Career Change Plan it or Take the Default
b"Why you should be looking at your future career as an ongoing process. You will have change, probably many times, a career is either planned or decided by others for you. \\n\\n\\n\\nCareer Change and paths to new jobs or professions are confusing and don't always go where expected.\\n\\n\\n\\nWhy now is one of the best times ever for career change and career\\ndevelopment.\\n\\n\\n\\nIt may last 2-4 years, but you\\u2019ll need every one of those years to make the most progress. \\n\\n\\n\\nLargely I am setting a framework for thinking about careers in this episode. It will be followed by more action-oriented episodes and hopefully ideas to motivate thoughts.\\n\\n\\n\\nYou should always be planning on changing careers.\\n\\n\\n\\nOn average people have 10-15 jobs during their lifetime.\\nSome of these jobs are completely new careers.\\n\\n\\n\\nIf you aren\\u2019t ready for a career change, it will happen by\\ndefault. Now, sometimes that may be an unexpected promotion. Most often, if by\\ndefault, you are in a situation that is less than you wanted. \\n\\n\\n\\nSo, if you want to grow and progress over time, you don\\u2019t want to let a change affecting you to be a default change. That is, a new job where you might not have a good choice or at a time of desperation. Start your research and include social media to gain contacts, but be cautious of what you say.\\n\\n\\n\\nThink about it. You will see many changes, do you want to\\nplan and figure out how to maximize the results, or even just see progress, or\\ndo you want to leave it to luck. \\n\\n\\n\\nAlso, if others around you are working toward positive\\nchange, it may be like musical chairs and you were not ready when the music\\nstopped.\\n\\n\\n\\nYes, the music may stop because companies are not living as long as they did fifty years ago. \\n\\n\\n\\nNow for some great news.\\n\\n\\n\\nRecord Opportunity for Career Advancement\\n\\n\\n\\nAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 7.6 million job openings and only about 6.5 million unemployed. This is a remarkable time in history. There is such a huge shortage that companies are more willing to train career changers and even are hiring felons that seem to have true potential. \\n\\n\\n\\nThis will not last forever. It is a rare job market in history and caused by the strong growth in the economy and in both new and reinvigorated industries. Simultaneously, so many people left the work force by the end of 2016 that while unemployment appeared low, there was discouraged workers that gave up searching for good jobs. Companies that were looking for workers were trying to keep the hours below 30 per week to avoid large health care cost of the Affordable Care Act. Enough of that issue, we only are concerned with how to take advantage of today\\u2019s work environment and why we shouldn\\u2019t wait. \\n\\n\\n\\nOver the next few years, many people will be retraining for new jobs and many are already returning into the workforce. You need to look at both what skills you have and what additional ones you may need. You probably have transferable skills that while not exactly requested, enhance your appeal and others you get through part time school or work. In any case, it is not a time that anyone needs to feel stuck in their position or status in the marketplace.\\n\\n\\n\\nBoth those that are returning as well as those are changing careers will make a transformation to target their skills and experience to new careers. \\n\\n\\n\\nIt is truly a time you can breakthrough to completely new career paths. I say paths because as learn and gain experience more opportunities open up and you may shift your focus.\\n\\n\\n\\nThe government will start increasing the H1 and other work\\nvisas to accommodate corporations who need employees with certain skills. \\n\\n\\n\\nIt is important at the least to start thinking and researching new career paths now. The increase in work visas granted and others who return to the workforce finding new careers will lessen the opportunities.\\n\\n\\nMost Interview Problems are Just Social Skills\\n\\n\\nIn spite of all these positive developments,"