JULY & AUGUST MONTHLY MUSINGS
To muse:
To wonder and marvel; to become absorbed in mindful meditation provoking thoughtful inspiration to unlock doors, walk through them with ease, experience the world of possibilities, and create positive life changes.
Changing your field of work.
Life Dynamics Coaching, Career Transition.

There are two kinds, major and minor. A major career transition is when you completely change your field of work and it usually takes at least a year to accomplish. A minor career transition is when you make minor changes or adjustments, such as a switch to a different company or to a different department within the same organization.

Are you showing any early-warning signs that point toward a career change? Take the following quiz from Making Career Transitions by Jane Ballback and Jan Slater to see if a career transition may be just around the corner for you. Have a piece of paper handy. Number it 1-10 and write agree or disagree next to each number.

  1. I start to feel anxious on Sunday afternoon, because I don't look forward to going to work on Monday morning.
  2. I experience one or more chronic physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach problems, and/or backaches.
  3. On Sunday morning, I automatically reach for the funnies or the sports page, but then decide to check the want ads first.
  4. At work, I find myself constantly watching the clock.
  5. I feel like I'm on a treadmill that doesn't have an "off" button.
  6. At a work meeting, I seem to be less excited than anyone else in the room.
  7. I don't really care about any promotions at work.
  8. My "give-a-rip" level is low.
  9. I fantasize about doing something totally opposite from what I'm currently doing.
  10. I've started counting the years, months, and/or days until retirement.

A career coach can professionally guide you.Checking out the classifieds.
How many of these signs do you identify with? If you relate to these early-warning signs, don't wait. Start doing your homework, NOW.

Hiring a career coach to guide you will help save you time and money.

Here's the deal...

 A great way to get yourself as close to a career field of your interest without actually taking a job in it is information interviewing. Information interviews are not optional. They are critical to make a successful career decision. It's essential to meet people in your career area of interest and ask them questions; however, it's important to actually sit down with these same contacts in the environment in which they work (at their actual job site) and size up what they have to say about their career field. This helps you to see and understand your potential career field from a more three dimensional perspective. You get to ask more pointed questions and the detailed answers will clarify whether this career field is a true fit for you.

By the way...
Wear professional clothing.Here's a list of helpful Information-Interviewing Tips from Making Career Transitions.

  1. Wear professional, business-like clothing, unless some other type of dress is required or normal.
  2. Set up the interview at your contact's absolute convenience.
  3. It is appropriate to carry a note pad, briefcase, or portfolio for carrying your questions and paper to jot answers.
  4. You may take notes, but not to the extent that it inhibits interaction with the person interviewed.
  5. Watch the time to make sure you're not going past what has been allotted.
  6. Thank your contact profusely when you leave.
  7. Write your contact a thank-you letter once you get home.
  8. Once you've made your career decision, follow up with your contact and tell him or her what you decided to do and what happened to you. It gives your contact a sense of completion.
Something to think about...
The more information interviews you do, the more you will learn about yourself and your potential career.

  • You get information about the career field you're interested in. You'll be able to see whether or not you want to pursue that particular career field.
  • You learn more about the field itself. You'll start to pick up jargon, and important current issues in the career field you are considering.
  • You try out lots of different environments. You find out which environments you like.
  • You start making contacts in your field of interest. You are able to use those contacts when you are going after a job.


On a Wing and A Prayer...
On a Wing and A Prayer."Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." - Gal. 6:4





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