How do you change careers?

[MotoGirl]

You could freelance and offer articles to publications but it won't necessarily get you a fulltime job or make you rich!

Very informative - thanks for that! It sounds like it takes years to build yourself up, so I guess I'd better do it on the side while I have a full time job.

[vifferman]

There's always the other option, Adele.
I looked at changing careers years ago, and after paying a whole lot of money to attend a course on finding my perfect job (I also have lots of books on this topic, but not "What Color is Your Parachute"), I walked out when I suddenly realised that most of the things I was interested in, and that made me contented, were things I could do regardless of what my career was. This included photography, music, crafts such as stained glass, bikes, and writing. Having a job that didn't fulfill me made my working hours tough (and I think has wrecked my health), but looked after my family's needs and funded my hobbies.

Ideally (if I'd made a move before I was encumbered and my brain was ferkt), I should have taken the time to think long and hard about what I was going to do with my life, instead of drifting off to university. If I had, now I'd be writing, painting, sculpting, making stuff, and generally being creative instead of slowly decaying at my desk.

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Beemer - I enjoyed reading your reply - crikey I never knew journalism was so lowly paid.

[MotoGirl]

Ideally (if I'd made a move before I was encumbered and my brain was ferkt), I should have taken the time to think long and hard about what I was going to do with my life, instead of drifting off to university.

I envy the people who know what they want to achieve out of their lives. Generally speaking, I have no freakin' clue! Well, about the big picture anyway.

This has always been my biggest problem and I must drive Cajun insane. I’m very very ambitious and somehow manage to blitz any goals I set myself. Hubby considers my goals to be unrealistic, yet I seem to beat them by years; for example, I wanted to own a house by 25 and I did before I was 23.

I get really frustrated when I don’t have a goal or something to work towards. I think this is why I’m in this position at the moment. I’ve achieved everything I set out to do.

I shouldn’t complain – after all, I’m 26, earn reasonable money, have a lovely husband , a house, and all the toys I can dream of. I’ve got everything I want, yet I’m not happy. I’m never happy.

My life at the moment is effectively killing time until I’m ready to have kids (three to five years away). I don’t enjoy “plodding along” in the status quo – there’s got to be something to achieve, otherwise that action is pointless (if you can even follow this!).

My point is that if I knew what I wanted, I’d have it by now. The frustrating part is determining what I want!

[Big Dave]

Ideally, I’d like to be an automotive journalist.

It's not a full time job. You have be able to do other things too.

I've got a heap of ad deadlines now (the other things) but I'll type you some pointers later - remind me.

[MotoGirl]

It's not a full time job. You have be able to do other things too.

I've got a heap of ad deadlines now (the other things) but I'll type you some pointers later - remind me.

Cheers
*note to self...*

[BarBender]

Has anyone read What Colour is your Parachute? If so, did it help you? A workmate is telling me I should read it.

Richard Bolles book is a good start Motogirl.An even better one would be some simple self reflection and self awareness. Perhaps even do a SWOT analysis on yourself? There are a couple of good websites like Tickle.com that focus on raising self awareness in relation to Happiness, Career and Lifestyle. Discovering a little about yourself and who you are is usually- in times like this - a good process to go through. Its not touchy feely. Quite practical and if you can read and identify themes in what you like to do, the way you communicate, the people you like to be around within a work context etc.... it can be pretty easy to nail potential avenues. Am currently going through one of those times myself and managed to score on the short list with a non for profit organisation after 20 years as a corporate suit. In the end it was about values alignment for me. Only figured that out after doing abit of research on myself.

[Pwalo]

I know that happiness is the most important thing. I’m keen to hear how you guys have dealt with issues regarding money versus job satisfaction.

No happiness isn't the most important thing. Making sure that your family have enough to eat and somewhere to stay are.

Actually that's utter drivel for some one who hasn't got a family. Look it's simple. Do you work to live, or live to work (sorry that's so trite, but I can't think of an easier way to say it).

If you're bored try something else, if it's important enough for you. Otherwise stay where you are and read the classifieds like the rest of us poor suckers.

[MotoGirl]

If you're bored try something else, if it's important enough for you. Otherwise stay where you are and read the classifieds like the rest of us poor suckers.

I appreciate your perspective. However, reading the classifieds is one thing, matching my current salary in Tauranga is another! If money was the only issue, I'd be more likely to stay where I am.

[James Deuce]

Just to add to my Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy post earlier, being "Happy" is a post modern materialistic concept. Pwalo is correct. Once upon a time, simply providing three meals a day for one's family earned the breadwinner (irrespective of gender) community respect, and a sense of personal achievement and contentment.

Life is full of extremes and if your only goal is to be "Happy", you're going to fail.

Prior to WWII, most people in the "developed" world's goal was the same as the rest of humanity. Somewhere to live, something to eat. This accumulating crap thing only started during the excesses of 1950s America.

Of course it's nice to have stuff, of course it's nice to be rich. Don't look to pursuits or occupation to provide happiness, or set your goals around accumulating more money than you need.

[Joni]

Life is full of extremes and if your only goal is to be "Happy", you're going to fail.

Hmm, I dont agree with you on this one.

My goal was to be happy - however yes with that comes the maturity to plan and takes lifes knocks into account, but you put a plan together taking all things into acocunt, knowing what you want, taking the unexpecteds on as they come, and you generally get there...

[Beemer]

Beemer - I enjoyed reading your reply - crikey I never knew journalism was so lowly paid.

Yes, low wages and we are lower on the list of people to be respected than car salesmen! Mind you, I bet our standing may be higher than police officers now...

People think journalists are all on huge salaries because they see the likes of Judy Bailey (who admittedly DID have journalism qualifications) being paid $800,000 to read the news, or Paul Holmes earning millions for his tv or radio shows. What no one realises is that they are just talking heads - behind them all is an army of researchers who do all the real work. Years ago I worked as a researcher on a tv show - the presenter got all the credit for the stuff we had worked our arses off uncovering or tracking down!

My husband still thinks I am on a good wicket because of the hourly rate I get paid for some assignments ($65-$75). However, I don't get 40 hours a week at that rate, wish I did! He also thinks that spending an hour or two interviewing someone and taking photos and then another hour or two writing the article for about $700 is bloody good. So in a nutshell, some parts of journalism ARE very well paid and if you can get the work, it can make for a profitable career. But it takes years to get to that stage and in the meantime you can spend a long time earning very little.

Here's an example of that, with a current job vacancy for a sports reporter. The salary has been rubbished on Journz but the reality is, that is what jobs like that pay. And unfortunately, that is what they were paying more than 10 years ago when I qualified, so the salaries have not kept up with other increases.

Company: Taupo Times / Fairfax Media
Location: Taupo, Waikato
Type: Permanent
Pay and benefits: $27,000 plus health insurance
Listed: Thu, 22 Mar

This is a unique opportunity to get a start in an interesting and challenging career in sports journalism.

The successful applicant will have a keen interest in all things sporting, a relevant media degree (which would take you a year and cost about $10,000), and an ability to produce clean, entertaining copy to tough deadlines.

Taupo is the sporting events capital of New Zealand - come and be a part of it!!

[MotoGirl]

Richard Bolles book is a good start Motogirl.An even better one would be some simple self reflection and self awareness. Perhaps even do a SWOT analysis on yourself? There are a couple of good websites like Tickle.com that focus on raising self awareness in relation to Happiness, Career and Lifestyle. Discovering a little about yourself and who you are is usually- in times like this - a good process to go through. Its not touchy feely. Quite practical and if you can read and identify themes in what you like to do, the way you communicate, the people you like to be around within a work context etc.... it can be pretty easy to nail potential avenues. Am currently going through one of those times myself and managed to score on the short list with a non for profit organisation after 20 years as a corporate suit. In the end it was about values alignment for me. Only figured that out after doing abit of research on myself.

Thanks BarBender, you raise a very valid point. I agree that I should do this.

[James Deuce]

Hmm, I dont agree with you on this one.

My goal was to be happy - however yes with that comes the maturity to plan and takes lifes knocks into account, but you put a plan together taking all things into acocunt, knowing what you want, taking the unexpecteds on as they come, and you generally get there...

Being happy is intangible.

Happiness stems from different things for different people, but being happy for the sake of being happy indicates an altered reality, either through drugs or a deficiency in brain composition.

Happiness mostly stems from setting and meeting goals, from little tiny ones to great big ones.

Setting the goal of being "Happy" is setting yourself up to fail.

[Joni]

I hear you Jim... maybe my goal was not to be happy, but rather to change the things that made me unhappy... the bi-product would be the reduction of the unhappiness.

:spudwhat: