"One of my students, who recently graduated and has a bit of real world experience under his belt, wrote asking for some perspective on selecting a career. I penned this note, disguising, of course, the identity of the student. Inasmuch as this is a perspective I've given others, I thought is might be of wider interest."

The note I mention can be found at http://jmsdrgn.squarespace.com/storage/July%2020%202007%20Note%20to%20Student%20re%20Career%20Considerations.pdf

Gill, I find that I have much in common with you in regards to the subject. You and I, it seems to me, put great stock in introspection. Yet, who has the time for this process? Or perhaps better said, who wants to take the time for this process?

Please keep up your provocative posts. I learn from them and hope I pass this learning on to others.

Too often celebrity 'counsellors' advise people who are not fulfilled in their work to seek new challenges. They urge people to go back to the dreams they had at school or in college. This is irresponsible in my view. Few of us have the jobs we once dreamed of having. I wonder if the average middle ranking executive in a bank could put his hand on his heart and say, Yes, this is what I always hoped to become. It is the right of the young to dream. Some want to save the world through medicine or science. Others want to be super rich. Some want to be famous film or sports stars. Some want to be soldiers or astronauts. Accepting that life does not usually deliver these youthful dreams is part of growing up. I welcome Gill Corkindale's caution. Anyone who is dissatisfied with their work should heed her warnings. Think carefully. Weigh up what you stand to lose if you fail to make a successful career switch. Are you strong enough emotionally and financially to make this leap into the unknown? What of your family? Do they support you? If you believe that you must do it then I agree with Gill Corkindale: go for it with all your being. But if you are not 100 per cent sure be grateful for what you have.

In a perfect world everyone would love their job. The real world it is not like that. Most of us work to live. We should consider ourselves lucky if we enjoy our job. Fulfillment must come from outside work. Coaches should encourage people to make the most of what they have. A friend who has worked assiduously in financial services attended an executive development workshop. A coach told him he must think about the meaning of his life. The coach urged my friend to realise his ambition of becoming a landscape gardener. The coach told him to be true to his inner self. I told him he must forget this. He has a wife and family to support and does a good job at work. I am happy Gill Corkindale thinks everyone should be cautious about changing careers.

After twenty-five (25) years in the hotel/resort industry, I made a career change into college teaching and research. At my fortieth (40th) birthday party, I came to realize that although I had enjoyed my career in the hotel industry, I simply could not see myself spending the next twenty (20) years in the industry.

My entry into the industry was somewhat happen-stance, I worked in hotels throughout my college years and, when I graduated, I was offered an opportunity to enter Marriott's management training program. I had enjoyed working in the industry and Marriott was a quality organization, so I accepted the job. My goal was to work for a few years, save a little money, gain some work experience, and then return to school to study law or to pursue an M.B.A.

Of course, marriage, a mortgage, car payments, children, etc. made a return to school difficult; however, I did eventually return for an executive M.B.A. program (15 years after earning my Bachelor's degree). I LOVED being back in school and began "dreaming" about the possibility of pursuing a Ph.D. so that I could teach on the college level. At my 40th birthday party, I decided that I needed to earn a Ph.D. by the time that I was 45 years of age so that I had 20 years to get a return on my investment!

Today, at 47, I am an Assistant Professor in the Wall College of Business at Coastal Carolina University where I have taught for two (2) years. When I returned to school to pursue a Ph.D. full-time, MANY people thought that I was CRAZY to give up a 20+ year career and a six-figure salary; I even had some doubts as I worked through the process! However, it is the BEST THING that I EVER DID... I LOVE my "NEW LIFE"!

Words of advice if you are considering a career change:

1. Take your new potential career for a "test drive": While I was still working in the industry, I taught as an "adjunct instructor" for a couple of semesters to experience college teaching first-hand. In addition, I served on an "industry advisory board" that advised a local university on curriculum issues, served as a mentor to a college student at my alma mater, and provided internship opportunities at my business to college students.

2. Meet with people that work in your field of choice. Discuss the "nitty-gritty" of working in the field that you are considering.

3. Hold fast to your dream and align yourself with people that support your decision to make the change.

4. Simplify your life prior to making the change: I sold my "big house", "fancy car", etc., moved into a townhouse, and bought a Chevrolet for which I paid cash. The change WILL cost you MORE than you anticipate! Be ready to "start over" financially.

5. Get your family on board: Prepare your family for the change in lifestyle and share your vision regarding the rewards of making the career change. For example, I explained to my children that we would have more time together as a family, which we now do, since I have my summers free as well as more time with them during the holidays. In addition, my schedule is much more flexible.

6. Be prepared to work "harder" at it than you anticipated.

Before changing career it's good to ask this question: Are we dissatisfied with what we do or are we dissatisfied what we are? Sometimes we may have to change the way we perceive things and not our jobs. Doing something differently in the job may also be the answer. Our belief that the next job will give us happiness or fulfilment may land us in trouble.

There are two sorts of career change. The first is when a person's new job has similar characteristics to those of the previous one. These characteristics could include competitiveness, substantial material rewards and social status. A person who moves from banking to law or from financal services to medicine will remain a member of the same social class. Colleagues will be similar in education and outlook. The person's standard of living will never be less than comfortable. The second sort of career change is more dramatic. It comes when a person rejects the philosophy of their life as well as its work. This could be a banker who becomes an aid worker or an executive who becomes a priest. It is the second type of change where caution is most required.

When I was in my late 20s I became uneasy with my life in the energy sector. I gave it up to join a charity. People here were no better than my former colleagues. What they delivered was more worthwhile but there was as much backbiting and intrigue as in my old company. They were jealous of those who had more money than them. My former colleagues never talked about money as they always had more than enough. After a year I returned to my old company. I have never regretted it. I have many charitable interests outside work and am able to support many useful projects. I enjoy my work and am happy I can do useful things by virtue of professional success.

I congratulate Michael Collins. He has shown it is possible to make a career change, where there is a radical change in motivation, purpose status and income. I welcome his advice to those who are contemplating such a change. Planning, realism, involving one's family, accepting a lower standard of living if necessary - all are vital to effect a successful change.

Kudos to all who have made successful career shifts, the meticulous planning each one has taken to come up with the last call for a change in job, chasing for the right job or trying to make something different is going to help any one who is going to follow suit.

But a perspective for a change in job that I weigh more is the sheer thought to win again with a complete set of different challenges and set up. I have been a failure in a business set up, but that was relative I was dreaming too much to what the practical realities were and a gross error to my abilities. I then shifted to a job as a programmer and did a brilliant job, reached the peak of technical architect in a span of 4 year, was always a success in true terms when I stand by my peers with the same experience. But now things have become routine and the challenges very similar and life is becoming monotonous.
Slowly I have started thinking at the back of my mind to take a new challenge and once again start at ground zero, make it to the pinnacle. There is always a different charm in learning and then utilizing them; the sheer challenge that you have to do it in a short span of time really drives me for a higher level of commitment.

Thanks, Gill, for this important post.

The topic of career change has really been my life. As a former Wall Street executive, turned Oxford university rowing coach, turned career coach, I am very familiar with the issues surrounding change.

I have encountered nothing so complex and unnerving as an adult's contemplation of large career change.

I also feel that the career counseling business for adults is woefully incomplete. I recognized this initially as a angry corporate employee trying 3 or more career counselors for assistance. It seems that it doesn't always recognize the difficulties that adults face when trying to combine passion with profit.

I eventually chose 2 missions. One, to create a product/service that gave adults the best possible chance at "having it all", and, two, developing a powerful program for students so more can avoid the fate that, what surveys continue to show, most adults suffer with. Do I feel that avoiding work you hate is possible? With 100% ounce of my body.

But it doesn't come through cute career tests or the trial-and-error approach.

While I don't sing the "Don't worry. Do what you love and the money will follow" song, I also feel that we all have to push ourselves out of comfort zone. To recognize what our "conditions of satisfaction" are for being content on our death bed. And to explore the unknown to meet those conditions. Life IS short. We do only get one chance to do it right.

Best to all,

Steve Bohler
The Oxford Program Director
http://www.theoxfordprogram.com

Thank-you all for the very interesting perspectives on this subject - it is certainly one which many people are thinking about. Special thanks to Michael, Steve, Amit and Robert who have shared their own experiences of career change and offered their advice. Do check out those links to find out more.

As Ramesh, Jennifer and others say, career change is a very complex area and people need to think carefully about what is really amiss. Is it your job, your life outside work, or yourself? You need to unravel those strands before you even begin to consider what your next steps. Be realistic, yes, but remember that this is your work and your life and sometimes we have to take a risk to move to the next level.

Interesting conversation on Career Change. I changed my career six years ago as well, but my career change was not necessarily planned. Circumstances forced me to change.

Now I work with Career Changers every day and I am impressed and amazed at the things that can be accomplished.

Gill, I think your advice is very good, especially your question What is the cost if you are not successful in your career change? Another question that grows from that: What is the cost of staying in an unfulfilling, unrewarding job?

www.newitcareer.blogspot.com

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