Important Tips on Career Retraining

If you're considering career retraining, it's important to understand and acknowledge why you're considering changing careers and what you want in a new career. If you remember back to when you chose your current career, there were certain things about that career that attracted you. Perhaps, you were keeping it "in the family" and following your parent's footsteps, or choosing a career that paid a good salary or you may have taken the career that required the least amount of schooling. Lastly, you may have really wanted that career at that time but have changed your mind as time went by. Whatever your reason, now that you have the desire for career retraining, the sky is the limit.

Before you decide on a specific new career choice, do some research on the job so you know what you're getting into. Career retraining can involve a lot of money, time and training so make sure this is a choice that will be lucrative for your career. In other words, don't choose a career that millions of others are also choosing now or you may be in the unemployment line for a long time waiting for that opportunity to come along. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself before you begin your career retraining:

- Is your goal to earn more money?

- Do you want to stay with this career until your retirement?

- Do you want to have a variety of choices of work or are you focused on one job?

- Do you want to have the choice of where you live or are you willing to relocate?

Once you have the answers to these questions, you're going to be ready for your career retraining and you'll have a better idea of what your options involve. Many people make the mistake of career retraining for something that doesn't fit into their current lifestyle, which they have no intention of changing. For instance, if you live in a small community and have no intention of moving, keep this in mind when you choose a new career. You don't want to spend a lot of time retraining for a job that will never be available in your hometown.  Keep this in mind when you choose a job career: availability in your location.

Career retraining is something that many individuals are choosing today with the wide choices that are now available in the job market. The internet has made it very easy to find educational institutes to help you earn your degree for your chosen career. Whether it's individual courses you need or a Bachelor's Degree, research will find something for you in your chosen field. Career retraining is something that can be very exciting once you've decided what you're interested in doing. However, if you're going to spend money and time on this new career choice, make sure this is definitely what you want to do for the rest of your life so you don't end up choosing a career as a full-time student.

James Copper is a writer for http://www.trainingindex.co.uk where you can find information on career retraining

Dealing With the Most Important New Career Risk

Making the decision to pursue a new career can be one of the most challenging and exciting times in a person's life. You look forward to the possibility of doing something you have always wanted to do, fulfilling your personal vision, benefiting others, increasing your income, or any combination of these or other benefits. You may be looking to start your own business, move into a new field that has always interested you, or go back to school to get the training needed to allow you to leverage your expertise to teach.

Is making the new career decision enough?

By the time you have made the decision to pursue a new career you likely have done the hard work to carefully think through your decision (If not or to confirm your choice, see the link below). You have spent weeks, months, or maybe years, dealing with the up and down emotions associated with making this type of life change. You have sought career guidance from friends and family, and possibly paid for professional advice. The plan is ready. Time to execute. You are ready to go.

Have you addressed the most important new career risk?

The most likely source of failure in realizing your new career is having insufficient resources to survive until your new career can pay the bills. Let's face it, as a minimum we all need food, shelter, and clothing to sustain our physical needs. How long do you expect your transition take? Even if you planned to go a year without income, what happens if you get sick and cannot work for 3 weeks, or worse? Will you have the resources to bridge the additional gap? Do you need health insurance to cover unplanned medical expenses?

Are you starting a new business? When does your business plan show you breaking even? If it takes two years to be profitable instead of one, do you have access to funding to stay in business while addressing the shortfall in revenue? Like a business that runs out of cash, failing to mitigate this risk opens you up to personal bankruptcy, or worse.

Are there better times to take on the new career risk?

During college, I learned to stretch the income I made over the summer to address my needs for the entire year. I look back and am amazed at how little I managed to live on. This certainly suggests that it should be easier to change your career when you have few obligations and have not gotten used to a more expensive lifestyle.

If you want to mitigate the risk of insufficient resources in transitioning to your new career, make changes in your lifestyle before you execute on your decision. Determine your minimum needs and try living on your minimum budget before starting your transition. This will enable you to establish how long you can likely stretch your available resources.

Have you just lost your job or experienced a major reorganization at work? Believe it or not, this may also be an ideal time to start working a new career transition. Severance benefits from a job loss can provide the additional financial resources necessary to provide the time needed to move into a new career or launch that new business. In addition, it is not uncommon for training and education resources to be provided that could reduce what you need to spend on required education for your new occupation.

Are you able to retire?

If you have established that you can afford to retire, you have already determined that you have the resources to survive, and hopefully more. This puts you in the position to have already mitigated this risk, as long as any new career investment does not substantially change your resource situation. It comes as no surprise that this is a great time to transition to a new career as your resources will allow you work on your new career until you succeed or ascertain that the new career was not what you hoped it would be.

Mitigate this risk to free yourself to focus on your new career

If you are midway through your working career and have responsibilities for other family members, this risk certainly will be a major factor that you should address prior to executing your career transition. With a well thought mitigation plan, you can be confident that you will have the resources needed to address the needs of you and those that depend on you, allowing you to focus on building your new career. Do not let this risk be the item that causes you to prematurely quit on the career of your dreams.

If you need to make or confirm your new career decision, follow this link: http://www.decision-making-solutions.com/Choosing_a_new_career.

Keith is Co-Founder of Decision Innovation, Inc.
Our company is focused on moving beyond collecting data and analyzing information to creating knowledge and providing insight. We will explore the decision making process and provide a unique combination of decision tools, decision and information management methods, and expertise that will give you the power over your personal and business decisions.

Visit us at http://www.decision-making-solutions.com/

Make a Smart Career Move - Consider Important Aspects of Career Planning

Making a smart career move from the very beginning of your career is very important to give you the success you are looking for. Understanding your personality type, abilities, and values correctly will guide you towards a career path ideal for you.

Career to Match your Personality

Most of us tend to ignore the relationship between a good career and personality match. The type of personality you are largely defines the chances of your success in career choices you make. For example, a shy and introvert person will never make a good salesperson. He is likely to struggle with poor performance and job dissatisfaction. An effective way to understand the way your career and personality interact is to meet an expert career guidance counselor. He/She will talk to you, analyze your behavior, may also give you some personality assessments, and will help you decide the right career path for you.

Career in the Area of Your Expertise

Opting for a career in your interest area makes it much simpler to excel and increases the chances of your success. If you are good in mathematics, then an accounting related career choice will be ideal or you.An aptitude test can be very helpful in determining your capacity to learn different skills. With a simple aptitude test you can find out the type of skills that you are more likely to learn easily. An aptitude test does not necessarily rely on things you have learned in the past. While your skills are the things you have learned in the past, aptitude access your ability to learn new things. It will help you build a career around your strengths, offer you effective career guidance, and can help you make right career choices.

Career to Match Your Work Values

Matching personal values with career choices is not a very common thing to do. Most of us usually overlook this important aspect of career planning. However, the major reason why people opt for mid-life career changes or are dissatisfied with their current job is because of a mismatch between job realities and their work values. If flexible work schedule, creativity, and freedom to express opinions are your primary goals, you should make career choices that will help you get such a work environment. A value inventory tool can help you think through your work values. However, unlike personality and aptitude test, it is not a formal tool, but can definitely provide career guidance and help you finalizing your needs related to career choices.

We often keep "high income" as our main career goal and more likely to end up in a job that we are not good at or are not satisfied with. Therefore, always assess these important career aspects to find a career path that is best for you.

This is Diarmuid Haughian, writing articles, blog and exploring on new interesting topics such as job, education, career etc. You can find more details about Career choices and careers guidance.

Career Tests For Kids - How Important Are They

Career tests for kids are important for a variety of reasons. Many children think about their futures and are curious as to what possible careers are available to them. In fact, children are naturally curious about many of the following areas as they relate to careers.

1. Kids often want to know what education is required for specific careers.

2. Kids want to know salary specifications for various jobs.

3. Kids want to know what tasks specific careers will require them to perform.

4. Kids want to know how their particular interests can lead to possible career choices.

5. Kids want to know about the growth of their chosen career fields in future years.

6. Kids want to know if they have the ability levels to perform in certain career fields.

Taking the Test

While taking these career tests for kids, children answer many different types of questions about their likes, dislikes, preferences, aptitudes, skill sets, goals, and future aspirations. Based on the children's unique answers to these questions, the career tests can give kids various types of information.

Results of the Test

The test usually provides students with career information suitable to them based on their specific answers to the questions. For example, the test will tell kids what jobs are most suitable for them. Usually, there is a minimum of three different types of careers in assorted career fields. The results of the test also give specific information about each of the careers listed. This information might include the following for each career listed: education required, salary specifications, job requirements, potential for job growth in future years, and any other special requirements a specific career might require such as a security clearance.

Children Can Use the Results

Children can use the results for different purposes. The career tests for kids allow students to see real possibilities for their futures, and they can plan for these futures. Children can choose classes to take in school that relate to these career paths. They can research the careers further on the Internet or by reading books related to their chosen fields. Kids can join extracurricular activities related to the careers so they can explore them further. Children can also perform volunteer services to learn about possible careers. For example, children can volunteer reading to younger children if they want to explore the field of education.

Career Tests Provide Useful Information for Kids

Career tests provide useful information for kids because they provide a foundation for kids to use as a starting off point to explore possible career choices. Children can see exactly what education they need now for the future. They can realistically see the requirements for specific jobs to see if they even want to pursue careers in certain fields. Having access to this type of information often helps kids make decisions about their current educations.

Kids need to think about their futures and learn to plan early. These career tests help children make decisions that will affect the rest of their lives. All children should have the opportunity to take these tests.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about career tests for kids [http://bestgoalsettingtips.info/career-tests-for-kids-how-important-are-they], please visit Best Goal Setting Tips [http://bestgoalsettingtips.info/] for current articles and discussions.

Career Counseling for Change - Five Important Keys to a Successful Direction and Transition

Are you unsatisfied with your career and want to make a change? Do you feel like you are not achieving your full career potential? Do you want to make a change, but want to make sure it is the right career this time? Don't know what you want to do, but know its not what you do now?

People are most fulfilled and successful when they find work they love to do and that suits their talents and abilities. This article shares five important keys to making a successful career change. Some concepts may be new to you, some may not. I encourage you to read through them either way, and let them stimulate your thinking. The exercises included are optional, but you are invited to reap

the full benefits by participating in them.

Key #1: Establish a career direction based on excellent self-understanding.

The first stages of a career change involve thinking, self-assessment, exploring, and planning. You can embark on these steps now--without disrupting your current employment situation. After you know more about your new direction, you can decide when to make your move. A career-direction goal should always aim for the ideal career and job fit for yourself. The first steps to identifying the ideal career involve self-assessment and generating insights into what career will make you most satisfied while meeting your needs. Research shows that people who are most satisfied and motivated in their careers are people who have a career that reflects their values, interests, skills, and talents plus their ideal work environment.

How can you clarify these kinds of self-understanding insights? You can do this first of all through a process of reflection on your favorite passions, skills, and interests as well as preferences. Career tests or assessments can also provide help here, and lend some objectivity to the exploration. There are a number of reliable and valid career-oriented tests that are widely available through career counselors and coaches.

Career counseling is geared exactly for this purpose. You may enjoy and benefit from the guidance of a counselor or coach to facilitate the development of a career direction based on who you are. This kind of self-understanding then translates into identifying specific careers that match up with who you are, and are likely to bring you the most satisfaction and motivation.

Here are some tips:

* Think ideally. What do you really want?

* Listen to your longings and desires.

* Pay attention to what attracts you.

* Stay away from things that repel you.

* Understand fully your unique style.

As you go about a career change, it is important to realize you cannot do everything well. You must choose a career direction and a job based on your best abilities and strengths. There are businesses that very much need the capabilities that you are able to provide.

Key #2 to a successful career change is to take stock of your skills, natural talents, competencies, and strengths, and to be able to articulate these well to potential employers as well as others.

Go with your strengths, and be able to communicate them impressively.If you think you have already identified your skills, talents, and strengths, and are looking for work that emphasizes these, great.

Take this opportunity to ask yourself, "Am I successfully saying no to careers and jobs that do not focus on my favorite skills, talents, and strengths?"

Focus your career direction into a career and job for which you are especially equipped. Each person has natural talent and intelligence in one or more areas. The idea is to be very clear on what you are naturally gifted at and let your talents guide you to your next career.

To further discover or clarify where your strengths and talents fall, think back on your life and previous work experience. What tasks and projects came easiest to you? What were the most important accomplishments in your life? What have you received the most recognition for?

You may want to ask several friends what they see as your greatest professional strengths. Career assessment can also yield good information. Take stock. Write down a list now. What themes emerge as you reflect on this?

This is a valuable exercise for self-understanding and career direction, but also when it comes to getting a job. The better you can articulate who you are and the talents and skills you bring to a business, the better impression you make on a potential employer.

There are a number of variables to consider in choosing a career or a job, including the market realities. This brings us to another concept that is necessary to be successful in your transition.

Key #3 is to identify a career that involves what you love to do, can be the best at, and for which you can be well compensated.

Imagine a Ven diagram consisting of three overlapping circles. One circle represents those activities, tasks, functions, and roles that you love to do. All of us at one time or another have experienced doing work that really did not seem like work because we enjoyed doing it. That's what I mean by work that you love to do.

The second circle represents work that you have the potential to be best at--work that you can do better than most others. This means tasks and projects that you have the right skills and natural talent for, and excel at. Work that you will be highly competitive at and perhaps (potentially) better than anyone else.

The third circle represents work that you will be paid well for. If there is work that you love to do and are great at, it will not matter unless someone will compensate you what you need. It is important to understand and take into account the realities of the job market.

Now, in this Ven diagram, the three circles overlap with each other equally. In the center is an area where the three circles converge and all three circles are overlapping. This is the area that represents the right career(s) for you. You want to consider careers or jobs that align with these three areas--work that you love to do, can do best, and will be well- compensated for.

By the way, if this sounds similar to Jim Collin's Hedgehog Concept in his book "Good to Great", it is. It is an adaptation of his model for business success applied to career success. I highly recommend his book.

So now, I suggest you take a few minutes and apply this to yourself. Where is the convergence of these three circles for you? If you cannot discover this, how will you find out? When all is said and done, one of the biggest factors in a career transition is money. Although you may love the idea of quitting your job and jumping into your next career, financial realities are in play.

Key #4: To transition smoothly into your next career, plan the best

way to juggle the finances to support you along the way.

I know from my work as a career counselor and coach that the money issue can cause significant angst and difficulty. Here are some ideas for managing it well.

1. Use your current income wisely. If you have a job, keep it. There's a saying that its easier to get a job when you have one. Before initiating a move: increase your savings, reduce your expenses, live within, or better, below your means for a while.

2. Build cash reserves through supplementing your full-time job with other work. You can get a part-time job, do contract work, etc.

3. Add a part-time business to your full-time job. If you must let go of your full-time job, then do what you can to produce an income while you are in transition.

4. Get an interim full-time or part-time job.

5. Do contract or freelance work.

6. Have a well-paying part-time job while you work on starting a business, if that will be your next career.

7. Use consulting gigs to generate income. Put your key strengths and capabilities to good use to generate income as a consultant while in transition.

8. Work full-time or part-time while attending school to prepare for your next career, if that is your plan.

A number of these options also have fringe benefits. While providing income, you can hopefully put yourself in positions where you can develop skills, experience, or contacts for your next career. How will you make the finances work during your career transition? Take a few minutes and jot down your thoughts.

Key #5: Network, network, network.

People who are most successful at career change and job-hunting use methods that require more effort. People who are less successful do the usual: passive methods such as sending out resumes, going through agencies, looking at the ads, and using the Internet. There is nothing wrong with these methods; in a strong job market they may be sufficient.

More active approaches include researching organizations in detail, doing informational interviewing, and building a network of contacts. These methods involve more work, but they are also the most effective.

Despite the fact that we are in the age of the Internet (it is estimated that about 5 to 10% of jobs are filled by on-line job boards--not bad, but what about the other 90%?), networking is still the best strategy.

So, to be successful in making a career change, it really pays to build a strong list of contacts and reconnect with them. If you don't know how to network effectively or your skills could be better, it is a good time to work on this. Consider utilizing the help of a career counselor or coach.

Never underestimate who your friends and associates know. Keep track of your contacts as your list grows, and revitalize old relationships.

Your contacts may be the key to getting job leads, crucial inside information, getting the attention of whoever is hiring for the position you want, and many other valuable benefits. Many, many people have a job they love because they knew someone who knew someone.

Now comes the end of this article on keys to a successful career change.

Review:

Key #1: Establish a career direction based on excellent self-understanding.

Key #2: Take stock of your skills, natural talents, competencies, and strengths, and be able to articulate these well.

Key #3: Identify a career that involves what you love to do, can be the best at, and for which you can be well compensated.

Key #4 Plan the best way to juggle the finances to support you along the way.

Key #5: Network, network, network.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and are now taking steps to make a great career change. What was the biggest thing you will take away from this? What questions remain unanswered? Where will you go from here? Write out your thoughts.

William Morgan, Psy.D. is a career counselor and coach in the greater Philadelphia area serving clients nationwide. For more information on his career transition and development services and helpful resources visit his website at http://www.Counseling4Careers.com