All Career transitions Articles

Do you think your job is safe? Think again. For 2009, the widespread advice of career and job-placement professionals is this: Prepare for the prospect of jumping or being pushed from your job. Reach out now and to everyone -- your next job is likely to come through someone you already know. If you get opportunities for training, take them. And even while you're looking Read more...

"If you fear change, leave it here." --A quote from a tip jar at a coffee shop Do you dream about a life where you have impact, contribute to others and maintain a great lifestyle? As you get closer to fulfilling this dream (or any others), don't be surprised if doubt and fear surface. But rest assured that there are simple and practical steps you can take. The number Read more...

See also: career, clients, dream job, fear, money

In a weakening economy, thousands of businesses are closing up shop and laying off employees. A company's impending bankruptcy can have devastating consequences for fearful employees, says Lisa Lane Brown, author of "The Courage to Win: A Revolutionary Mental Toughness Formula." "If you let fear turn into panic, you are vulnerable to making poor decisions about your career Read more...

First, close your eyes and think about what you want to do for work. Not what your spouse wants or what your friends think you should do. You. Then, think about the best way to convince the employer of your choice that you have the skills he or she needs. Those are two bits of advice from people who help people make career decisions and help them land the jobs they want. Read more...

DES MOINES, Iowa - For medical office manager Sue Stein, working past the typical retirement age was a choice she made because she's still having fun at her job and likes the lively banter with the young medical students around her. Stein, 69, is among the growing number of retirement-age Americans who have chosen work over leisure. "I enjoy it," she said of her job at Read more...

With unemployment at a five-year high, job competition is stiff these days. But whether you're unemployed or simply unhappy in your current position, it's still possible to find new career opportunities. Just ask Julie Cajigas, who received two job offers after job hunting for about two months (a short job search by most people's standards). She started her new job in mid-July as associate Read more...

As ThirdAgers plan for retirement, many of us are looking for more than a condo on a golf course. The new generation of retirees may look forward to leaving the daily rat race, but that doesn't mean they want to stop working. Many simply want the chance to trade in their jobs--the ones they pursued for practical purposes, like paying the mortgage and putting the kids through college--for a Read more...

See also: baby boomers, career, hobbies, mentor, talents

Every year thousands of perfectly intelligent Americans jump into new business ventures without doing all their homework. Oh sure, they've tested the market and created a business plan. They've lined up a lawyer and accountant, purchased equipment and set up a Web site. But even though they may think they've covered all the bases, surprise expenses pop up in the most unusual Read more...

No matter how much you envision professional nirvana, switching careers may seem out of reach. Obtaining new skills can take time, and entering a new industry can set back earnings. Take heart: There are careers that allow you to get started without having to survive on instant noodles and beans. These jobs also do not require long periods of pricey schooling -- in many cases, a few Read more...

The title of the book by Stephen Viscusi, who describes himself as “America’s workplace guru,” is a bit misleading. No matter what he says, it is impossible to Bulletproof Your Job (Collins, $19.95). Corporate takeovers happen and you are suddenly made redundant; the company is losing a fortune and they decide to eliminate your entire department. Those things are beyond your Read more...

Sep. 6, 2008--Edmond, Oklahoma -- Shontesa Jones is a University of Central Oklahoma student working her way through college. Jones said she works on average 30 hours a week as a film carrier, and her paychecks go toward her student-related expenses, to pay for her son's private school tuition and for rent and utilities. Jones, a junior, said she is anxious to graduate and find a Read more...

Finding employment can be a daunting task for veterans returning to the civilian workforce, but The Employment Guide's Veterans Transition Guide is helping to ease the change. As soldiers and sailors return from deployments around the world, they routinely face problems integrating back into civilian jobs and lives. Robert Lacey, district manager with The Employment Guide and a Read more...

Carl Jones works at Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colo., but he wants to be an astronaut. What will his employer think? Actually, Jones' employer not only supports his lofty ambitions, but pays for Jones to follow his star. Ball fully reimburses Jones' school expenses as he studies for a master's of science in aerospace engineering, with a focus in Read more...

In our very full lives we spend so much time doing what we have to do, that rarely is there time "left over" for our dreams. If you want to end this year right, begin to plan for next year. I'm not encouraging you to map out your days and hours or obsess about strategy. But I am suggesting that you carve out one hour of DreamTime for yourself. If you like this process, you can then Read more...

See also: achieving more, career advancement, finding success, getting more done, personal time

Recessions are as normal as death and taxes. They're also about as much fun. With the national unemployment rate at 5 percent, and by some measures much higher, the American worker has every reason to be wary of the economy's downturn. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that about 240,000 people lost their jobs in the first four months of the year. Among the industries affected are the Read more...

When we think of government jobs, we often think of safe but low-paying jobs that will put food on the table, but never put you in a top tax bracket. So you may be surprised to find out that government jobs, when you include benefits, pay on average twice as much as jobs in the private sector. Throw in job security, and government service starts to look very good indeed. "According to Read more...

New Poll Shows Those Born in ’61 -- Like Obama -- Don’t Think of Themselves as Baby Boomers A new poll conducted on the occasion of Senator Barack Obama’s birthday, August fourth, sheds light on the much-debated issue of his generational identity. While experts have clashed over whether he is part of the Baby Boomer generation or not, respondents who were born the same year as the Read more...

There are the dreams you have for your life and then there are the dreams that life has for you. At times, we may wonder what's going on or feel lost, but life has its plan which may include your dreams ... or something completely different. We're all part of the fiber that makes life whole, and to that end, we have our place here. For such a time as this, you were created to do some Read more...

See also: dreams, personal growth, purpose in life

Imagine getting an anonymous e-mail at work saying, "The aroma of your lunch is very overpowering today" or "Your cell phone ringer is very loud today." Those messages come from a new digital way for colleagues to notify you anonymously that you have strayed into the realm of really annoying co-worker. The approach comes from a Web site, NiceCritic.com, that launched Read more...

Lately I've heard a lot about personal branding. To learn more about it, and find out how it can benefit individuals and their careers, I talked with Dan Schawbel, personal branding expert. QUESTION: What is personal branding? ANSWER: Personal branding describes the process by which individuals differentiate themselves and stand out from a crowd by identifying and articulating their Read more...