In Transition: For Love Or Money

These days, you can expect your work life might span as many as five, six, or even seven decades. Too long to work in just one field, for sure. Here's how to manage the transitions.

According to Carole Hyatt and Linda Gottlieb, authors of When Smart People Fail, the average American will have ten different jobs, keep each job 3.6 years, and change his or her career three times before retirement.

And with the rapid reorganization model dominating the workplace, technology, and society, whether we continue to work for love or for money, it's almost inconceivable that the same career will offer the same opportunities all along the way. In other words, change caused by external forces is inevitable.

But there's a second reason many people face career transitions at mid-life: something "internal" within us wakes up as well. We want to "do what counts" in areas that excite, stimulate, and reward us financially.

There are some excellent examples: Dr. Ruth Westheimer, who went from doing research at Planned Parenthood to being a world renowned sex therapist; John Glenn, from astronaut to Senator--and back to astronaut; Bart Giamatti, from President of Yale University to Baseball Commissioner. And there's licensed practical nurse, housewife, and mother Carolyn McCarthy, who was elected to the House of Representatives.

Here's how you can get started on the transition to a new career, for fun or profit!

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10 Tips for Writing the Perfect Job Letter
Careers for Fun and (Some) Money
Career Transitions for Love
Career Transitions into Technology for Money
Working for Love: Transitions Letter Template
Working for Money: Transitions Letter Template
Thank You Letter

Fran Quittel, CareerBabe, high-tech careers contributing editor for Computer Currents and contributor to WashingtonPost.com.