Recently in Workforce Re-entry Category

Barbara writes:

I am a single mother of three in my late 20s. I have very few job skills and no formal education. I am eager to attend college and begin a career so that I may support myself and my children. My dilemma is that I have never wanted to be anything other than a wife and mother.

I have hobbies, likes, and dislikes just like everyone, but how do I turn them in to a career?
I desperately want to go back to school because I know that without an education I will not be able to get any kind of employment that will provide enough income for my children.

The Career Doctor responds:

First let me assure you that you are doing all the right moves — you realize you need to attend college to make a better living for yourself and your children and you want to take the time to find the right career for you.

One of my favorite things to do is help people discover their career passions — because when you are passionate about your career, you tend to love your job, and success follows. You will also be healthier and happier because of the fulfillment you receive from doing a job you enjoy.

We have a whole tutorial on Finding Your Career Passion on QuintCareers.com and I encourage you to get more depth on the subject than I can provide here, but let me give you at least an outline for what you need to do to move forward.

First step: Take some assessment tests. There are a number of good assessment tests (online and in print) that can give you some valuable career feedback based on your responses.

Second step: Assess yourself. You have already started this process — examine your likes, favorite activities, lifelong interests, hobbies, volunteering. Make a list. Then look for common threads among all these things and develop a list of core attributes.

Third step: Examine your life goals and research ideal career paths. Review what you want to accomplish in your life, and along with the results from step 2, begin researching careers that will use your skills and help you achieve your goals.

Fourth step: Identify college majors and minors that will assist you in entering your ideal career path.

Gwen writes:

For the past 11 years, I have been married and worked on writing novels and children’s books (which have not been published yet). I have a Ph.D. in education administration and prior to this had a business of my own. I am in the process of getting a divorce and am trying to get myself retrained to reenter the job market. What I would like to do is to go into the nonprofit industry. I have enrolled in two fundraising courses to get a certificate in fundraising and also trying to get a certificate in public relations. I have signed up to take the fundraising certificate exam. What’s the best way for me to break into the job market?

The Career Doctor responds:

Wow, you have quite an interesting background and it will be a challenge to create your resume to package everything you have done in a manner that would help you make the career change you seek — but it is certainly not impossible. It will require identifying and using transferable skills you have mastered and applying them to the skills required in the job you seek in the non-profit industry.

But the first thing you should do? Make a list of non-profits in your area and inquire whether they need volunteers for fundraising or public relations. My guess is just a bout every one of the organizations you call will resoundingly say yes.

Once you have your foot in the door, and once you complete your certifications, you will then have the transferable skills, certifications, and current experience (yes, volunteering counts as experience) to make the jump from volunteer to paid staff.

Making career changes is never an easy process, but I encourage you to keep moving forward. Having a career that you enjoy and have passion for is so much more important than working in a career you dislike but are compensated well.

I recommend taking advantage of all the tools and resources we offer in this section of Quintessential Careers: Job & Career Resources for Career Changers.