Greg Heslin asked:

It’s often hard to think about changing careers. It’s doubly difficult to take the step to change careers after you have been doing something for what may seem a lifetime. Interestingly, many people are opting for a career change after age 50. There are many things that drive people to look for a new career direction: burnout, a feeling you have been doing something for years that isn’t really fulfilling or fun, industry downturns that create an oversupply of candidates in your present career field, a desire for something new and stimulating at which to dedicate yourself for the remainder of your working life. Whatever the motivation, it is a big step and you’ll need help doing it.

First, here are some things to think about.

· What do you want to do now? Where are your strengths? What abilities can you draw upon to help you create a new career path?

· Do you know any headhunters?

· How good is your professional network? Will it be helpful in making your career change?

· What local resources are available to you? Can you take advantage of career seminars, personal and professional career counseling or career fairs?

· You will need to reformat your resume to highlight your experience and/or education and training in the new career area you want to pursue.

“Headhunter” is a common term that refers to professional recruiters who work for job search firms. They typically specialize in certain career fields and/or industries, and may focus on a specific professional level; e.g. executive, manager or director, etc. You can find headhunters in a number of ways, including word of mouth, internet ads, the Yellow Pages, and career change advice resources.

Here are some of the things a headhunter will do for you:

· Review your resume and give you advice on presenting it and yourself in the best light for the career field you seek.

· Match you to open requisitions they are trying to fill, or contact his/her network of employer clients to present you as a candidate.

· Arrange for interviews and travel, if necessary, and follow-up after your interviews with the potential employer.

· Negotiate salary and signing bonuses, if appropriate

· Follow-up with you after you are hired to make sure everything is working for you.

Your headhunter can literally be your best friend during your career change. Most are successful because of their empathy, their ability to understand the attributes of their candidates and the needs of their employers, and their enjoyment of continuous contact with people on both sides of the job search fence … in other words, they like to talk and they enjoy interacting with people over the phone. This helps the candidates and employers interact comfortably with them and builds trust.

It is important that you establish a good rapport with your headhunter because you are entering unfamiliar territory in a new career field, and the contacts and industry knowledge you had in your past career may no longer be useful to you, depending on how drastic a change you are making. There are some important steps you can take to make sure you are successful in working with you headhunter. First, be completely honest with your headhunter about why you want to change careers and what you are looking for. The headhunter needs to understand your needs completely in order to create a good match for you within a new career field. Second, be responsive and follow-up in a professional way. This does two things for you: it will move things along quickly and demonstrates for your headhunter your professionalism. Third, quickly report back on contact with companies who interview you to keep the momentum going.

If you’re over age 50 and feel something’s missing from your career, it’s never too late to make a change. While career changes can be challenging, they can lead to a valuable opportunity to build a professional life around the things you enjoy doing.

Higher Career

Julia Sullivan asked:

Are you looking to find a new job or a new career? If you are, you may want to give career fairs a try, as they are a great way to not only find available jobs, but also acquire them.

As you likely already know, career fairs are large events where multiple employers come in search of qualified employees. In most cases, career fairs are held in public places, such as shopping malls or hotel lobbies. They are also often free to attend. While career fairs do vary, most employers are able to set up small booths, where they can display information about their company and the type of employees that they are looking for. Most employer booths have a company representative who is able to discuss their company’s opportunities and accept resumes.

Although career fairs are a great way to find new employment opportunities, most individuals are unprepared for them. What many do not realize is that some employers actually interview and hire candidates right on the spot! For that reasons, you need to do more than just attend a career fair; it is something that you need to prepare for. To make the most out of career fairs, you will want to keep some of the below mentioned tips in mind.

Perhaps, the most important tip to remember is to bring copies of your resume with you; the more the better. Although you may not be interested in apply for every opportunity found at a career fair, you should enter into a career fair thinking that you would. If you are able to get an estimated number of how many employers would be attending the career fair in question, you are advised to bring that number of resume copies. Should you not handout all of your resume copies, you can save them and use them at a later date. Career fairs are not only used to educate you on local employment opportunities, but they are also designed to help you find and get a job.

Another tip that you should keep in mind is your appearance. Since many career fair employer participants give interviews on the spot, you may want to be prepared for one, in the physical sense. Wearing a pair or jeans or sweat pants will not make a good impression, but a simple pants suit or dress will work wonders. Many times, the employer representatives at a career fair are the ones who in charge of the company’s hiring. Taking a few extra minutes to “fix yourself up,” before you walk out the door is a great way to make a good impression at a career fair.

As previously mentioned, many career fair employer participants end up giving interviews on the spot. In fact, some actually hire new employees right on the spot as well. That is why it is extremely important that you prepare for an interview, just in case. In addition to dressing the part, you also want to make sure that you know how an interview works, namely the questions that you should ask or the responses that you should give. If you haven’t had an interview in some time, it may be a good idea to refresh your memory. You can do this by asking a friend or a family member to give you a sample interview. Practice is the best way to make a good impression during an interview, even if it is an unexpected one at a career fair.

Another tip that is worth mentioning is going to career fairs alone. Most career fairs are scheduled during the daytime, often during the week. If you are a parent, you should make other arrangements for your child, as you don’t want to be remembered as the applicant who brought their child along. In terms of friends, you may also want to bring a friend along with you for moral support. You are also advised against doing this. If you have a friend is who also job hunting, you can attend together, but be sure to go your separate ways. Employers are less likely to give you an interview if they see you are accompanied by a guest and a partner may unintentionally effect which employers you stop and see.

By keeping the above mentioned tips in mind, you should be able to make the most out a career fair. These tips may increase your chances of walking away from a career fair with a new job.

Higher Career

Tony Jacowski asked:

The answer is career research, and you should always begin with yourself. Take assessment tests that are available online to know your strengths and weaknesses.

Speak with career counselors who can help you find a suitable career path for yourself.

Set Career and Job Goals

What are your goals and aspirations? What are your interests, your likes and dislikes? Where do you want to see yourself maybe five years from now? You need to determine what you want from your job and your career.

Are you looking to be financially independent, to become famous, or to bring about changes in your life? Your motives must be clear, especially with regard to what drives your sense of success and happiness.

Research the Industry

Find out all you can about the industry you have chosen: the future of the industry, the latest trends and career options.

You can find this information on the Internet, by reading industrial publications, by attending job and career fairs, and through your mentors.

Review Career and Job Trends

Obtaining information about the latest career trends is vital for the success of your long-term career planning.

It is important to determine areas where job growth is the greatest, especially in areas that interest you most.

Network

Networking can be beneficial. You can learn about new job openings and careers through your contacts, for example. You may even discover a fulfilling career that you might never have considered otherwise.

Volunteer

Volunteering can give you insight into yourself and guide you in your search for a career. Many find immense satisfaction in helping people.

Besides, volunteering can bring you to the attention of employers who may see some potential in you and offer you a lucrative career.

Read Industry-Specific Career Books

This should be high on your priority list. Seek out the best books that are industry-specific and are geared toward your career goals.

Go Online For Help

Make use of the web to research your choice of career. Find out all resources that are available on various websites.

Download and read trade journals about your career path. They may also contain the latest employment opportunities.

Participate In Job-Shadowing Opportunities

If you have a friend who is employed in a career you are interested in, it is a good idea to learn as much about it as you can from them. You may even choose to go to work with them for a day. This will enable you to experience the job firsthand and gain information about the work itself, including working conditions.

Be sure to get permission from the company to avoid embarrassing yourself and your friend.

Your career is an important part of your life. Take time to fully understand the path you want to take. Making the wrong decision will only make you miserable and hamper your productivity. If you love the job you are in, you will have a much better chance of being happy and fulfilled.

Higher Career