Anonymous writes:
I worked as a police officer for 17 years then resigned to become a deputy in a county jail facility. Needless to say, it didn’t work out; that was approximately 1 year ago. After having many interviews and an attempt at a career change it all seems in vain. Will I ever get a position that meets my specifications? What move should I make next?
The Career Doctor responds:
I think the most important thing you need to do is find a day or couple of days for a career retreat. What are your specifications? What do you want to do with the rest of your working life? Are you burnt out with law enforcement? What career are you now trying to change into — and what have you been doing to help facilitate that change? So many questions — that’s why you need to take some time away and do some career planning.
Your goal for this career planning retreat should be to finalize your choice(s) for your next career, with specific steps for how you are going to achieve the change.
If you are still searching for your next career, you need to take time for self-reflection and research. You need to really evaluate what you like to do — at work, at home, in all your activities. You should also examine your accomplishments and transferable skills. Once you have gathered all this data on yourself, the next step is researching career paths that match your interests and strengths.
Once you have an idea of your next career move, you should shift your efforts to developing a plan that gets you there. Will you need more education or training? Will you need experience in the new field, and if so, how will you get it? Does anyone in your network know people working in the field? How will you grow your network to include people in the new career field?
Finally, you’ll need to implement your plan. Be prepared for some bumps in the road. Career change often takes time, but with proper research and planning, it should be a little easier for you.
For more help with career planning, read this article published on Quintessential Careers: 10 Tips for Successful Career Planning. And for more assistance with a career change, go to: My Career Change.
