|
Author: Cathy Goodwin Article source: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/. Used with author's permission.
Q. I hate my job as a computer consultant. I am ready for a career change. The aptitude tests say I should be a recreation specialist. I like the idea but I dread returning to school for a new degree.
A. Before you invest in a degree, try out the new career. A test drive will tell you more than any pencil-and-paper test. Find two or three people who are doing what you want to do and ask to spend a day or a week with them.
If you like what you see, visit a few schools or universities that offer degrees in your area of interest. Ask for names of people who have graduated one, three and five years ago.
Ask the alumni, "Did this degree help you get your job? Advance in your job?
"Would you have done better with a degree from another school? Or would you have done as well with a degree from a lower-ranked school?"
Don't stop until you have talked to six graduates -- maybe more.
Talk to students, not faculty. Professors must support their own programs, even when they want to say, "You can do better elsewhere," or, "This program is a waste of your time and money."
And these days, anyone with a title like "Admissions Director" or "Enrollment Management" may be trying to make a sale, not offer objective guidance.
Investigate several options.
You may find an equally satisfying career that offers on-the-job training. You may find an educational program that takes less time or comes with a stipend.
No degree program offers a magic bullet.
Ultimately you may win the job and career success by your power networking as well as you social, interpersonal and technical skills.
There are many paths to career fulfillment, not just one.
I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.
From Back to School: A midlife career guide About The Author
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.
"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com
Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
Bono: From Music To Fashion To Helping The Poor
U2s lead singer Bono isn't content with being part of a top band. Fashion and Music - well I'm sure they can mix! Bono was born Paul David Hewson in 1960 in ...
Hummingbird Nesting Facts
Hummingbirds...learn how our feathered friends engineer their homes!
Alternative Medicine vs Conventional Medicine - Part 1
Alternative Medicine(so called) is in fact traditional since it has been in use long before conventional medicine was introduced. Over the years it has helped ...
Multiplying Sales As A Writer
Tips and techniques for writers to multiply their sales. How can a writer make more money for his or her efforts?
Weighing-In On Low Carb Diets
With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of information, it's no wonder that confusion reigns when it comes to the value and safety of low-c...
Relevant Ads Increase Adsense Profits
If you've started using Adsense as a way to increase advertising income, but the numbers just aren't adding up to what you expected, the problem might be with t...
Personal Power
All of us would love to have personal power - the power to manifest our dreams, the power to remain calm and loving in the face of fear, the power to stay cente...
SEO and Google Indexing - Why It Requires A Complex Blend of Skills
Getting a company's name and products, or services, onto the first page of a genuine Google search isn't a trivial piece of work. In fact, there are four disti...
Photography - Rules of Composition
Composition is defined as the combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole. In photography that definition is very important in taking quality pictu...
Hobby Psychology
Mastering a new hobby can be a small success that you can accomplish, that you can make happen, and that you have control over. Moreover, it is something you c...
Buying Country Acreage and Rural Properties, To Buy or Not To Buy
Almost anyone can become a rural property owner; if you are willing to set goals, establish what your purposes are, plan ahead and set targets that are all alig...
Top 3 Must Have Books for Your Baby or Toddler
Reading is one of the most important things you will do with your baby or toddler. Make reading to your baby or toddler a part of your daily routine whether it ...
eBay Listing Service : Make Managing Your Auctions Easy
Information about some of the services offered by eBay to automate your auctions. Includes information about Turbo Lister, Selling Manager and more.
The Advantages of Memory Foam Pillows
Along with the success of mattresses and mattress pads made of memory foam came the advent of the memory foam pillow. Made of the same gel-like polyurethane com...
Who Is Your E-zine Really FROM?
One morning this past fall, I was going through my e-mail inbox, relentlessly deleting junk mail. As you're likely well aware, many spam messages are made to lo...
A Quick Guide to Residential Mailboxes
Many people are interested in getting new residential
mailboxes. There are, however, so many to choose from. This
can make it hard for many people to decide wha...
Wrinkle Free Skin Care
Too much wrinkle to handle?
Public Relations: Power Tool for the 21st Century
I address this article to businesses, associations, non-profits and
public entity managers seeking a direct connection between
the money they're planning to s...
Aptitude Tests Reveal the Difference Between Your Aptitude & Ability
Aptitude tests measure your skills, abilities, values, interests and personality in order to help you determine which careers you might be best suited for and e...
Business & Career: Know Your Ruling Star!
"Know your Ruling Star. One man is better received by one nation than another, or is one welcome by one city than another. He finds more luck in one office or p...
Somewhere in the Middle
Renovating our lives from the inside out? What does that mean in
the currency of 2002? For some of my clients, it means they've left
behind their fast-track...
From Toss Out to Sensational Keeper - Lamp Re-Make
When the old lamp from my children's room was turning decidedly "trash-worthy", a grand idea formed and kept me from tossing it out. Originally, it had been suc...
Finding the Perfect Affiliate Program
Finding a good affiliate program can be sometimes daunting and overwhelming task, but it doesn't have to be. Luckily the web is filled with excellent resources ...
The Need of Popularity
Every major search engine heavily weighs the link popularity
of sites when ranking sites. Some engines even claims they
won't index sites that don't have at lea...
|
Print this page