Jean writes:
My husband changed positions twice during the past few years, resulting in unanticipated moves; these moves resulted in my separation from the workforce for two years. Now, my new location does not have opportunities in my old profession and I have limited networks, so I am considering a career change. How would you suggest a person begin networking in a new field when they have no local contacts? Can you advise any book or site that documents the progress of individuals who make significant re-careering decisions in their mid-30s to 40s?
I would also like to point out that my experience as an older career changer is daunting because there seems to be a trend towards increased credentialism over the past year that makes retraining longer and more costly. In particular, do you know of any list that shows the best jobs for older workers?
The Career Doctor responds:
Lots of great questions here, and let me try to address each briefly.
Career change — at any age — is daunting. It takes a lot of hard work, planning, and execution, but career change is very possible. We have a whole collection of career-change resources on our site, located here: Job & Career Resources for Career Changers. And the best book on career change, in my opinion, is David Helfand’s Career Change: Everything You Need to Know to Meet New Challenges and Take Control of Your Career (McGraw-Hill).
Tips for building a network in a new career field? Start with informational interviews. Identify mid-level professionals working in your new career, and ask if they would be willing to spend some time talking about their careers. Just about everyone loves talking about themselves, so most will agree to meet with you. Not only are you building your network by meeting with these folks, but you can also ask each person you interview for suggestions on how to build your network… and it all grows from there. Volunteering and searching out organizations are also other great ways to build your network (and gain experience). Learn more in this Informational Interviewing Tutorial on Quintessential Careers.
Finally, credentialing. Your observation is correct. Certification programs have proliferated enormously in the past several years. At a minimum, nearly 1,600 certifications are available, according to the definitive directory on the subject, the Certification and Accreditation Programs Directory. Learn more in this article published on Quintessential Careers: Certifiably Empowering: Hot Fields in Which Certification May Boost Your Career.
