Changing Careers Got You Stumped? 6 Stellar Tips to Jumpstart Your Way

By Christina Santiago

So, your life is taking a different direction?

Maybe you're ready for a new challenge or you were the fortunate victim of a corporate drive-by (aka "downsizing"). Notice I said fortunate. It didn't feel that way initially, but soon after I came to see the blessing in the situation. Either way, it's time to change careers! Where do you start?

Many people find themselves at a loss once they are faced with the reality of making a change. Face it, we are creatures of habit but change doesn't have to be so traumatic. You can prepare yourself on your journey of success in your quest for finding a new career. Just follow these simple, easy 6 tips and you will be well on your way...

Tip #1: DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

Life is too short to be stuck doing something you don’t have a passion for. Follow your bliss…it will make a world of difference and you will want to wake up in the morning and go to work! In fact, it won’t seem like work…it will be fun and enjoyable!

Tip #2: DEFINE YOUR USP—Unique Selling Proposition.

Think of yourself as a brand! Now, clearly identify your strengths, talents, and what you have to offer a company. The clearer you are, the more you can articulate your offerings. You are selling a service & a product: YOU! What makes you stand out from the competition? If you are having difficulty identifying your strengths, ask those who know you closely…or look at your past performance reviews to see which areas of strength you have been consistently recognized for. Focus on what you are good at!

Tip #3: CLEARLY DEFINE THE COMPANY YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK FOR.

Be specific. Is it a mid-size company? Do you prefer flexible hours? What’s the office environment you like...relaxed, creative, corporate? What industry is it in? Clearly visualize the company you would like to work for. Explore your options. Maybe after all that, you've realized that you want to work for yourself. If so, visualize it in detail. Your mind likes specifics. For example, if you called to order a pizza, you would clearly specify the kind of pizza, including toppings, etc. The same goes for a career change. Being specific can help you attract the type of company you would like to work for. Try it!

Tip #4: RESEARCH THE COMPANY & INDUSTRY BACKGROUND.

You will be ready when you land the interview. Speak intelligently to factors affecting their industry. This will show you did your homework & care about their needs! Remember, they are your customers & in order to best serve them you need to do your homework!

Tip #5: WIIFM!

What’s in it for me? This is what the recruiter wants to know—why she should call you for an interview. Create a stellar resume. This is a given, but must be mentioned. The resume needs to be professional, to the point, check for grammar/spelling, etc. In the objective, highlight the WIIFM. In your cover letter, identify the value you bring to the table. You may need to tailor your resume for that specific company to highlight what they are looking for. Don’t make stuff up; instead focus in the areas of your career which target their needs. WIIFM!

Tip #6: Keep a POSITIVE ATTITUDE!

Maintain an attitude of expectancy. You will reap what you sow. If you think that no one is hiring, then you will not be hired. If you think you have tremendous talent to offer & package yourself accordingly, then you will be like a magnet attracting successful career/job opportunities. You will send out a positive vibration and will be called by employers. You will notice that you coincidently will run into people who can help you on your search. Recognize this is not a coincidence, it is your positive attitude at work! Regardless of what the news says about the economic outlook for jobs, what your friends or family might say to discourage you, remember...keep up your positive attitude!

Christina Santiago is president and co-founder of Rising Above—an executive coaching, training and consulting firm in Denville, NJ. She is a professional speaker, coach and certified human behavior consultant in association with Personality Insights and is a member of the International Coach Federation. She empowers clients to improve and develop communications and productivity skills. She works with clients to enhance leadership and team building expertise. She is an expert in stress reduction and conflict resolution. Christina is multi-lingual and has been noted by clients for her intuition and pinpoint accuracy in assessing needs and creating solutions. Her background is in communications, human resources, marketing, and wellness. She has worked with industries such as healthcare, finance, aviation and technology. In her spare time, Christina is pursuing her life’s passion of flying by becoming a pilot. She has logged over 80 hours, having soloed November 2005.

Contact Christina at http://www.christinamsantiago.


More Resources

Youre Bright And Talented -- TooT Your Own Horn --
Obviously, there are RIGHT ways to move UP the ladder. Being in the right place certainly has tremendous benefits.
60 Hour Work Weeks - Can You and Your Career Survive Them
In the 80s while I was an account executive for AT&T most people in my organization worked normal (for then) business hours. By that I mean they arrived close to 8 or 8:30AM and left between 5 and 5:30PM.
Listening for Interview Success
Yes I know that we usually think of interviews as us doing all the talking, but the reality is different. At least 40% of the time we should be listening, and what we hear will have an enormous effect on what we say.
Surviving in Corporate Amercia: Part 1 - Email
There is a saying that goes, "The best offense is a great defense". Nowhere is that applied better in the corporate world than in the intelligent use of email.
Helping Mid-Life Employees Find Meaning
People work to live, but most also live to work. A study on the meaning of work conducted back in 1987 revealed a strong attachment to work as a way of life.
Searching for Jobs Online
Searching for jobs online is easier than ever, but also more confusing than ever. Any Internet user doing a job search online will find that they can choose from hundreds of national employment listing web sites and the numbers can often be staggering.
Your First Summer Work in the UK - Picking Strawberries The Right Way
Most jobs on farms in the UK involve picking strawberries or berries in general, raspberries and possibly other berries with which I have not have the lucky chance to pick.Picking strawberries is very demanding and hard work and if this being your first summer job, then it will take lots of patience and clear mind.
The Five Most Common - And Most Avoidable - Résumé Errors
Writing an effective résumé can certainly be challenging. There are numerous rules and none of them apply 100% of the time.
Personal Contacts: The Key to Successful Networking
When the word "networking" is used, we tend to think of upwardly mobile college graduates with a bursting day timer in hand chatting up the competition at business meetings, conventions, or workshops. The average blue/pink/white collar worker disconnects, feeling that they could never be that pushy, don't know enough people to even start the attempt, and that the method only works in competitive business environments.
Retirement: Is It A Career Change Option?
Retirement might be the answer when you ask yourself "why do I want to make a career change" and you decide that what you actually want is not so much a career change as to stop what you've been doing altogether.This may be a good choice for some - those who can afford it - but not necessarily the right choice for all.
Competency Based Interviews - 6 Steps to Success!
Competency based interviews are intended to get the best from you, the candidate, whilst also fulfilling the needs of the organisation to get the very best person for the job. There are some easy steps to make the most of yourself and have a much better chance of success.
Successful Job Interview Tips
Congratulations! You've finally landed that job interview you've been waiting for. Now the real work begins! Remember, resumes don't get jobs; they merely get you in the door.
Mystery Shopping for Fun and Profit
How would you like to get paid to go shopping? That's right! Get paid to shop for clothes, eat in restaurants, watch movies, play golf, travel, and so on.You can have your cake and eat it too! Enjoy the best ofboth worlds.
Job Interviews: Answering Whats Your Greatest Weakness?
Many interview guides advise candidates to answer the common "What's your greatest weakness?" question with a positive trait disguised as a weakness. For example, "I tend to expect others to work as hard as I do," or "I'm a perfectionist.
The Computer-Friendly Resume
The evolution of technology is changing the traditional methods for job searching and recruiting. More and more companies are now relying on computers to initiate the process of hiring and are filling their database with candidates with skills that are easily searchable.
Genes and Work Ethic
If you have good genes, you are blessed. If they are exceptional, you might be successful on that alone.
Job Hunting Tips: Organizing Your Attack
Looking for work is an energy-devouring ordeal, often leading to running in circles and not getting anywhere. A systematic approach can help you focus on your goal, avoid wasting the energy you need to conserve for interviews and employer contacts, and lower your stress level.
Your Salary: What Are You Worth?
Why is it a good idea to determine your worth? Whether you plan to stay at your current job or seek employment elsewhere, your assessment of your worth can become a bargaining chip should you choose to negotiate for higher compensation. It's a reference point on your way to improving not only your standard of living but your sense of self as well.
Business Experience is YOUR Security Cover
Some may want to interpret "independent" to mean WITHOUT others. None of us are truly independent or able to make it in life alone.
Cover Letter Sample -- For the Corporate Flight Attendant
Writing a cover letter to send with your résumé can be both confusing and frustrating. What exactly should you say? Are you saying too much? Are you only speaking about your needs vs.

More Careers & Employment Information:

Related Articles

How to Receive Multiple Job Offers After You're Fired
Ask survivors of the most popular reality television shows and they'll tell you "If you have to eat a cockroach, don't spend too much time thinking about it." Keep focused on the end-game and move on.
Get a Job! Tips for Organizing Your Resume
Whether you're a Vice President of Marketing or a recent college grad, your resume is the 'key' to opening the doors of employment. It is an employer's first impression of you and believe it or not, many hiring officials spend less than thirty seconds reviewing it.
Have Some PASTA with Your Interview
When cyclists prepare for a big race, they always make sure they load up on the carbs. It is not uncommon to have a pasta feed the night before an important event so that the athletes can store up some of the carbohydrates they will be burning up the next day.
The 5 Essential Telecommute Résumé Components
1. An attractive layout that is easy to read and follow.
Looking for a Qualified Medical Billing Specialist
Families, mothers, employers, and medical practices all interact in one way or another with a medical billing specialist. When medical billing is required, a qualified medical billing specialist can help you process your claim quickly and thoroughly.
From Bumbling Bosses to Cranky Co-Workers - How to Overcome What Makes You Hate Your Job
I'll be the first to admit that I hated my job. It took many years for me to come to this realization since I kept accepting promotions in the hopes that the awful ache inside of my chest would go away.
American Idol Syndrome
I like Simon, one of three judges on American Idol. I find his feedback refreshingly honest.
Taking Job Loss Seriously
Anyone reading this article and hassuffered a job loss recently IStaking the job loss seriously. Thestages often are: 1.
Job Interviews and The Secret of Selling Yourself
A very effective and persuasive tactic when selling something is to promote its benefits as well as its features.Very simply, features are what something has; benefits are what those features do for you.
Invest in Your Career Change--Put Your Money Where Your Dream Is
You say you want a new career, you say you want to start your own business, you say you'd love to be a freelance writer and travel more but are you serious? Can I really believe you? Are you investing in your dream?When you want something badly enough, you're willing to work hard, make sacrifices, and invest in your dream.Most people who've made a career change didn't have lots of money from which to draw.
More Companies Using Job Interview Phone Screening
Planning and preparing before you begin to send out resumes could save you some embarrassing moments when you receive that unexpected call.You just never know when that phone is going to ring.
Brainteasers: Or, How Many Crazy Interview Questions Does It Take to Get Hired?
You've looked at all the job interview tips and techniques. Did your homework and studied all the potential employer interview questions you may be asked.
How Hedgehogs Hire
In my last column, I explored Jim Collins' "hedgehog" principle, and how powerfully this can be used to attract great employees. After many dozens of CEO interviews, I'm convinced that leaders with well-defined hedgehogs deploy the most successful hiring models.
5 Things Every New Caterer Should Know
It has been over twenty five years since I started a small catering company that specialized in International Tapas, tiny silver trays of finger foods to delight the eyes and satisfied the stomach. These little morels were tasty, light and filling.
About Your Work
I like Simon, one of three judges on American Idol. I find his feedback refreshingly honest.
"How to Look Your Best in a Down Economy"
As you know too well ~ many jobs have been lost during the turn down in our economy over the last several years. Important sectors as well as entire industries have felt the challenges of lost profits and reduced staff.
What Do You Want From Life?
The tragedy for millions of people is that they never decidewhat they want from life and make plans for it. Life will provide whatever we demand.
The Top Ten Ways to Jump Start Your Career
1. Do What You Love.
Hunting the Executive Head Hunter
5 tips to win over an executive head hunter or management recruiterMany job seekers find themselves overwhelmed with dread at the prospect of hunting down a new career position on their own. That's why many people hope to hang their hats on the connections of executive head hunters to do their hunting for them in their ongoing (never-ending?) quest for the ultimate trophy career.
Resumes That Work: 3 Steps to More and Better Interviews
All of us involved with helping you get a new job, whether as third party recruiters or as representatives of a company, are evaluating you for employment are all receiving hundreds of emailed resumes a day. Having done professional search work for more than thirty years, I have seen both resumes change and how they are delivered change.