Volunteering for Career Change

If you’re considering a career change, your career counselor or coach may encourage you to take a volunteer position in your new industry. Alternatively, you may be encouraged to take up volunteer work when you’re between jobs, as a way to update your resume.

(1) Non-profit organizations often have a history of transitioning volunteers to full-time careers. For-profit organizations rarely do.

If you seek a job in a for-profit organization, be cautious about offering to work for free or for a deeply discounted salary. Instead, try to leverage your skills to a new position. For instance, an IT professional who wants to move to marketing could apply for tech jobs in marketing firms.

(2) Recognize that volunteer positions often differ dramatically from the paid positions.

This difference works in both directions. Once I met someone who volunteered for a social service job. She was horrified: heavy workload, depressing conditions, and ineffective supervision.

“Social work? No way!” she declared.

I suggested she talk to professionals with degrees who worked in the field. I also suggested she investigate different agencies.

At the other extreme, volunteer workers often miss the political hassles and informal job requirements that are critical to surviving in a paid position.

(3) Volunteer work may be a bridge when you are in transition.

Career change articles often urge workers to build up their resumes with volunteer work. Sometimes you can pick up skills that will be transferrable but don’t assume you’re building your resume. The gap between for-profit and non-profit can be enormous and career direction typically goes one way: from for-profit to non-profit.

If you are not working at all, I first recommend investigating some form of self-employment or freelance work, preferably in your field. I’d also be open to short-term jobs that bring in cash.

Volunteer work may give you some structure and introduce you to new people. It’s better than sitting on the couch at home. It’s usually better than working in a low-paying retail job (unless, of course, you seek a retail management career).

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Career Change Book: Recommended

So far I’ve found two career books to recommend: Working Identity (Herminia Ibarra) and Finding Your Own North Star (Martha Beck). Now I’m adding this one to the list. Beck focuses mostly on choosing what you want; Ibarra talks about the search process. Now I recommend The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention by Pamela Mitchell.

Mitchell doesn’t have a lot of soul-searching exercises, like “What should be on my tombstone.” She invites readers to heed their intuition. Like Martha Beck, she believes the body knows more than the mind: if you find yourself feeling ill when you contemplate a type of work, it’s time for a move.

Nor does she spend a lot of time on the trappings of a career search, such as resumes. If you need to writea resume, she invites you to download samples from her company’s website.

Some useful points:

Career reinvention takes chronological time. She points out that many career-changers think “six weeks” when they should be thinking “six months.” I would agree more with Ibarra in Working Identity, who says three years is not unusual.

Besides chronological time, you need time during your week. One of my own clients said she could talk to me on Sunday evenings at 6 PM Eastern. Her weekdays were completely taken. She was too busy to change careers; she needed to take an interim job that would free up her hours.

Functional fear versus dysfunctional fear. Functional fear is based on realistic situations that you have to deal with.

Real qualifications versus negotiable qualifications. To be a doctor, you need an MD. For other careers, you may be able to substitute experience for academics.

My only quibble is that Mitchell can be a little too firm on some points. The term “laws” in the title sets the tone. For instance, on page 27, Mitchell suggests that “Patty” who dislikes a marketing job will not find happiness by moving to Google, which is after all an onlne advertising company. Yet in fact the culture of a high-tech company will be so different that a job with the same title might be transformed. I’ve seen people change their whole attitude to a career when they switched companies or even moved to a new geographic location. It’s not always easy to pinpoint the source of discomfort.

Similarly, researchers find that serendipity plays a key role in both career change and career success. By staying active and following the steps Mitchell lays out, you are more likely to experience the kind of serendipity that propels you forward. But I’ve met few people who logically chose a career and then took a linear path to get a job in that field. Mitchell undoubtedly understands the zig-zag pattern of career change, but she doesn’t highlight it the way Herminia Ibarra does in Working Identity.

Still, this book is one of the best career books I’ve seen in a long time. I’m surprised it hasn’t gotten more publicity. The long, awkward name and bland cover might have something to do with it. The blurbs on the back cover don’t really convey excitement and the subtitle is a yawn that doesn’t even describe the book.

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Is your career feeling sluggish and unmotivated?

Could your career use a 30 day “Wow it’s time to do something different and I want to get out there and start winning games….instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching others score the points?”

I just opened the doors to a totally awesome new un-program. Here’s the concept:

Who?: Any midlife, mid-career professional or executive who needs to add some cometitive edge to your career game…in the next 30 days.

What?: This is Get It Done for your career. . In this totally awesome un-program we will analyze everything that’s currently involved in the complex game called your caree. We identify and refine your goals and create a plan to reach those goals without taking unnecessary, time-consuming, expensive detours.

This is a structured program. We are not going to just get on the phone and shoot the breeze about your career. We will chat about what’s keeping your career change from happening and how you can get out there and kick some serious butt. .

Just as you’d work on drills to improve your game, you will have some things to do. You will get questions before each ONE-ON-ONE call, I will walk you through a process and we will come out at the other end with a model and a plan that will help you get a head start on your career change. J

Where?: From your office, living room, patio, coffee shop, bar…Anywhere! . All you need is a phone with long distance access. I’ll take care of the rest like telling you what number to call, recording it for you, and sending you worksheets so you say things like, “Good grief…I may make a 3-point shot after all.”

When?: Over the next 30 days. Well, any 30 days that you pick over the summer. We don’t have to start right now (but my schedule gets filled up so call when you decide go get started).

Why?: There are twol reasons I’m doing this:.

One: I’m getting messages from people saying they’ve just been frazzled by their careers and don’t know what to do next. Or they spent a chunk of change on career tests and feel like they’re chasing their own tail.

And I realize that some folks are nervous about investing the going rate for career consulting because they’re nervous about layoffs or they’ve been frustrated with career planning sessions that led nowhere.

How Much?:

Like I said, I like to see a game that’s played well. The current WNBA season has inspired me. That’s why you are going to get 2 one-hour sessions with me for just $1000 dollars. NO, NO, just kidding. . Seriously you are going to get 2 one-hour ONE-ON-ONE sessions with me for $275.

Sounds like a chance to elevate your game, right?

If you want to register, all you have to do is send a message to me:
midlifecareerstrategy (a) gmail.com with the subject: Career Special
Tell me a little about you and your situation and we’ll see if It’s in my scope. If it is, you can sign up.

Spaces are limited – I can only work with a few people each month at this rate. So go ahead and sign up. It’s cheap, it’s effective, and you’ll be glad you did.

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Why Mid-Life Career Change Doesn’t Happen

Many mid-career executives and professionals are miserable in their jobs and frustrated with their careers. They wake up each day, dreading to go to work. They swear they’re ready to make a change. They buy a ton of self-help books. And nothing happens. Here’s why.

Mistake #1: Feeling desperate (and hopeless at the same time). You think, “Well, I’m so comfortable… Then you realize, “I’ve been here three years. I can’t wait another day. I’ve got to get out of here. Clients sometimes say things like, “I don’t care if I get fired,” or, “Maybe I’ll go bankrupt. So what?” What they mean is, “The situation is scary. I’ve waited so long…and it seems hopeless.

The truth is: waiting too long for a change can damage your career. When you are really unhappy, you can sabotage your own success, often unconsciously setting yourself up to be fired. But when I begin to talk with these clients, we almost always uncover realistic, hopeful opportunities. The answer is to get into purposeful, guided action. Once you start moving, the panic goes away. Just plan your trajectory so you aren’t spinning wheels.

Mistake #2: Feeling overwhelmed. When you think about career change, there’s so much to do. Networking. Phone calls. Interviews. Research. Career search is rarely linear. It’s messy and zig-zag. Think “playground basketball” instead of “pro football.”

The good news is: once you take the first action, it’s like pulling on a thread to release a knot. First one part unravels…and then the next. And you see daylight just when you are ready to give up.

I’ve written my own prescription for action:  21-Day Extreme Career Makeover.

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Career Planning: Portfolio Careers

Just heard about a book about “portfolio careers that’s scheduled for release in mid-October. The theme is that more and more of us bypass the single career option. Instead of working in ONE field for ONE employer, we now find ourselves working multiple jobs for different employers.

The book claims to offer a 10-step guide. I plan to review the book (if I can get it) but I have a few ideas of my own.

(1) Make sure that you are not creating a conflict of interest.

Employer A is  a bank. They say you can’t work for banks or financial institutions.

Employer B is  a dogwalking service. They say you can’t start your own business within 1 year in the same neighborhood.

Now you know you can work for A and B, but each job has restrictions. Get any info on restrictions in writing and be aware that (a) some unwritten rules may apply and/or (b) some written restrictions may be illegal or unenforceable. I am not qualified to give legal advice so you would need to talk to a lawyer who understands these types of laws if you have any question. Unraveling a conflict after the fact can be expensive.

(2) Choose careers that are synergistic with each other. If you have two jobs that call for writing, you may be exhausted. If one job calls for sitting at a desk and thinking, while the other gets you moving and talking, you may be refreshed and energized. I like to say some jobs are yin and some are yang; when you get both, you have a good balance.

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15 career change blogs to investigate

Well, this blog isn’t there, but you already know about it, right?

So go here and decide which blogs you would like to follow. I recommend tracking many different sources of career advice; After awhile you start to get a sense of which one’s got the goods and which one’s got the fluff.

I like Careerealism. I would be careful of any resume advice (including mine) because there’s so much variation from one field to another and one level to another. Before sending out any resume, use your network to get feedback. Show your resume to people in your industry who are used to seeing resumes for applicants at your level.

I will be working to make this blog even stronger. Share your feedback by clicking on “Comments.” Got questions? Email me: midlifecareerstrategy (a) gmail.com

I can’t give individual answers but I *can* respond via blog or ezine.

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Hiring a career coach? Learn what to do…

An article from the Boston Globe warns career changers anad job seekers to be careful when choosing a career coach. Read more here.

The fact that the industry is unregulated doesn’t bother me. Even when an industry is regulated (such as the medical field) you have to follow the guideline of “Buyer Beware.”

Too few career books offer solid tips about hiring a coach to work with you. I would suggest the following:

(1) Talk to a few career coaches. See which makes the most sense for you.

While some coaches still offer free get-acquainted calls, busy coaches just don’t have time. I would rather pay for a trial hour than get a free consultation and end up in a big program.

(2) The article referred to someone who paid $200 for a resume makeover. That’s cheap! Executives should expect to pay $500 and up. Your experience is complicated and your coach or counselor needs time to explore your background.

(3) The biggest waste of money isn’t related to the competence of the coach, unless you chose a real dud. Typically, I find people spend money to hire me but then realize they (a) don’t have time to do the work or (b) don’t want to do the work.

Career change is not a matter of connect the dots. It’s messy. You have to do a lot of things you aren’t used to doing. You may have to sacrifice personal time.

If your company demands that you work 60-80 hours a week, figure out how you will find time to change careers. When a client says, “I can talk to you only on evenings and weekends,” I have to wonder how that client will find time for informational interviews.

Carving out time from a tight corporate schedule can be a challenge. You need to talk to a consultant who will appreciate the culture of your company. And be realistic. If there’s no way to make time, you may have to save up your money and just take time off.

Check out the Mid-Life Career Change Guide: 21 Day Extreme Career Makeover.

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MA Degree: Worthwhile or Waste of time?

Today’s New York Tmes includes a discussion of the Masters Degree. “Is the degree worth getting?” the editors ask. Dozens of people wrote to comment.

An MA degree never has been particularly helpful except in certain fields, such as business and social work. But graduate school can offer opportunities beyond the value of the degree. For instance, you make connections that can lead to jobs.

So I would answer this question with, “It depends.” I wrote an ebook about going back to school at midlife. You can learn more here.

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Career change: Serendipity wins over planning, every time.

Career change often begins with a statement. “I hate my current job. I want a totally different environment. What are some steps I can take to make a move?”

Alas, many career books give a false impression. They suggest that career change proceeds at an orderly and very linear pace. Typically, you are advised to take these steps:

• Look inward to find out who you are.
• Identify your strengths.
• Match strengths to careers.
• Find a career that matches your strengths.
• Apply for jobs in those fields.
• Live happily ever after.

Of course, an experienced career consultant will tell you this is hogwash. The best guide I’ve found is still Herminia Ibarra’s book, Working Identity. The book’s getting old and out of print but you can find it in libraries and online bookstores.

As Ibarra explains, most career change goes more like this:

• Come up with a few ideas that might work.
• Talk to people in those fields.
• Get referred to other people.
• Hit a few dead ends and realize your dream job isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
• Talk to more people.
• Run into an old friend at an airport lounge in the Los Angeles area. He says, “Gee, we’re looking for somebody to take a job in our Chicago office. You’re in Chicago. Interested?”
• Your friend dashes off an email from his laptop. He tells you to call a certain number.  You shake hands. You get on your plane for Portland. He gets on his plane for Tokyo.
• A few days later, you call the number. The job isn’t anything like what you’ve been looking for. But it sounds intriguing. You go on a few interviews that feel more like social chats with a bunch of old friends.
• Before you can return a call from your career coach, you’re on a new payroll.

Sounds far-fetched? “Brad” w literally fell into his career. As a child, he tripped on the choir loft of his church, landing on top of the organ. He became fascinated watching the organ repair specialist who came to fix the damage. Eventually, he became the specialist’s apprentice and branched out to his own busy career that lasted over 40 years. He loved it.

“Julie” graduated from law school but couldn’t find a law firm job in her medium-sized city. Out of desperation, she took a job in a bank, telling everyone, “I’ll just be here six months. I hate banking and I’m not good with nunbers.” Three years later, Julie is still with the bank — by choice. She likes the job and the people. And she keeps getting raises, even in a recession.

These stories are true.

Research on career change shows they’re not unusual. Most people owe their career choices to an unexpected event or chance meeting.

So do you have to take a fatalistic approach?

Not at all. You can give serendipity a little push. Keep moving. Talk to lots of people. Develop confidence and radiate a positive, optimistic outlook. I’m not being woo-wooey. More research shows that we like to be around others who are confident, energetic and upbeat. The more people you meet and the more friends you make, the more likely you are to hear the magic words, “Gee…maybe you’d like to consider our company.”

And the rest, as they say, will be history.

Comment on this article! Click on “Comment” below to enter your views.

For more on career change, see my ebook on Career Makeovers.

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Unemployed? Don’t just job hunt, says Penelope Trunk.

Get these 5 excellent suggestions for what to do when unemployed, from Penelope Trunk. Click here.
Here’s what she says, with my comments.

1. Create your own job. Good advice. Julia Cameron talks about actresses who work when they’re not working — they’ll workshop scripts or teach acting classes. Penelope worked in her boyfriend’s company for 2 hours a day, so she didn’t have to say she was unemployed.

2. Focus on accomplishment, not “work per se.” Penelope got into swing dance during one of her laid-off times. I call this developing a creative project, such as writing a novel. You get a sense of accomplishment and purpose, as well as confidence.

3. Start a blog about the work you want to do. Penelope suggests targeting your desired industry. It’s a great way to demonstrate your knowledge in a laid-back, professional way.  She writes, “Everyone who is unemployed should be blogging as a way to get their next job.” I agree.

4. Start your own business. Looks good on your resume and who knows? Might be your next career. My own suggestion: Want to start an Internet business? Consider Alexandria Brown’s blueprint to get started.  .

5. Practice promoting yourself to everyone you meet. Another great idea. Practice speaking professionally, even when you talk to friends.  Then when you “go pro,” you won’t be acting. You will speak this way naturally,

My rule: Don’t ever put yourself down. You’re allowed to share your doubts and fears only with a paid consultant or coach.  Check out my Bragging101 program for specific tips on self-promotion.

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