Career Change Pathways: 5 Critical Steps to a New Career!

In many ways there are striking similarities between a mid-life career change and the effort required to find a first job. Both require discovering a career target and planning the skills and experience required to qualify for the planned job.

So regardless of your position on a specific career path, here are five things you must accomplish to help you move toward you planned new career.

1. Career testing is a great start. The internet has any number of career, personality and interest testing tools. They will do a great deal in focusing your career direction. Perhaps even pointing out specific careers where you would excel.

Some career tests may charge a fee, but many do not. Take several to make it easier to validate the results. Your local library can be another resource. Whatever steps you take at the very least they will get you thinking and pointing out areas for additional career research.

2. Keep a record of your ideas and progress. When you start your journey for career discovery, begin by keeping a written record of your ideas and progress. Jot down ideas, the results of research, conversations with others, articles read, and any other possible career directions that you may uncover.

Refer to your notes on a frequent basis. Your written record will be a big help in planning your career and job hunting efforts.

3. What are your interests? Do you have a hobby? Maybe something that you used to enjoy but for whatever reason have moved away from the activity? What do you enjoy about the hobby? Look at each action that goes into the hobby. What do your see? What part of the hobby is fun?

Even though you may not be able to make a living from the hobby, many of the activities can easily translate to major functions of a career.

4. Get ideas and feedback from a variety of sources. In any research project, the more sources the better the decision. Do some informational interviews of individuals working in the proposed career. Talk to friends and family for ideas. Your school or alumni group may have resources you can tap to discuss your career ideas.

5. Gear up your career planning by laying out short and long-term goals. After you've decided on a career, there will be gaps in your skills and qualifications. How will you close the gaps? Education, self-study and possible part-time positions are all possibilities.

Lay out your career change plan starting with your long-term goals. Now fill out your short-term goals by completing a course, added informational interviews, attending a workshop or seminar all will get you closer to you final goal.

As you get closer to the finish line, craft a resume targeting your new career. Your resume cover letter should focus on the needs of the prospective employer and introduce your resume. As you go through these steps in discovering your new career you will be less likely going after jobs that do not fit your interests.

John Groth has changed careers seven times during his working life. Learn more about changing careers, job hunting strategies and career planning at http://careersafter50.com. Discover how others over age 50, built winning career plans and found the right careers by effective job hunting and after 50 career planning.

Career planning or career Change-four actions critical to the success of the overall career!

You worked for an employer for some years. But things don't seem right only. Maybe it's a new boss, or a new CEO, but things aren't what they used to be. Your career seems to be going nowhere. For whatever reason, your task doesn't get you going in the morning, if in fact, some morning dread going to work.

But what now? You know that you could do more. How to jump start your career and keep it sharp and cool and your high-interest? If you're trying to do a job well planned, change or just want to light a fire under your career path you study uninspiring, the following action change toolkit.

To make a change effectiveness in your career or get back on the fast track you must study the following four ideas to action.

1. what is your purpose career? What should I do? Do the analysis and find out once and for all what should be done. Each possesses a call or a single purpose. Each one is unique and this uniqueness it shows in a career that we intended to do. Connect the dots from living your career goal. Start with thinking about how and why you are in your current career. Everything is currently valid? If not, find out why.

2. have you ever written your career mission? If you maybe it's time to take a careful review of the Declaration of intent. Rewrite if necessary. If you haven't written mission statement career now would be a productive time to get it done. You can add a sense of purpose, direction and focus in te decisions regarding your career or career change.

3. you have your writing career goals? If it is now time to think about them and write them down. It is essential to set your short, intermediate and long-term career goals. Do you want to be able to view and monitor progress. For example, if you career goal is to read 120 books in the next five years, scrambling and track to two per month. If you don't track the goal within the month, will do you no good trying to catch up in the last month and try to read 60 books.

4. Motivating Actions begin with small steps. Destructive habits do not occur overnight. Lack of physical fitness of a person, for example, not a day goes by fit to walk two miles. Rather it is the accumulation of daily, weekly, and perhaps years of lack of physical activity.

The same can be said for your career. You have the skills to make daily changes to small but significant in your purpose, determination and commitment. Over time, some just twenty-one days, attitude and self-confidence will grow as these build small improvements and grow. This results in accelerating your motivation to make your career goals a reality.

Use these four ideas from your career building toolkit and will succeed if you are looking to change careers or just want to get the emotion in your current job. Studying, planning, definition of objectives and actions you'll be well on its way to eager to go to work every morning.

John Groth is a former Executive coach and career HR. Find Career changing ideas, precious items and a free seven-day career planning guide. Discover up-to-date career strategies and recruitment at our Guide to employment planning all to assist you in advancing and manage your career.

Need to change your career? 5 critical factors you need to know before you Jump Ship

There are some days when cringe at the thought of staying at your current job for another year. In fact, sometimes you wonder if it's worth it to stay there for another week.

But do yourself a favour by taking into consideration the critical factor 5 that impact your successful career change.

One factor. You must protect your sanity by taking time to understand what it is that you really want from your career and life.

Here is the reality that you must come to grips with the need to change your career often breeds unrest.

It is during these moments of discomfort and unrest when you escape from your career crisis and hide from reality.

* Do not hide the fact that your career this is not the delivery of what should be.

* Take a proactive stance by making strategic career move that makes you feel more energized and vibrant.

Two factor: You must understand that the need to change your career must be recognized ... and then supported.

First standing for who you are and what you want.

Make a career change that fits who you are and what you're trying to do with your life.

Three factor: recognize that during the riots, must take action.

When you feel the need to change your career ... take a deep breath and then step out of your comfort zone.

* Start always intimately know who you are and what is that you really want out of your life and career.

* Then pair your passion and your heart that ideal career matches which makes dance your heart and the spark of passion.

* Singe deal with positioning yourself for the job of your dreams.

Factor four: don't let the need to change your career go unnoticed.

Push your career dreams by spending time getting to know you.

* Start by consulting advice, strategies and tips on changing Your career [http://www.career-change-positioning.com/advice-on-changing-career.html].

* And then begin to evaluate which career move will make more sense for you.

* Reading the secret ingredient for assessing whether a career is Right For You to learn more.

Factor five: don't spend another year to remain stuck in a career that does not fit your passion.

Now is the best time to start planning your career change.

Here is for your successful career change!

* Signed: MBA, Latarsha Lytle, career change positioning strategist, your motivational coach ... and your biggest fan!

Latarsha Lytle, MBA is a motivational speaker and certified Life Coach and career goal holding (1) a MBA in Business strategy and (2) a second Master in Marketing , with an emphasis in Branding and positioning.

Her passion is helping people

* First identify their SweetSpot-what that were made to do and be,

* Then works with them to position their SweetSpot in signing a career or business:

(a) that fits their passion, their life and pay them their value ...

(b) all while allowing them to leave their legacy and mark worldwide.

For more information about how to find ideas of small companies that fit your passion and your life, http://www.small-business-ideas-branded-by-passion.com go to

OR ...

For more information about positioning yourself for career success. go to [http://www.career-change-positioning.com]

Career Planning - 5 Critical Mistakes

Career Planning: What not to do!

You've heard a lot about career planning. We've may have read what Brian Tracy said about developing career goals, "An average person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has clear focused goals."

Why then do more people make mistakes at career planning? What do they not do to manage working out a career plan?

First, they have unrealistic goals. They do not break the individual career goal down to manageable bites. If they plan on reading 100 books in two years, it does them little good trying to read all the books in the last weekend before the end of the two years. A manageable goal, for example would be to read two books a month. You can measure it at the end of the month and adjust it as you go along. More likely with this approach you'll reach and exceed the overall goal of 200 books read in two years.

Also, unrealistic aspirations become more realistic if you check the goals out with your mentors and friends. Moreover, unrealistic career goals are rarely met so the individual gets discouraged and the overall plan becomes ignored and useless.

Second, many work out career plans that have a limited range and scope. They view themselves as only working in one job or type of job. This restricts career options dramatically and can have an effect of reducing overall job satisfaction. Expand your horizons, and work hard to cross-train in other related careers. Learn other skills and you'll find other opportunities opening for you.

Third, a career plan that is over detailed and leaves no room or time to respond to changes in external or internal circumstances could become a problem. Further, having a laundry list of detailed action items usually means a lack of priorities. This leads to little or no effective action on the career plan.

Fourth, a career plan that depends on others to recognize you skills and potential is doomed to failure. Developing a plan that requires your organization to plan the development and advancement of your career is going in the wrong direction. Career planning and development is your responsibility and your responsibility alone. Your organization may provide resources but it is your responsibility to take the required actions to plan and develop your career.

Fifth, many take unnecessary risks in their lack of career planning. They do not develop proper options nor develop the basic skills and understandings required to move to the next level or to properly prepare themselves to change careers. You should be making informed choices, with proper preparation to assure your career plan develops the planned results.

So we have five main areas that many do not do in planning and managing their careers: (1) They set unrealistic goals; (2) Their career plans have limited range and scope; (3) They have an overly detailed career plan; (4) Their career plan depends on others; and (5) Their lack of a career plan mean they take unnecessary risks with their career and their future.

Paraphrasing what Brian Tracy said earlier in this article, clear focused goals are the key to effective career planning and development. Keep from making the five listed mistakes and you'll be well on your way to career and future success.

John Groth is a former HR executive and career coach. Find Career Planning Ideas, valuable articles and a free seven day career planning guide. Discover up to date career and recruitment strategies at our Career Planning Guide; all to assist you in advancing and managing your career.

Career Planning - 5 Critical Mistakes

Career Planning: What not to do!

You've heard a lot about career planning. We've may have read what Brian Tracy said about developing career goals, "An average person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has clear focused goals."

Why then do more people make mistakes at career planning? What do they not do to manage working out a career plan?

First, they have unrealistic goals. They do not break the individual career goal down to manageable bites. If they plan on reading 100 books in two years, it does them little good trying to read all the books in the last weekend before the end of the two years. A manageable goal, for example would be to read two books a month. You can measure it at the end of the month and adjust it as you go along. More likely with this approach you'll reach and exceed the overall goal of 200 books read in two years.

Also, unrealistic aspirations become more realistic if you check the goals out with your mentors and friends. Moreover, unrealistic career goals are rarely met so the individual gets discouraged and the overall plan becomes ignored and useless.

Second, many work out career plans that have a limited range and scope. They view themselves as only working in one job or type of job. This restricts career options dramatically and can have an effect of reducing overall job satisfaction. Expand your horizons, and work hard to cross-train in other related careers. Learn other skills and you'll find other opportunities opening for you.

Third, a career plan that is over detailed and leaves no room or time to respond to changes in external or internal circumstances could become a problem. Further, having a laundry list of detailed action items usually means a lack of priorities. This leads to little or no effective action on the career plan.

Fourth, a career plan that depends on others to recognize you skills and potential is doomed to failure. Developing a plan that requires your organization to plan the development and advancement of your career is going in the wrong direction. Career planning and development is your responsibility and your responsibility alone. Your organization may provide resources but it is your responsibility to take the required actions to plan and develop your career.

Fifth, many take unnecessary risks in their lack of career planning. They do not develop proper options nor develop the basic skills and understandings required to move to the next level or to properly prepare themselves to change careers. You should be making informed choices, with proper preparation to assure your career plan develops the planned results.

So we have five main areas that many do not do in planning and managing their careers: (1) They set unrealistic goals; (2) Their career plans have limited range and scope; (3) They have an overly detailed career plan; (4) Their career plan depends on others; and (5) Their lack of a career plan mean they take unnecessary risks with their career and their future.

Paraphrasing what Brian Tracy said earlier in this article, clear focused goals are the key to effective career planning and development. Keep from making the five listed mistakes and you'll be well on your way to career and future success.

John Groth is a former HR executive and career coach. Find Career Planning Ideas, valuable articles and a free seven day career planning guide. Discover up to date career and recruitment strategies at our Career Planning Guide; all to assist you in advancing and managing your career.