Jennifer writes:
Can you tell me what classes and how long and what I need to do to become a
paralegal? I work for a law office as a legal secretary right now, and they want to
promote me to a paralegal once I go to school for it. Can I go to my community
college for it??? Help!
The Career Doctor responds:
First, let me congratulate both you and your employer. You are obviously a
great employee, and it’s wonderful to see your employer wants to help you
grow as a legal professional. Before you take the next step, please make
sure this career step is one you want to take. I assume, working in a law
office, you have a good idea of pros and cons of being a paralegal… but if
not, now is the time to do the research. Since you are obviously very good
at what you currently do, there is no shame in staying a legal secretary if
becoming a paralegal does not appeal to you.
OK. Now to your question. There are several ways to become a paralegal.
If you do not have a college degree, one option is to attend a local
community college’s paralegal program leading to an associate’s degree.
If you do have a college degree, there are certificate programs that lead to
a certification in paralegal studies in just a few months. If your local
community college does not offer paralegal studies, there are numerous
online programs that do — but make sure you find an accredited program.
You do not necessarily need a program approved by the American Bar Association, but graduating from an ABA-approved school should enhance
your options (if something happens with your current firm).
Once you complete your education, you may also want to look into
becoming certified through the National Association of Legal Assistants
or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.
Find more useful information here:
Delicia writes:
After graduating from college with a degree in psychology I got a job at a title
insurance company where I’ve been employed for the past 3 years. I am presently
working on a master’s degree and feel the need to change to a more promising,
financially rewarding career. What should I do?
The Career Doctor responds:
Unfortunately, I have no clue what type of job you currently hold, what area
your graduate degree is in, nor what your interests and goals are — besides
wanting something financially rewarding. I think most of us — at least those
not independently wealthy — want a financially rewarding career — so the key is
finding one that you are passionate about… a career and job that will make
you excited to head to work every morning.
Usually you get a master’s degree in the field that you see yourself entering. If
you are continuing your psychology at the graduate level, then it certainly seems
that a counseling career is appropriate.
My best advice is to first sit down and reflect on who you are and what you like
doing. Perhaps conduct some research on a number of careers that interest you.
Then meet with one or more of the professors in your graduate program (or
perhaps even from your undergraduate days) and pick their brains about
career options. Finally, once you have narrowed your career choices down,
start making a plan for how you will make the change from what you are doing
now to your new career.
I recommend you read my article, The
10-Step Plan to Career Change, published on Quintessential Careers. You might also
enjoy my Career Change Do’s and Don’ts
Glenn writes:
I’m in a dead-end job and feel a real need to make a career change.
My employer is reorganizing the department and probably going to offer
most people a package. I see this as my chance to get out and do something
different. So, what should I do — and what should I not do? I already have
a tentative job offer from an old boss and am thinking of taking it once I
get the package. Your advice?
The Career Doctor responds:
What should you do? If you are seriously thinking of changing careers — not just jobs
or employers — what you should not do is jump at the first opportunity that comes your way.
One of the most common mistakes career-changers make, especially those who are
being forced to make a change through some sort of corporate restructuring, is to grab
hold of the first job offer that comes your way. I don’t mean to imply that it might be a
bad offer, but why not take the time to see what other opportunities are out there,
especially if you have a severance package? You need to evaluate whether you want
to stay in your current career or make a switch to something different.
What are some of the other career-change mistakes to avoid?
- Making a career change without a plan. A successful career change can
often take months to accomplish when you have a strategy — and even longer without one.
- Changing careers because you hate your job. Don’t make the mistake of
confusing hating your current job (or employer) with hating your current career.
- Making a career change based solely on money/benefits. Certain careers
are more financially rewarding than others, but that doesn’t mean they are right for you.
- Changing careers because of outside pressure. Don’t let your parents, family,
or significant other influence your career choice; you need to live it, not them.
- Attempting a career change without a new network and mentor. Making a
career change alone is nearly impossible, so once you have identified a new
career field start making new network contacts.
- Changing careers without examining all the possibilities. Take the time to conduct
research on numerous career fields so that you can find the best one to fit your current situation.
- Making a career change without assessment of likes/dislikes. Self-assessment
and self-reflection are critical to career change success.
- Changing careers based on the success of others. Just because your best friend
is doing well in a certain career does not mean that you will also do well.
- Making a career change without necessary experience/education. One of the keys
to successful career change is gaining experience in your new career field; and in
some cases, further education or training may be necessary.
- Changing careers without updating your job-search skills/techniques. If it’s been
a while since you were in the job market, take the time to update and polish your job-hunting skills.
You can read more details about these 10 mistakes in this article published on
Quintessential Careers: 10
Career Change Mistakes to Avoid.
And find lots of great resources and tools in the career
change resources section of Quintessential Careers.
Heather writes:
I have a BFA in dance performance and a good bit of professional/semi-professional
dance experience. However, I have chosen to go back to school for my other passion:
conservation biology. I am taking the required science and math courses at a college
now to gain acceptance into a graduate program (without getting a second degree),
but realize I will be competing with students who have not only a BS, but also lots
more experience in the field. I am trying to gain some of that experience next summer by applying to internships or volunteering. I have read lots about
“transferable skills,” but the two careers are so different that only one comes to
mind — dedication! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
The Career Doctor responds:
Wow. You are truly making a dramatic career change, and kudos to you for
taking the leap (if you forgive the pun) to follow your passion. And you also
deserve credit for realizing that you need to get started now on gaining valuable
experience in your new field so that by the time you are finished with your
graduate degree you will be an attractive candidate to employers.
Transferable skills are an essential job-hunting concept to master for all
job-seekers, but especially for recent college graduates and career-changers.
What are transferable skills? Simply put, they 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 or career.
Your first step is identifying the set of skills that employers in conservation
biology seek. You can do so by compiling a collection of job postings from various
employers — and making a list of the key skills they seek.
Your next step is then looking into your past and present for any experiences
where you may have used or mastered those skills.
Your final step is then carefully showcasing those transferable skills in your
cover letters, resumes, and interviews.
I think volunteering is a much more likely option for you next summer than
internships — because you are still catching up on those core science
classes, but don’t rule anything out until you try. I have found that employers
often interview (especially for internships and volunteer positions) candidates
with diverse backgrounds because they seek a well-rounded staff.
Read more about transferable skills in this section of Quintessential Careers:
Transferable
Job Skills.
Sarika writes:
I am thinking of a career change that will let me plan events or set
up for events. I have no experience in planning events; however, I do
have a great interest in it. How can I go about getting my foot in the
door — or where can I go to get some basic experience? Obviously,
I’m thinking of small events at first (parties, bridal showers, etc.) but
I’m not sure where to turn with no experience.
The Career Doctor responds:
Congratulations because you are already about halfway to a successful career change. So many job-seekers know they want to change careers but have no
idea what they want to change into — and you have already looked at your
interests and determined that event planning is the new career for you.
The next step has to be for you to gather more information about the field,
to build your network of contacts, assess your skills and accomplishments
(to see how many will transfer from your current career to event-planning),
consider additional training/career development, and gain experience.
There are numerous print and online resources to gather information about
event-planning, but the best method (once you have a basic understanding
of the field) is conducting informational interviews with people working in jobs
you want to have. And not only will you learn vital inside information from
these interviews, you will also be establishing a network in your new career field.
You’ll need to read about transferable skills — those skills that are universally
used — to see what skills carry over from your current career. From your
informational interviews, you may also discover you need additional training/professional development.
Finally, you’ll need to gain experience. I suggest — if you are currently
employed — volunteering with a few caterers and event planners in your area.
You’ll learn the ropes while gaining valuable experience and more network contacts.
You could also spread the word to your personal network of friends and family
that you are now an event planner and ready to tackle any job, regardless of how small.
Ron writes:
I have been floundering all my life but manage to get jobs that help pay rent/mortgage
which are not my passion. I graduated with a painting degree and ever since all the jobs
I have held have been dead-end positions. I have been receptionist, sales/customer
service and now a sales specialist selling catalog furniture over the phone. I am sick
of sales and phones but don’t know how to pursue my talents of art, painting, design,
color while still paying my mortgage. What do you advise?
The Career Doctor responds:
You should resolve, today, that you will
have a new job in the career field where your passions lie by the end of the
year — if not sooner!
You say you have been floundering all your life — but what have you done to help
position yourself for a career in the arts? You chose to apply for all these jobs —
and then you accepted them once offered. Using the tagline of an infamous infomercial
of a few years back, “stop the insanity!”
You control your fate. You can continue to be stuck in dead-end jobs that you hate,
or you can make a decision to follow your bliss. Are you ready to get started?
You need to develop a strategy for making the transition. Then, while continuing to
work in your sales job, begin laying the groundwork for that career change.
First, decide the types of jobs/careers in the arts that most interest you.
Second, find an arts organization that needs volunteers — and volunteer as much as
you can. Gain valuable experience and begin to make contacts.
Third, find arts groups (within your community or online), join them, and build
your network.
Fourth, determine if you need any further training or education to qualify for a
job in the arts.
Fifth, use your new network of contacts, volunteering experience, and degree to
track down job leads and position yourself as the ideal candidate.
Stick to the plan — and you WILL have success.
Learn more in this section of Quintessential Careers:
Job
and Career Resources for Career Changers.
Lamar writes:
Dr. Hansen: I am looking for a new career in teaching. I have a master of arts degree
in interdisciplinary technology from Eastern Michigan University with a minor in
business. Just how do I break into this field without having a doctorial degree or
the experience in teaching besides being a part-time substitute teacher?
The Career Doctor responds:
I guess it really depends on what level you wish to teach. If you wish to teach
K-12, then the combination of experience and a master’s degree will take
you far in getting your foot in the door. You’ll also need to earn a teaching certification for whatever state where you are seeking a job. Certainly there
is a shortage of teachers in many parts of the country — and because
technology has become such an important part of the curriculum,
someone with your credentials should be in high demand. Don’t
discount yourself or your credentials; focus on the positive!
If you want to break into the college ranks, your best bets are community colleges and temporary positions at four-year schools. Many community
colleges are more flexible in their hiring criteria and look at a mix of
degrees and experience, thus you should find numerous permanent
positions. But because technology is also in such demand at the
college level, and because there is a limited number of qualified candidates, there may also be numerous offerings for instructor-level
positions. In the end, if you want to teach full-time at the college level,
you are going to have to seriously consider getting your doctoral degree.
So, your next step? Regardless of the level you want to teach, your next
step is to begin developing your network. Join an industry professional organization (and join a discussion group and/or attend a conference),
talk with your professors about contacts in the field, track down alumni,
and check with family and friends who may have connections to teaching.
There are also numerous excellent job sites on the Web related to all
levels of teaching. At a minimum, you can begin reading job descriptions
and requirements and better position yourself as an ideal candidate as
you develop your list of prospective employers. Follow this link on
Quintessential Careers: Academic,
Educator, and Teaching Jobs.
Nikki writes:
I have been out of college for two years. During those two years I was a public -school teacher. Now I would like to make a career change toward international
business. I enrolled into a graduate program for international management and
commerce. What kind of job should I seeking to gain experience in this field?
How can I land the position with my education experience?
The Career Doctor responds:
There is a bit of a misunderstanding among students who are enrolled in
international business programs, though more so at the undergraduate
level. Students think they are going to graduate with this international business degree and travel the world, working for large multinational corporations.
You seem to have a better understanding of the situation. Businesses
who have operations in other parts of the world do want graduates of
international business programs — especially graduate programs — but
those graduates need to have proven domestic business careers first.
So, the critical thing for you is to get experience while you are in the
graduate program. I don’t know the details of your program, but find a
way to work full-time, part-time, consult, and/or volunteer. If you can
work for the next two years as you earn your graduate degree, you
will be a very attractive candidate to a multitude of companies that are
doing business overseas.
Talk with the professionals in your school’s career services office,
network with alumni of the program, and join at least one professional association. Start researching potential employers now, examine the
types of job offers graduates have received over the past few years,
and begin putting yourself in a position to receive multiple job offers
upon graduation.
One final piece of advice. Do you know one or more foreign languages?
If not, I would also suggest you take the time to become as fluent as
possible in at least one other language besides English.
Michele writes:
I am a 30-year-old woman in need of a career change. I have my
bachelor’s degree in psychology and am currently working on my associate’s in
graphic design. I worked in the field of mental health and became “burned out.”
The reason I’m writing to you is that I need to increase my salary and find a career
that I enjoy. I am very creative and work very well with people. I enjoy the arts and
have thought about working in museums as a curator or art dealer. I have had difficulty
finding information about these careers and whether the salary could pay my bills!!! If you have any advice on where I should go from here, I would appreciate it.
The Career Doctor responds:
Wow. Your letter is almost a textbook example of a person in career crisis. Too often we
stay in one job or one field too long and experience burn out, as you mention…and then
we often move into panic mode because we don’t know where to go.
The good news for you is that you are doing all the right things. You have taken a
self-assessment and reviewed both your strengths and interests — and you are moving in
the right direction in finding a new career you’ll enjoy. But while I understand the need
to pay the bills, I always worry about someone who mentions salary so close to career.
First, because many career changers often must take a lower salary as they pay their
dues in their new career field, and second, because while I recognize money is a big
part of who many of us are, salary should not drive our career choices.
OK. Take me off my soapbox. You are obviously creative, enjoy the arts, and work well
with people — a great combination. I’m not sure about the graphics design degree,
but if you are also taking some art courses, it certainly could help you as you possibly
transition into the art world.
Where do you go from here? You’ve done the hard part in taking a hard look at yourself,
so now comes the fun part — researching careers in art. There are so many possibilities:
go online, go to your local library, contact the career services professionals from your
alma mater, track down alums who work in the art field, conduct informational interviews.
Please realize that you may need to volunteer or intern to get the necessary experience
to make the transition to your new career, but you’ll learn the most by talking to people
in the field.
Find more resources for career change in this section of Quintessential Careers:
Job and Career
Resources for Career Changers.
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