A new career will change who you are

Written by Cathy Goodwin, PhD


I hear from many people who feel trapped in a career after fifteen or twenty happy, productive years. It's been a good ride, they say, but now it's time to jump offrepparttar train. They want to fulfill a creative dream, recover from burnout or just try something new. The old challenge is now a "been there, done that."

If you can relate to that description, you probably recognize that midlife career change is both easier and harder than starting out inrepparttar 102059 world of work. Change is easier because you have resources to greaserepparttar 102060 rails. You have savings, equity in your house, and a retirement fund. More important, you have acquired skills, contacts and networks. You may be able to userepparttar 102061 resources of your current employer to develop new skills.

Onrepparttar 102062 other hand, change is hard because you have invested in your career identity. In my relocation book, Makingrepparttar 102063 Big Move (New Harbinger 1999), I emphasize that moving is stressful because identity is interrupted. The change is equally stressful when you relocate your career.

Often people focus onrepparttar 102064 skills and activities they want to incorporate into their new careers, but ignorerepparttar 102065 impact on identity. Yet I have seen people falter and give up on new careers because they were uncomfortable withrepparttar 102066 new way they had to define themselves. Just saying, "I am…" creates a new reality.

Atrepparttar 102067 same time, once you begin to acquire a new identity, you increase your risk. It will be more difficult to return to a former career or job once you have begun to enjoy a new identity. And your former colleagues will see you differently.

Career Decisions in Uncertain Times

Written by Amy Crawford


Career Decisions in Uncertain Times Amy Crawford

Withrepparttar state of our security and economic times cracking beneath our feet, what are Americans thinking about their current career positions? Torn between building job security in a low-risk environment and pursuing a career that adds to their quality of life, will Americans be sure about which way to jump ifrepparttar 102058 bottom falls out?

Sincerepparttar 102059 terrorist attacks, career choices have been challenged in a few ways. “Being a career makeover coach,” says Shana Spooner, www.shanaspooner.com, “I’m finding two things – either people are keeping their heads down and hoping not to be laid off or they are re-thinking their career choices to do something more meaningful.” The full impact ofrepparttar 102060 terrorist attacks andrepparttar 102061 slowing economy will not be know for some time, but many travel-related fields are sure to be affected along with most tourism industries. Regardless, this attack has Americans thinking about their job security. Those who are laid off are forcefully givenrepparttar 102062 choice to get back to work doing something they view secure, or they can take this opportunity to get started doing something that holds more meaning.

Those who choose to stay with a less fulfilling job, for security, may take it over risking their financial stability. “For some, security is becoming more important and people are deciding not to make any changes at this time,” says Sandy Kaiser a life coach forrepparttar 102063 McNeill Group in Dallas, Texas. Onrepparttar 102064 other hand, Rachelle Disbennett-Lee of www.coachlee.com says, “My clients onrepparttar 102065 east coast are having a more difficult time with career decisions than my clients onrepparttar 102066 west.” She expects, that now, fewer people inrepparttar 102067 east are willing to give up who they are for their job.

Michael Stratford, a life coach for Center for Creative Development in Norwood, PA believes, “Some people now fear a high-profile career will put them in an unsafe location.” He says, “Many people seem to be re-visiting their values and what’s truly important to them. This tragedy has been a wakeup call in so many ways.”

Many coaches did say, that for those planning a career change either willingly or unwillingly, should not rushrepparttar 102068 decision. Maria Marsala, a life coach at www.coachmaria.com, says, “Emotions are very high. It is best to make changes based on values and needs and not on an emotional whim.”

For those struggling with their career path, here is a list of things to remember:

1.Make a list of your likes and dislikes for every job you’ve held. 2.Write down your first memories of doing something you found really fun, and be sure to look for forgotten interests. 3.Ask others what they think you are good at to determine interest in a field you may have been unaware of. 4.Write downrepparttar 102069 qualities you like in others and look for those qualities in your next employer. 5.Make a list ofrepparttar 102070 things that are most important to you and be sure that your next career fits into those needs.

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