start exploring careers.
Hope that helps!
Selina
(Careershifters Content Director)
By Ruby
By Selina Barker
1. what it is about fundraising, community, events and exhibitions that really gets you buzzing - both the subject matter and the activities involved.
2. what is it really like to be an events manager - find as many events managers and exhibition coordinators etc to speak to. Make sure that the reality meets your expectations.
With regards to pay cut - you might have to take a paycut in the short term, but maybe not. See what's out there.
And as to combining events with your experience in the health industry - seems like a great idea - brining that expertise to a role that requires it could make up for lack of pure events experience.
My suggestion to you know would be to go out there and talk to as many people as possible with the kind of job that you want.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Selina
Content Director, Careershifters
By Lostinspace
By Selina Barker
5 key questions to ask yourself are:
- What activities do you enjoy?
- What subjects do you love most?
- What environments do you thrive in?
- What are you naturally good at?
- What's really important to you?
Once you have answers to these questions (and give it time - it won't happen over night) you'll be able to start exploring and identifying the careers that will give you that buzz that you're looking for.
I would recommend you consider buying The Careershifters Guide and membership to the Shift Club Online to help you with your career change. http://www.careershifters.org/the-careershifters-guide-and-shift-club-online
By natters
By skuft
By Selina Barker
By Kaycareerscoach
By Ruby
By markmccluretoday
By Selina Barker
Hi Pinkwontons! I would stop trying to work things out by THINKING things over. If the exercises aren't getting you any closer to finding a path forward then I suggest that what might work for you is ACTION. You want to write for a women's magazine? How about writing an article on a subject that inspires and excites you and seeing if you can get it published. Tell you what, I'd happily publish it on the Careershifters site for starters... You want to open a cafe? Go and help out in a cafe for a weekend, or at a food market stall. I had the same 'cafe dream' and now get my fix by working on my friends' mobile food vans every now and then. I love it. Careershifting isn't always about changing your job, it's as much about bringing into your life activities that energise you and interests that stimulate you. As you do that you never know how these activities and interests might grow, eventually taking over as the career in your life. Hope that helps x Selina
By skuft
Hey Pinkwontons I would second Selina's recommendation. You can be paralysed by thinking yourself into a corner. A friend of mine had the same problem - he ended up "giving up" on finding his dream career and ended up helping his mates renovate a flat and got into property development. Not everyone's cup of tea of course, but the point is, you don't always know the destination, but by doing *something*, you'll begin to find out what it might look like... good luck!
By Ruby
By jbjacksons
By feefee
By Selina Barker
I know just the guy for you to contact - Jack Butler at Future Foundations - he's doing just what you're talking about - check it out http://www.thegraduatecourse.co.uk/ or http://www.future-foundations.co.uk/
Jack is a friend of the Careershifters team : )
By Kaycareerscoach
Hi Sylvia,
You do not have to stay in the same stressful, unfulfilling job till you retire. It is now time for you to take stock and make the decision to put all your efforts into finding a job that will not leave you either stressed out or bored silly.
1) The first step of the process is to take a good look at yourself and your life to present, from a personal and professional perspective. Get some paper and write on one side your lifes pleasures and delights and on the opposite side list all the pressures and disappointments. Include anything that you think is relevant such as interests, hobbies or any dreams or career aspirations that you had as a child or young adult. From this can you identify any themes or issues that need to be addressed?
2) Ask yourself what barriers or beliefs are preventing you from finding a more ideal job. For example, "I think I'm too old" or "I can't afford to take a pay cut. " Write these down on the bottom of the same piece of paper. The barriers and blocks that most people put up are fears, the fear of failure.
3) Now think about what you would do if you were free from any financial or practical limtiations. Be as creative and imaginative as possible. Remember the sky's the limit, realism does not come into it! What would be your dream scenario?
Do you believe anything is possible? Question your fears. Is it possible to overcome them? Do they really matter? How will you feel in 5 years time if you are in the same position and your fears and blocks have kept you from taking action?
Good luck, and don't forget to enjoy the journey.
www.kayholdsworth.com
By Sylvia
By markmccluretoday
By Selina Barker
Hi Sylvia,
I've heard a lot of stories of people who have made a successful career change after years in the same company. It IS possible!
One of our Shift Doctors, Jessica, replied to a shifter in a very similar position to you a few months ago. Check out the advice she offered - it's got some great practical exercises: http://www.careershifters.org/node/426
There are also a number of ShiftStories by people who made changes later on in their career.
Start with some inspiration and practical exercises and see what comes of that.
Let us know how it goes!
By Kaycareerscoach
By frosty
By willt