Career Transformations: You Get to Choose

In keeping with the beautiful season of Spring, this month’s theme is about transformation – those that you can choose for your work life. Notice the word “choose”. We all have faced career changes for one reason or another – layoff, relocation, and job dissatisfaction, to name but a few. The choice comes in how you view it, especially if the change was not your idea. With a good plan, a positive outlook, and a strong support system, making a job change can be a rewarding experience, both personally and professionally.

Take a look at these examples and ideas on steps to choose from for a smooth transformation:

From Entrepreneur to Employee: Weigh the pros and cons carefully along with your commitment to each. Make a decision based on what’s best for you personally first. If you are leaning toward going to work for someone else, sketch out what your ideal job will look like – you have valuable experience someone will honor in exchange for the perks you desire. If you decide to stay the course, determine what you need to do differently, write it out, get objective opinions from experts, and commit wholeheartedly to making it happen.

From an “Ok” job to a Dream Job: If you are often pulled into thoughts about another career path, there’s something there you need to look at. Begin your exploration, weigh the pros and cons of leaving that “ok” job, volunteer or shadow someone in the field you’ve got your sights set on, and decide when you’re most comfortable making the move. Confer with family members to get their understanding and support. If leaving the “ok” job is not feasible at this point in time, find ways to make it more challenging and rewarding while you continue to plan ways to your new path.

From Stay-at-home Mom to the Work World: Dust off that resume and do some re-working of it. Make a list of all the tasks and responsibilities you’ve undertaken while at home. Those do indeed transfer into skills an employer will value. Don’t discount any volunteer work – leading discussion groups, coordinating fundraisers, and serving others in some capacity all add up to making you a viable job candidate. Now make a list of companies and industries you find interesting, do some research, and plan your approach to getting a job that fits you.

Food for thought if you have been tossing around career change ideas. If you know someone else in these situations, please pass this information along. We’ll cover more possible scenarios throughout the month. Regardless of the reason for the change, there are always choices to be made to make it rewarding and yes, even enjoyable. You get to choose.

"The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Please post your comments about your own career transformations.