Career Paths

Have you ever sat down and thought about the career path that you were currently on? Chances are that you have not. There are many people that look at their job as just that, a job, but the truth is – this job can lead you to larger opportunities on paths which are associated with the job.

It is important to think of each job that you have held as a stepping stone to the point where you are at, right now, at this very moment. This is the path that your career has taken, how is it shaping up? Is it helping you to reach the career goals that you have created for yourself? Answering these questions can help to determine the career path that you are on – and compare it with the career path that you should be on!

It can be helpful to make a career map that can assist the individual to determine the path that they have taken. Use all of the jobs that you have taken part in, in the past and using a diagram of arrows and circles to determine where these jobs have brought you today. Think about the end goals for the career that you would ideally like to establish, how do these jobs contribute to this career? Next, outline the skill sets which have been taken from each career job to determine the value of each job. Are you currently working at a job that is contributing to your career? If the answer is no, perhaps it is time to find a career that will enable you reach career goals quicker.

Defining your career path and the career path structures that you have been able to attain this far is an essential way to assess how close that you are to reaching the goals that you have set for your career. This can enable employee to make goals about the future as well as examining existing goals. In fact, determining the career path is one of the only ways to assess whether the goals that have been set for the career have been truly reached. In the case that the goals have not been met, perhaps you should consider a new job that will contribute to your career.

There are many different paths that can open up to the individual by one small change being made in the lifestyle. Perhaps taking one class, one program could enable you to have a completely different career path. It is amazing to think about the effects that one small choice can have on the career path. This one small choice could open doors that you have never even considered.

Think about all of the possible career paths which are available to you from your current job. Are there enough that you would be satisfied working at until you retire? If not, think about the education that you have thought about completing, do more career paths open up through this method? In the case that the answer is yes, consider the education as well as the benefits that would you come with the increased potential for career paths. The truth is, there are many possible career paths – you just have to learn to make the most of the opportunities that are available to you.

Having the motivation to make a change in the career path can yield unlimited rewards and allow you to unlock your full potential. Taking measures to allow yourself to change the career path and benefit the results is an effective way to increase your earning potential and create better rewards in your life.

 

Ref: http://www.careerplanninghelp.com/paths.htm

 

 

Changing Careers: : How to Start a New Career

Once you have become comfortable in a career, the thought of changing careers can be terrifying. These thoughts are often accompanied with a low paying job and starting at the bottom – losing everything that you have worked for up to this point.

How do you know when it is time to change careers? There are certain indicators with your job that should be used to determine the career change, these include: happiness at the job, potential for advancement for the job and if the job is in line with your goals.

Are you happy at the current job that you are working at, or do you dread getting up to go to work every single day? In the case that you are not happy, than it could be time to make a change in your employment that could improve your life. In the case that there is no opportunity for advancement within the position, yet you are seeking a higher paying and higher ranking job, than you perhaps should consider starting a new career. Lastly, if the career is not in line with the career goals that you have created for yourself, combined with the low potential for advancement it could be time to look for something new.

Although starting a new career can be terrifying, with thoughts of the pay cut and all – in reality, most people receive a pay increase when they have decided to start a new career. This pay increase, as well as the boosted morale and the fact that these individuals enjoy their job can lead a more fulfilled professional life.

The first step to starting a new career is to see what is out there and what is available to you with the means and resources that you currently encompass. Think about what options are available to you to immediately find a new career in without any additional education or training. These types of career changes make the transition as easy as possible when you are determined to have a new career without completely abandoning the job that you have put forth so much effort into through the duration of your career.

Alternatively, there are people that choose to take a completely different career path that may require additional training. Find out everything you can about the educational program and determine if it feasible for you to make the switch. Experts have said that in cases like this, the largest risks yield the largest rewards when it comes to changing careers. Think about the costs, the time and all other aspects which are associated with returning to school – are you able to return to school full time?

In the case that you are seeking a career that requires additional education, there are many small steps that can be taken to get you to your goal, without disrupting your life. Small steps include distance education or part-time and evening education to allow you to maintain your livelihood at the current job, while preparing for something better in the future. This type of approach to changing your career lowers the risk, but at the same time is an effective way to gain the same positive results from the experience.

Starting a new career can be terrifying, but this is not a good reason to stop yourself from following your dreams of a new career. There is always going to be fear of the unknown when it comes to stepping into a new workplace for the first time or learning new skills. It is important to realize that you shouldn’t worry; everything will become just as familiar as your last position, over a short period of time.

 

Ref: http://www.careerplanninghelp.com/changing.htm

 

Career Advancement

The advancement of a potential career is something that concerns most of us at one time or another. Whether you work at a desk or work outside in the environment, most of us stumble upon thoughts of “is this it?” at some point in the career. The truth is, for some of us – this is it – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Dedication, a willingness to learn and make your way up in the company from the bottom as well as having the motivation and the drive could lead you to a career advancement that you have never dreamt of.

Where would you like to be in five years? This question can often be a good indication of the advancement requirement which would meet your standards. Using these goals can also help to determine at which level you would like to be within the company.

How do you determine if there is a potential in your career for advancement? Before taking the measures to advance your career your must take the first step in your career advancement. You must be willing to do everything that it takes to become a higher part of the company and make a promise to yourself that you will not stop until you succeed. It is this personal motivation that is going to be the driving force in the advancement of your career. Without personal motivation, it can be difficult to take the next steps in the advancement of your career.

Next, it is time to make an appointment to speak with a supervisor or a manager at the company that you work for. This meeting will introduce yourself as wanting to take on a role within the company that requires additional responsibility than you are presently receiving. This meeting can be an effective way to determine if advancement within the company is even possible. At the end of the meeting, if you are unable to advance within the company, than perhaps it is time to move on and seek employment in a workplace that allows you the opportunity to advance.

What should be discussed at this meeting with the supervisor or manager? Here are some topics which should be addressed regarding the advancing of your career:

• Are there opportunities available for advancement within the company? Does the company focus on hiring from within to keep the morale of the employees higher when it comes to these opportunities?

What education or further training would be required, if any, to advance within the company. Would this education occur within, or outside of the company? If this education occurs outside of the company does the company assist with funding or have some sort of job-sponsored education program?

 

• Demonstrate the qualities that you have displayed through the time that has been spent at the company. Have you reached any milestones or achievements which should be demonstrated? Doing this can ensure that you are making your case to demonstrate your potential within the company. Demonstrate leadership abilities and the achievements that have occurred in the workplace that have set you apart from your peers.

 

• Explain the goals that you hold for the company and for your life. Companies are willing to promote from within if the individual is motivated enough to take this chance seriously.

 

• Demonstrate gratitude at the end of the meeting and respect for the employer. Be sure to thank the employer for any potential opportunities after the meeting is over.

In many cases, advancement within the company will require additional education. This can occur through the job and is in many cases partially funded by the company. Depending on the results of the classes and programs that are taken, the employer can gauge the potential of the individual. Be sure to take the time to learn everything, should additional education be required. Excelling within these opportunities is a sure sign to employers that you will excel within a higher position at the company.

There are times when it may be impossible to advance the career at the current company. In times like these, it is better to move on to a different employment challenge and ensure that you are able to be satisfied with the job that is being completed and therefore, be happy with the career. If you are unable to advance and are unhappy in the career than this can often have adverse effects on your life. If you make this choice, when interviewing for a position consider the potential for advancement with the potential employer through the process to determine if the job is a good fit for your goals.

 

Ref: http://www.careerplanninghelp.com/advancement.htm

 

Career Training

There are many ways that one can train for a career from attending college and university or other post secondary schools or even on the job training. With so many ways for a person to train for your career, it can be simple to find a career that suits you and undergo the training that is required at your own convenience.

How should you prepare to train for your career? Use these methods of learning and training for your career to determine which suits your needs, your schedule and your lifestyle best:

Distance Education
Do you want to further your education and train for your career but you find yourself unable to escape from your part-time or full-time job because of financial obligations? In this case, there are options available to students that would like to study at their own pace, earning a diploma and even a degree through the use of distance education.

Many programs are based through the internet to offer the highest level of convenience and many are available to complete in less than a year. As an added bonus, there are more and more workplaces realizing the value of distance education and therefore these schools are becoming accredited within the community.

Distance education programs can be more expensive than traditional programs that are held in a classroom but they are an effective way to learn, while being privy to versatile repayment plans that can be created and customized to each student. Going to school has never been more affordable and distance education can assist in training for a career, regardless of your choices, there are thousands of options which are available through the use of distance education.

Distance education requires persistence, patience and a desire to learn – as you work at your own pace and you must be able to motivate yourself through the entire program.

On the Job Training
On the job training is being offered by more and more companies as these companies are realizing the general education that employees receive outside of the workplace. This way, the employee can be trained within the company policies and perform optimally to the standards of this company.

There are many benefits to on the job training that include the company being able to teach the exact skills which are required at the company. This way, the company gets the training that they require of their employees through a specific program.

In most cases, each employee at the company must undergo this type of program to become familiar with the guidelines and the essentials of the company, before being able to come off of probation (usually three months after the employee has been hired).

Job Sponsored Training
Many companies that are taking advantage of job sponsored training, which includes the employee attending classes or programs to further their education, on the time and the dime of the company. Taking advantage of these courses and programs could save you thousands of dollars from the costs of your education and lead to a career that is higher up in the company.

Most companies that take advantage of job-sponsored training require the individual to remain at the company for a specific period of time after the training has been completed, to ensure that the company makes the most from their investment.

There are many types of organizations, such as trades companies that allow their employees to begin with little or no experience and alternate terms of working with terms of education to further their career and allow these individuals to rise up within the company.

If you are unable to afford the costs of education, than job-sponsored training is an effective means to work while being offered the opportunity to further your education and train for your career.

Post Secondary School
There are many types of post secondary schools, from colleges and universities to programs offered through technical school which are more job specific. Depending on the career path that you have chosen, it may be required to attend these types of programs to prepare for the career ahead.

These programs are often held in the classroom and require regular attendance on a full-time or part-time schedule. Learning everything you can in this environment can help you to get the job of your choice upon graduation.

Post secondary programs can be lengthy but they can allow an individual to find a place in a career with a higher earning potential and often a higher responsibility. Most programs are an average of four years but can range from two to six depending on the courses that are taken through the program and the concentration of these courses. Going to school all year round through each semester is an effective way to decrease the term required to finish the program.

 

Ref: http://www.careerplanninghelp.com/training.htm

 

Choosing a Career

Choosing a career can seem overwhelming. There are thousands of choices of jobs and thousands of choices that the individual can choose from when it comes to training for the career. Although it can be hard to narrow down the choice of career, here are some tips that can help you to find direction in your life and choose the career that is going to help you create your best professional life.

Find A Career that You Enjoy
Finding something that you enjoy is an essential part in choosing a career. Although most people have more than one career in their lives, each of these careers can last up to ten years. Therefore, finding something that you enjoy doing and that will be fulfilling to you is a crucial part of choosing a career. Think about activities and hobbies that you like, is there are any way to turn these activities into a job that can become a career?

Discover Your Own Talents and Skills
Do you have a particular set of talents or skills that can help to develop you career path? If so, than you may be able to make something of these skills and talents in the way of a career. For example, have you always been a gifted photographer? With a little training and some basic business knowledge this can become a lucrative career that can help you to make thousands of dollars per day. It is skills and talents like this that an individual can take to their advantage through the career building process.

Speak with A Career Counselor
Speaking with a career counselor is an effective way to determine which careers are accessible to you – which careers are in reach through the use of education and which careers will require further training within the work force. A career counselor has been trained to learn the information which is associated with each career and therefore speaking with a career counselor could save hours of research when it comes to choosing a career. Speaking with a career counselor is an integral part of choosing a career, effectively.

Take an Aptitude Test
There are many things that are measured in a career aptitude test and contrary to popular belief, they are not just for children or high school seniors! There are many career counselors that offer aptitude tests to determine careers that would hold your attention and careers that will focus on the interests and the particular set of skills that you have developed.

Determine if the Career is Feasible
Choosing a feasible career means choosing something that is within your reach and allows you to remain in the area that you live (if you so choose). Let’s face it; there are just some careers that are not feasible due to personal limitations and the area in which you live. For this reason, we must think within our means unless we are willing to make sacrifices in our lives that could involve a move to a new location or another aspect which is associated with the new career.

Determine the Education, or Further Education Required for the New Career
If you are choosing a career that requires further education, is it truly worth the costs associated with returning to school to gain the education. What are the opportunity costs through the program in which you are returning to school? How does the salary increase compare with the costs of going through the program and what will your break-even point be? These are all aspects to consider when thinking about a career that requires further education. Therefore, when you compare all of these aspects, in combination with personal goals and how the career change will make you feel about yourself you can determine if this is truly the right decision.

Choose a Career That Increases Experience and Allows You to Learn New Skills
It is important to choose a career that can add experience to the resume and allows the individual to learn something new through the career. This could be a new skill set or even the development of a talent that had been lacking in the past. Choosing this type of career can add longevity to the job as it can cause the individual to feel as if they are gaining something from waking up and going to work every single day.

Using these methods to choose a career can make the process seem less intimidating but can also yield better results when it comes to choosing a career. There are many aspects that should be taken into account when choosing a career, these are just a few. Choosing the perfect career for you will depend on the goals that you have for a career, in combination with the skills and the measures that you are willing to take to get into your career of choice, Good luck!

 

Ref: http://www.careerplanninghelp.com/choosing.htm