Changing Career Advice

Human Resources Is Not Big Brother!

By: Allen Lundy

If you are unsatisfied with your current position or your career and therefore are looking to make a switch but maybe not very far, working with your company’s HR department may be an effective strategy to uncover available opportunities in your current company itself.

Recently one of my employees was looking for a change out of his technical position into an administrative position.  Contacting with the jobs database manager at my organization’s HR department allowed him to bypass the usual steps needed to apply for a job at our organization, and simply put in a transfer application along with his resume instead, which in turn greatly sped up his job hunt. In this manner the HR department of your employer is there is to help retain existing employees first and foremost.

For job seekers, working with HR is often the first step in the job hunt of course. It is advisable for the seeker to maintain good relations with whoever they contact with in HR. For the initial point of contact is often responsible for determining whether to recommend or pass on the application. And even if you are unable to get far with your first application, you may be able to get referrals to other positions in the firm from HR.

Allen Lundy is a retired Human Resources Manager with numerous mid life career changes.  For information on changing careers please visit www.ChangingCareerAdvice.com and get his latest ebook “Everything You Wanted To Know About Changing Careers”

Look For The Gold In Your Career

By: Allen Lundy

GOLD - This universal word conjures immediate visions in the mind of everyone, young or old, of every race and creed that reads or hears it.

GOLD -  So much of the worlds history revolves around this mystical, powerful word. All it took was someone yelling “Gold” and the history and development of our country changed dramatically and forever.

GOLD - Individuals and families who were seeking a better way of life swarmed to where ever GOLD was rumored to be so they could change their lives and the lives of loved ones by acquiring wealth.

These GOLD Miners literally dug and sifted through tons and tons of rock, soil, dirt and debris for the chance at a few ounces of this precious metal.  They were on a mission - they wanted to find the GOLD - they weren’t concerned about the dirt they had to dig through to find it.

Throughout our daily lives many of us forget this principle because there is always more dirt than gold to be found.  We are frightened or worriad about the negatives in our lives - the amount of rock, soil, dirt and debris.  It just seems there is more dirt than gold - gold being the positive forces in our life. Because there is more dirt than gold, we must continue our search for the positives.

The positives in ones life is so important that it shouldn’t matter how many tons of rock, soil, dirt and debris you have to dig through to reach the “positive” rewards of your goal.

Like everything in life, your career will require you to do considerable work to locate your own gold.  Your dedicated effort is what will produce your value - your gold - to your employer.

The gold is worth it!

Allen Lundy is a retired Human Resources Manager with numerous mid life career changes.  For information on changing careers please visit www.ChangingCareerAdvice.com and get his latest ebook “Everything You Wanted To Know About Changing Careers”

There Are A Rainbow of Career Choices

By: Allen Lundy

Anywhere a person looks, it is obvious that there is a wide selection of career choices throughout the world. Whether it’s a hands on position at your local burger joint, as an auto mechanic or sitting behind the desk of a cushy corner office, every person has their own idea of what is the type of job or career they wish to have.

For many, the choice is quite simple.  Some simply decide to work where they can make a living, others may be following a dream they have had since they were a child, and for many, it’s not that easy because they must do days and weeks of research to find just the right career opportunity.

Making a career choice is much more than matching your percieved skills and personality to a job description.  There is the matter of meeting and hopefully exceeding the educational requirements, previous work experience, having quality references and presenting yourself as the “best candidate” for the interviewer.

Back in the “olden days” it was almost expected that one followed in their fathers footsteps, took over the family business and lived the life your family lived.  Those days have long since past.  It’s 2007 and the current job market is a smorgasboard of choices. You could start off as a manager of a local business and within a very short time that career choice may have changed dramatically.

As an industrious individual, your first career choice will probably not be your last.  You must start somewhere, however, your desire for more responsibility, more money, a better title, and a host of other reasons, you will more than likely make a decision to change careers. 

The trickiest career choices are those that change industries altogether. However, having a career that fits one’s personality and work style has been found to be one of the most important reasons for career changes.

Not only does a career choice put a person’s most dominant skills to use, it is also something that they will be doing on a consistent basis to bring in income. A person’s career is something they will closely identify with, maybe even forming somewhat of an attachment. This is why a career choice can be such a personal decision. At the same time, career choices must be realistic and well thought out. It is not uncommon for individuals to start down a career path and realize they have made a terrible mistake. Feeling as if it may be too late to turn around, many try to make the best of their decision but never fully enjoy their careers.

Whereas it used to be rare to change occupations more than once or twice in a lifetime, it is now rare to indefinitely keep the same career. There are a great many resources for helping individuals with choosing the right profession. A number of websites offering tools such as career tests and information, educational resources and resume services can be found throughout the web. While it is nice to research one vocation, in this changing market keeping options open for several career choices is more than intelligent.

Allen Lundy is a retired Human Resources Manager with numerous mid life career changes.  For information on changing careers please visit www.ChangingCareerAdvice.com and get his latest ebook “Everything You Wanted To Know About Changing Careers”

The Job versus Career Debate

By: Allen Lundy

Many wonder what the difference is between a job and a career. Some would say that they are basically the same thing; after all, they are both venues in which a person generates an income. However, while a job is something an individual does to earn money it rarely involves any type of planning. One can apply for a job at a burger joint but few would consider that to truly be a career. When it comes to a career, there is typically an amount of groundwork or education. It more or less expresses the true skills of an individual; whereas a job tends to be a one size fits all income producer.

To prepare for a career, one will generally need to obtain a degree or special certification. This can be accomplished by attending a college or vocational school. Depending on the line of work, one may prepare for a year or seven years getting the right training. Those who opt for a certain vocation often tend to have firm goals in life they wish to make a reality. They may have a certain type of life or lifestyle they wish to lead that a simple job cannot provide. They can also have very strong abilities and talents that are unique and cannot be utilized anywhere other than in a specific career.

Once an individual launches into his or her career, they can be required to devote a certain amount of time honing their skills to solidify their profession. They may attend courses or seminars to further enhance their expertise or knowledge. Some professions require learning new systems or procedures from time to time. This can increase not only skill level but prestige and even earning power. While a job can provide the occasional training and raise, there may or may not be room for advancement. Even if there is, jobs rarely concern themselves with whether or not the individual’s best skills are being utilized.

While it is easy to achieve the goal of bringing in an income, those who have a career accomplish this by doing what suits them best. It is no secret that when individual skills are recognized and put to use, people tend to love their occupation much more. They are more likely to refer to it as their livelihood and identify who they are with what they do. Those with jobs tend to become less satisfied over time because their true gifts and abilities are not being utilized. These are the individuals who end up chucking their jobs in order to go out and train for a career.

Allen Lundy is a retired Human Resources Manager with numerous mid life career changes.  For information on changing careers please visit www.ChangingCareerAdvice.com and get his latest ebook “Everything You Wanted To Know About Changing Careers”

Creating A Five Year Plan For Your Career Path

By: Allen Lundy

When interviewing for a new job (and career), one of the questions that you may get asked consistently in interviews is:  “What are your plans for the next five years?” or “Where do you intend to be five years from now?” It seems that as far as careers go, five years seems to be a kind of median in terms of time frame for career advancement.

If you have not progressed to the next level or two above where you started within five years, or do not personally feel fulfilled with where you are, perhaps you ought to seriously consider changing careers, or at the very least your professional focus. For those starting out in new careers or already in one, a five-year plan may be an effective personal tool to take stock of how much you have developed and/or where you would like to be.

In your five-year plan, make a note of your professional objective(s) and current or possible areas of focus upon. If possible, review these with your supervisor or manager to come to a consensus about your career track. And finally, revisit your plan regularly if only to check off objectives you may have achieved, and to keep in mind your intentions along your career path.

Allen Lundy is a retired Human Resources Manager with two mid life career changes under his belt. Visit his latest website for information on Career Changes at www.ChangingCareerAdvice.com.  Get his latest ebook “Everything You Want To Know About Changing Careers“

Acquiring The Career of Your Choice

By: Allen Lundy

Choosing your career in today’s economy can be one of the most rewarding and exciting things you do or have done in your entire life. It may also be one of the most frustrating, stressful and overpowering chores you will ever undertake.  Yes, it can be all of these things, but, in the final analysis, the career you choose is all about what you want and desire. It’s your decision. 

I have heard it said that there are as many different careers througout the world as there are people.  That seems like a pretty broad statement, yet, if you look at any company, you will get an understanding of what this statement means.

Everywhere you look there are varying skills sets, educational backgrounds, knowledge levels and for lack of another term, different work ethics in each job title.  Each person has their own personality which they bring to their position.  How each individual applies their knowledge and skills is up to them.

In choosing your career, you must be brutally honest with yourself.  Only you know your real talents, abilities, likes, dislikes and where you honestly believe you will do the best job possible.  Once you have taken stock of what you have to offer a company, it’s up to you to to make the company believe you are the best person for the job.

Once you actually enter into a job, focus on the experience and commit yourself to it. Be the very best you can be.  Learn all there is to know about the position you have been hired for.  Who knows, this new found knowledge may get you promoted or help you change jobs and careers at a later date.

Above all, keep learning throughout your job and be willing to adapt. In the end you may end up being able to carve your own niche and blaze your own path to riches.

Allen Lundy is a retired Human Resources Manager with two mid life career changes under his belt. Visit his latest website for information on Career Changes at www.ChangingCareerAdvice.com.  Get his latest ebook “Everything You Want To Know About Changing Careers”