Anonymous writes:
I’m a journalist with a number of years of daily newspaper experience. I am currently working at a fairly large paper. I’m getting an MBA part-time, and I’ll graduate in about a year. It’s a 36-credit program with no specialties. I am in a dead-end job at my paper, and have no chance of moving forward because of office politics. I’m not sure what I can do with an MBA and my experience. My school does not have career-placement services. I’m considering law school after my MBA. What are my options, with and without law school? Will I potentially earn more money with a law degree?
I just read an alarming statistic that graduate school applications, especially MBAs and law school, are up dramatically this year over last as more and more people are at least attempting to earn graduate degrees in hopes of landing a better job — or any job — in a better economy once their graduate education is complete.
I don’t understand the thinking of job-seekers such as those - or you — that enter into a graduate program with no clear career strategy. The MBA is going to give you certain credentials to open many doors in business to you, especially combined with your years of work experience. The MBA is a symbol to employers that you have the ability to think strategically, analyze situations, formulate plans, and implement plans.
Of course, you could also combine two of your interests and try to move forward with your journalistic career into business reporting, but I sense you may be getting tired of journalism.
One of the current trends in graduate education is the idea of dual graduate degrees, and the MBA/JD is one of the most popular combinations. Many of these folks go into corporate law with all sizes of organizations. The benefit of having the strategic knowledge along with the legal knowledge is very appealing.
You really need to map out a strategy for your career before going any farther. I recommend you read my article, Developing a Strategic Vision for Your Career Plan, published on Quintessential Careers.
And since you are currently in an MBA program, I also recommend reviewing some of the resources we have in the Job and Career Resources for MBAs section of Quintessential Careers. These sites will at least give you an idea of the types of career paths and jobs for job-seekers with MBAs.
Karen writes:
I’ve been a travel agent for 10 years and am making less than $25,000 per year. I’ve recently received my bachelor’s degree, and am very interested in changing careers to the human resources field. Since my salary is so low, do you feel even with my degree it would be hard to even change careers and achieve a salary over $39,000 per year? What is the best route to break into a new career in human resources?
There are any number of reasons why people change careers, though usually it revolves around discovering a new career passion or interest — and not so much on the money. I’m a little concerned that you have such a focus on salary and not on other issues.
Often when you change careers — no matter how many years of work experience you have in other fields — you take a pay-cut because you have achieved a certain level within your old career. The good news for you, though, is that you should see a pay increase from the $25,000 you have been making — but don’t expect a huge jump.
The salary offer you may receive depends greatly on the position within HR you are hired for, the geographic location, the industry, and the company itself. You can get an idea of salary ranges you might expect based on some of these criteria by using a resource such as Salary.com.
I would also consult with the professionals in your college’s career services office, a few of your former HR professors, and the resources of the Society of Human Resource Management — one of your professional organizations.
Your best method of finding a new job in this field is through networking. Use professional organizations, alumni, career services, friends and family, and other sources for building your network of contacts. Let them know you have recently received your degree and are in the midst of a career change.
Resources that can help you in this career change:
- Career Change Resources
- Art of Networking
- Salary Negotiation Resources
- Society for Human Resource Management
B.J. writes:
I’m a 47-year-old dental hygienist. I am being treated for severe carpal tunnel problems and am currently awaiting my second surgery. I am really at a loss as to what to do with the rest of my life. I will not be able to do dental hygiene at all. I really don’t even know where to start as I have been doing this for 22 years and I am not trained for anything else. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
First, let me say how sorry I am about your health problems. I hope your surgery exceeds your expectations.
Many baby boomers are finding themselves in your same situation, hitting their late 40’s and realizing that they are seeking something more in their lives — and from their careers. It’s both a scary and exciting time in your life to be thinking about starting a new career.
But let me assure you — and all those other baby boomers — that as long as you take the process slowly, allowing yourself time to recharge, reflect, and research, you should be fine. You may face some tough times — both financially and mentally — and you may want to seek the help of a career counselor or career coach — but I am confident you will find a direction for the rest of your life.
There are a couple of places for you to start. You could start with why you chose to be a dental hygienist — and the aspects of the job you really love. Or, you can make a complete separation from your past and simply focus on the things you most enjoy. Make a list of the activities and skills you most enjoy. What types of things energize you?
Once you’ve developed such a list, you can begin researching new occupations that use those skills. And once you’ve gathered information on various new careers, take the time to explore each at a deeper level, perhaps even conduct a few informational interviews with people who work in those fields.
Next, develop a strategy for breaking into that field. You will probably need to get additional education/training or work experience — or both. Build your network in your new field. Join professional organizations. Learn all the latest techniques of the best job-seekers.
Good luck!
You can find lots of career change resources, including helpful articles and quizzes, by going to this section of Quintessential Careers: Job & Career Resources for Career Changers.
Reena writes: I am 37, an IT consultant and a languages graduate with honors. Can I get into medical school? I think my vocation is to become a doctor and I am concerned I am too old.
I am a strong advocate of the career philosophy that it doesn’t matter how old you are when you decide it’s time for a career change. It may be a little harder for you to get your brain back into the education mode, and it may be a little more rusty than those recent college graduates attending medical school in their 20s, but if you don’t take a long and hard look at the possibility of following your true calling you may spend the rest of your life being miserable — or at least unhappy in your career/job.
Here’s what I suggest you do to help you determine whether to make a career change.
- Spend some time in self-reflection. It appears you already have done some of this assessment, but take some more time to really understand yourself. Identify the key aspects and attributes of what you want to do next with your life. Then conduct some research so you truly have a thorough understanding of the pros and cons of being a physician.
- Assuming you still have a desire to become a physician, contact a career services counselor from your alma mater and/or the faculty adviser for the pre-med program and discuss your options. At a minimum, you’re probably going to need to go back to school for the core science courses — and probably a few other refresher courses. There are also numerous sources in print and online that give advice about getting into medical school. Learn more in this section of Quintessential Careers: Graduate School Resources.
- Find a mentor. Perhaps your family physician, perhaps some other doctor. Having a mentor in the profession you want to change to is extremely beneficial — and you’ll be very happy you took this step.
- Identify medical schools. With the help of your alma mater (or other university) and your mentor, as well as any other sources, identify medical schools that have a profile that fits your needs — and where you fit their profile.
- Study for the standardized tests and then take the Medical College Admission Test (MCATs).
- Assuming you have the academic background, the grades, and the standardized test scores, apply to med schools and wait for their decisions.
And remember, at any time in the career changing process, you can make adjustments to your plans. If medical school doesn’t work out for you, perhaps there are other “helping” vocations where you can find your true calling and find fulfilling employment opportunities.
You can find lots of career change resources, including helpful articles and quizzes, by going to this section of Quintessential Careers: Job & Career Resources for Career Changers.
Rose writes:
How can I find out what type of job I would be best suited for based on my qualifications and previous job experience? I am about to change jobs and am not quite sure what to look for.
You’ve kind of gotten the job-searching process backwards. You shouldn’t look for a new job based on your previous experience unless you are interested in simply advancing to the next level in that career path.
If you are simply looking to advance to the next level within your current career, I suggest conducting a little career research and possibly conducting a few informational interviews. Talk to your current boss or someone in the human resources department to discuss career paths. But don’t limit yourself to career paths within your own company. Use the resources of the professional organization for your career. And consider conducting information interviews — not job interviews — with people who are much farther along in their careers and use the opportunity to pick their brains about the best paths for advancement in your career.
If you are looking to make a switch from your current career, please remember that previous work experience doesn’t dictate or limit your job-search potential. Just about any job-seeker can identify what we call transferable skills, sometimes referred to as portable skills. Transferable skills are skills you have acquired during any activity in your life — jobs, classes, projects, parenting, hobbies, sports, virtually anything — that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your next job. Transferable skills are usually divided into five broad categories:
- Communication
- Research and planning
- Human relations
- Organization, management, and leadership
- Work survival
Take the time to analyze and develop your transferable skills. Then determine the types of skills you most enjoy using. And then research careers that utilize those skills. And, again, informational interviews can help you in your research.
Learn more in the Transferable Skills section of Quintessential Careers.
And find out more about the power of informational interviews in the Quintessential Careers Informational Interview Tutorial.
Stephen writes:
After 22 years in journalism, working as everything from a reporter to a copy editor to an editorial writer, I’m ready to move on to another career. One possibility that intrigues me is that of teaching journalism at the college level; the problem is, I have no formal training in journalism, though I’ve certainly helped train enough young reporters and editors. I do have an M.A. in English and experience teaching freshman English. Do you know of any books or Web sites on second careers for journalism professionals, and could you offer any insights on whether this might be a realistic option?
I think you could easily position yourself as a very strong candidate for instructor and assistant professor positions in journalism at both the community college and college levels. Years ago, when I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism, most of my professors had been former newspaper editors and only a handful held doctorate degrees. And in researching various colleges and current job openings, I have found the case is similar today.
Most of the job openings I reviewed required at least several years experience as a journalist or editor, a minimum of a master’s degree, and ideally some teaching experience. In some of the better journalism programs, a Ph.D. was strongly preferred (or required).
So, if you feel a burning passion to share your insights and wisdom and to help train the next generation of reporters, I’m here to tell you it’s a realistic aspiration.
Your first step is to change your focus from editor to educator. You’ll need to totally reformat your resume to focus on the three main qualifications these colleges are looking for: proven accomplishments and achievement in reporting and editing; experience in teaching and training; and an advanced degree. Actually, I would recommend reformatting your resume into a curriculum vitae (CV), which is the standard in educational recruiting.
Your next step is to determine where you would like to teach. Are you willing to relocate? If so, where? Once you have an idea of geographic region(s), you can conduct research to find all the colleges in the region(s) that have journalism classes or programs. Contact each to get the name of the department head, and send off a job-search package that includes a cover letter and CV.
Be sure to follow-up all your letters with phone calls. If the schools don’t have any current offerings, you still might request an information interview (as a way to get your foot in the door).
Finally, to be sure that teaching is the right path for you, you might also consider taking an adjunct (part-time) position first.
Some resources to help you:
- Quintessential Careers: Resume and CV Resources.
- Quintessential Careers: The 10-Step Plan to Career Change.
- Quintessential Careers: Academic, Educator, & Teaching Jobs.
John writes:
I am a 29-year-old veterinarian and have been out of school and practicing for 3 1/2 years.
I am coming to the conclusion that I have picked the wrong career and am convinced that
I need to make a change. I think I am fortunate to know that I would like to go into the
computers/electronics field. However, I am not sure about the best way to go about
making the change. I have a natural talent for computers, but I realize that I probably
need to get some kind of training or certification. Any advice on this?
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know how much value I place on finding one’s ideal job/career. And sometimes the change in careers is quite dramatic, as in your situation. Even though you invested a lot of time and money to become a veterinarian, you’ve come to realize that there are more important issues in life, such as being happy with your job and career. What are the steps for realizing this change? Remember to take your time with this decision — do the research and make the transition at your own pace.
First step: Research specific career paths within the computer field and focus on specific career paths that interest you. There are numerous tools you can use to research career paths. You can go online to the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook or one of several computer/technical association Websites; you can brainstorm with a career professional from your alma mater’s career services office; you can conduct informational interviews with computer professionals in your local area; you can attend one or more computer professional association meetings and network with people in attendance.
Second step: Once you’ve narrowed your choices, see if you can shadow one or more people in your field to help solidify your choice. Use that time to also research the types of education, training, and certifications you may need to enter the field.
Third step: Start getting the training you need — and ideally get experience (through volunteering, internships, etc.) in your new field at the same time.
Fourth step: Once your education and training is near completion, and once you’ve gained experience in your new field, begin networking and job-hunting using all available resources.
For more information about changing careers, go to this section of Quintessential Careers: Job & Career Resources for Career Changers.
For more information about jobs and careers in the IT/technical field, go to this section of Quintessential Careers: Jobs in Technical, Telecommunications, Computers, Software, and IT.
Bridget writes:
I need HELP! I’m currently and have been for the past 4 years working as a recruiter/human resources. I’ve recently gotten promoted to an HR generalist. At any rate, I’m SO BORED with this job I just want to cry sometimes. I am very grateful that I have a job and my co-workers/manager really like my work, but I just think that I spend too much time at work to be unhappy. I just can’t stand it. I went to college and got my degree in marketing with an emphasis in promotions and special-event planning, but I accidentally got in HR and have been here ever since. I’m dying. HELP!
Please promise me you will take some time off as soon as possible and get your life and career in order. No one should be working in a job that brings you to tears. You are still young and it’s still early in your professional life, so career change should not be too difficult for you. The harder decision and work will be making the commitment to actually change your situation.
One of my personal and professional priorities is helping people find their life and work passion. We’re only on this Earth a finite time, so we should try and find what we enjoy doing — what we’re good at — as early as possible. Besides the fact it should be the right of every job-seeker, having a job that fits you — that you have a passion for — will also help your mental and physical health.
So, how do you do it?
First, go back to your college major. Why did you choose marketing and event planning? Are you still interested in that field? If not, then take the time to do some self-reflection and self-assessment. Examine the types of activities you enjoy. Is there a hobby you really love? Is there any aspect of your current job you enjoy? Consider taking one or more assessment tests; there are several good free ones on the Web. Once you’ve developed some ideas of activities you enjoy, the next step is researching potential careers that use those skills.
Second, make a career change plan. Once you know the type of job(s) that interest you, the next step is developing a plan to make a career change. Making a successful career transition will require some mix of these elements: further education or training, gaining work experience in the field, organizing transferable skills, developing a new resume, and networking.
Read more in my article on Quintessential Careers: The 10-Step Plan to Career Change.
Victoria writes:
I am writing for some desperate advice on making a career change.
I have been working as an admin assistant/secretary for the last 5-6 years.
It was never something I wanted to do. I only did it to get my foot in the
door at various companies. I am very bored, not challenged at all, and I
know that I don’t do as well at it as I should only because I hate it so much.
I have taken a job personality test to give me a better idea at what I would be good at, and enjoy, but I don’t know how to get myself there. I don’t know where to get started and completely changing careers in a totally different field. Not to mention getting the courage to take such a large step.
My best advise is to find a mentor … someone you can lean on — and who can give you encouragement — when times get tough. Since you’ve taken some time to reflect on what you want to do, now is the time to conduct research into career fields that utilize those skills. Once you’ve identified potential career paths, the next step is to determine whether you’ll need further education or training. Finally, to make the transition easier, you’ll want to gain some experience in your new career path through volunteer work or part-time employment.
You’ll also need to diversify and strengthen your network of contacts. Consider joining a professional organization in your new career field — and get involved. Networking is the single largest method for job-seekers to find new jobs.
Since you have held a job for the last six years, now is also the time to brush up on the latest in critical job-search skills, including cover letter writing, resume development, and job interview techniques.
Finally, be flexible. Changing careers is rarely easy, but the rewards can be great.
Read much more in my article, The 10-Step Plan to Career Change, published on Quintessential Careers.
Laura writes: Would it be “career suicide” to take a position within HR at another company which is not for profit — and the pay is $12K less than my current salary? The position that I currently have may be in jeopardy due to a merger and I would rather be employed than unemployed. What other factors do I need to consider?
In your case, however, you are not talking about changing careers or taking your career in a new direction. You are simply feeling a bit panicked and want to make a move before your current company does so for you. You need to take a step back and evaluate this job offer objectively — as if there was no hint of change in your current position. Would you really take what I’m guessing is a lateral job move for a significant pay cut? I’m guessing your answer would be a very loud “no” — unless you were very passionate about the nonprofit’s cause and wanted to support it regardless of personal sacrifices.
Now, I totally understand your feelings of vulnerability and concern. It’s an anxious time within your current company, and there is probably quite a bit of office gossip and rumors.
Instead of taking the first offer that comes your way, why not invest your energies and emotions into a full-force job-search? Develop a plan. Get in touch with your network of contacts. Stay positive and look for new opportunities and growth.
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