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

Why You Need To Be An Intrapreneur
When a client asks me if I think he or she is a good candidate for starting a new business, I ask several questions (see our free assessment, "Are You an Entrepreneur?"). But the truth of the matter is that these questions are similar to ones that I'd ask someone who wants to move up in an organization or find a new position elsewhere.
Are You Tired of Hiring Other Peoples Rejects? - 12 Mistakes Recruiters Make and How To Avoid Them
When John applied for a job at Oakland Company, his resume looked fabulous, showing tremendous talent and advancement. His qualifications were beyond question and he built immediate rapport with everyone in the interview process.
How To Get A Job Fast
In today's unpredictable economy, the idea of job security with any company would seem to be a thing of the past. Large company layoffs, golden handshakes, mergers, leveraged buyouts, company acquisitions and similar business moves have left people of all ages out of a job they need to live.
Getting A Leg Up
Legging Up Your CompetitionLet's face it. When you graduate from college you need an edge over the competition, right? Every year thousands of college students just like you enter the job market looking for the same thing you are, a job / career.
Identity Theft and Your Online Job Search
While identity theft is nothing new, the Web has opened up whole new world of opportunity for identity thieves.According to the FBI, identity theft is the top online fraud.
Defining Success Your Way!
In my career advising practice, I often find that my clients are not clear about what success means for them. Our society defines success primarily around three elements: power, money and fame.
Online Resume Tips and Secrets
I manage a website for corporate flight attendants that features resumes prominently listed on the first page of the site. Unlike some careers, corporate flight attendants must promote themselves overtly in order to find work especially if they are contractors.
Professional Moms: How to Get Ready to Re-Enter the Workforce
Finally! Your youngest is in school and you are ready to hit the job market after an extended absence. As you scrape the last of the Fruit Loops from the kitchen table, you ponder a few unfortunate truths:? Your network has gone stale? Your industry contacts have moved on? You are not in the loop anymore.
Resume Layouts ... The Hidden Pitfalls
Options for Resume LayoutsThere are many options of available to today's job seeker. With a quick change of graphical elements such as fonts and style, the feel of a resume can change from traditional and conservative to creative and modern.
Update Your Resume Today
A friend was just promoted to a position of vice-president of a company. I am happy for him and the first thing I told him after congratulations was "update your resume".
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.
A Look At Some Out of the Ordinary Jobs
What do you want to be when you grow up? Chances are if you ask that question in any third grade class, your answers will include at least one fireman, one policeman, one cowboy and an assortment of other jobs that are glamorized on television and books.But there are far more jobs than those that make good reading and television.
Counter-Offers: Do They Merit Consideration?
You are one of the fortunate few who have not been downsized. However, your current job isn't exactly fulfilling.
One Cover Letter Secret You Cant Afford To Miss
Suppose you were the hiring manager, your desk piled high with cover letters and resumes to sort through. Which of the following cover letter greetings would grab your attention?Example #1:Dear Sirs: Dear Sir/Madam: Dear Gentlemen: To whom it may concern:Example #2:Dear Manager: Dear HR Director: Dear Human Resources:Example #3:Dear Mrs.
Success at Work: Techniques: Computer Literacy
It's hard to believe that there are people in today's workforce who don't know how to use a computer. In today's society, being computer illiterate is equivalent to being functionally illiterate.
The Perfect Resume
The perfect resume presents hiring managers with a four-fold vision of who you are and what you bring to the table: The perfect resume offers Logical Proofs:
Effective Resumes
A resume is normally the first contact point between an employer and a job seeker. It serves the purpose of providing a summary of why a candidate is suitable for a job (cover-letter) and his relevant qualifications/experience.
Could You Write Performance Reviews For Money?
Writing performance reviews can be an excellent way to earn a living. Who wouldn't want to go from place to place watching actors, singers, and chefs perform at their best (and maybe their worst)? Getting paid to do something like this just seems like fun, doesn't it? But, in reality, these jobs are not easy to come by nor are they easy to do.
Take This Job and...Re-staff It
Deciding to leave a job isn't easy. In fact, quitting a job requires courage, especially in today's soft economy when the unemployment rate has reached 6.
Vocational Experts 7 Proposals to Solve the Unemployment Problem
The subject is constantly in the news and may decide thenext national elections - the infamous jobless recovery.More than 8 million Americans are out of work with another 4million underemployed or no longer looking for work.

More Careers & Employment Information:

Related Articles

My Landscaping Business is Better Than Your Lanscaping Business...
Yesterday I was having a discussion with Mary who I know from a mother's group that I attend with my daughter Sammi. Through previous conversations I have determined that this woman is very talented in the areas of landscaping and interior design.
How To Win the Job-Hunting Game
When I got over the initial shock of being urged to "seek alternative employment" I found myself, like so many others, out beating the bushes looking for a job. I found that I was just another one of the sheep following the same traditional job-hunting procedures as everyone else.
Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For
When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you, there are certain things that they are looking for from you. Naturally, you are likely to focus on these things during an interview, but you should remember all of the tips in this manual because following those tips is what is going to make the employers see all of those things in you.
Feedback: Take It or Leave It ... But Get It
The expense was substantial. An immersion workshop with twelve participants sharing a common goal to hone their skills.
Independent RN Contractors Are Taking The Nursing Profession
Nurses wake up and take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity. Are you tired of having no input in your career, little money in the bank, lack of respect for your profession and little compensation for the long hours and years of dedication? Independent RN Contractor is a great way to renew your interest and rejuvenate your nursing career.
Resumes, Networking, Headhunters - Useless Without Marketing Sweet Spot
A career transition is no longer about getting your hands on a list of contacts, networking with headhunters, or going online to look for work. It's better than that.
Is Pursuing a Career in Patent Law the Right Move for You?
What's It All About?The field of patent law is wide open to Biologists, Chemists, Engineers, Computer Scientists, and many other science and technology professionals. And it's true; individuals with the proper science or engineering degree need only pass the Patent Bar to become registered Patent Agents.
What Me? Lie On My Resume? Who Will Know?
The temptation to lie on a resume is great! How can it hurt if I stretchthe truth a bit? Employers see lots of resumes. How are they going toknow who lies and who doesn't?Whoa! Let's stop a minute and reflect on what lies can REALLY doon a resume.
Free Resume Examples: More Is Better
If you ever studied any probability theory in high school or college, you probably remember the marbles.Most introductory probability books talk about drawing different colored marbles out of a bag.
Stacking The Deck In Your Favor
Many people do not bother to look at their own magnificence and without that view it is not likely that we will recognize the need for strategies to maximize our strengths. When we buy an outfit for a special affair, we automatically try to coordinate each piece so that they enhance one another and amplify our sense of "looking good" from head to toe.
Discover What You Really Want To Do
Are you doing what you really want to do or did you just fall or wander into the job you now have. As a friend of ours once said,' I am one of twenty two doctors in our family.
What Makes Americans Hate Their Jobs? This Advice Turns That Epidemic Around
Here are the sobering facts: studies show that almost 70% of all employees dislike or downright hate their jobs. These dissatisfied, disillusioned people have no further career goals.
Managing The Boss Is Essential To Career Success
Your boss is the gatekeeper of your career. Unless you are able to manage a positive relationship with him at each step in your career you will fall short of your potential.
9 Tips on Creating a Professional Emailed Job Application
With the advent of the Internet, many of us have the opportunity to apply for work through email.However, just because this is the Internet and email is so fast and convenient, that does NOT mean you should give up professionalism and polish!FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT.
Tips for Getting Your Movie Career Launched
Hollywood helps those who help themselves! In you want to get your movie career fast tracked then here are three common sense tips to help you on your way.1.
The Dog Days of Job Hunting
Does a headline like this scare you? it should because the consolidation is not over yet.Don't despair just because we are in the "dog days" of job hunting there are action items you can do now to keep yourself primed for.
Dynamic Pre-Hiring Practices
The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. Much time and energy can be invested and in the end, wasted, if your approach is not focused, deliberate, and specific.
Necessary Psychological Skills When Working in the Executive Protection Field
The "hard" skills necessary for an executive protection specialist (EPS) and/or personal protection specialist (PPS) are often perceived as being that of a policeman or (elite) soldier. Though there can be certain similarities i.
Resume Layouts ... The Hidden Pitfalls
Options for Resume LayoutsThere are many options of available to today's job seeker. With a quick change of graphical elements such as fonts and style, the feel of a resume can change from traditional and conservative to creative and modern.
Surprise! Accounting is the Hot New Major
There was a time when accounting was the boring college major that many people regretted signing up for. A constant barrage of numbers, statistics and spreadsheets was none too interesting.