How to Make Smart Career Choices in 2009

We are in the midst of a recession with an increasing rate of unemployment. With that said, we are also experiencing a lack of preparation by many entering the workforce and those which have been laid off. To deal effectively with gaining the career knowledge required to navigate the ever changing workplace, takes thought, making smart career choices, a plan, and focus.

Many are now faced with chasing any job, with others not knowing what their next career move will be. If you find yourself in this situation; stop…take some time to think through your possible options. Take the time to examine your strengths, skills, talents, competencies, and aspirations… and what it will take to “reinvent you” so you can best deal with the realities of the market place. Not only is the workplace itself changing rapidly, but career opportunities are also evolving. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that over Fifteen million new jobs will be added in the next ten years.

A large number of individuals will enter into college or enroll in certification programs without a clear career goal. This approach results in costly time and money spent chasing a degree and low-demand “sunset” jobs (a sunset job is one that is going away, overseas etc.) or drifting from one major or program to another. Engaging in obtaining more credits or training without a clear purpose is not an effective direction to take. Don’t get caught in the trap of pursuing courses which do not align with employer needs.

When planning your next career move, look for trends that will possibly require your present skills and abilities. Most likely you will need some addition education or training, but it will be focused in the right area. Look for the “sunrise” jobs (the new hot jobs with a growing demand). The following information may spark some ideas which will help you focus on making smart career choices.

In general, any job that requires personal contact with customers or provides a service that can not be transferred off shore is a smart career choice. These can be categorized as “high touch relationship jobs.” Examples of these job areas would be: residential care, child care, pharmacist, psychologists, personal/business coaches, and physical therapists, public relations specialists, hospitality specialist, police officer, firefighters, security, sales people, nursing and teaching.

The economy will come back so traditional skilled trades such as carpentry, electrician, plumbing, construction contractors, food processing, quick-turn and custom manufacturing, auto mechanics, maintenance and repair look very good in terms of not moving offshore. Also, cosmetologist, hair stylist, dental hygienists, administrative assistants and computer support specialist are good choices.

Online retail sales will continue to drive home delivery; this will increase the need for drivers, pilots, airplane mechanics, distribution specialists, etc. Retail store positions will decline gradually as Internet shopping continues to grow, but there will always be retail stores and retail positions.

Positions requiring creativity and originality will still be highly valued. The need to write books, screen plays, TV shows, music, and produce the sports our culture enjoys, will continue to drive the entertainment sector.

The retirement population alone is driving the need for replacement workers and is already creating high demand in products and services tailored to this demographic. Home building in retirement areas will be on the increase, home healthcare services, nursing homes, yard care and the leisure/recreation industry for the 55+ age group will generate a large increase in employment. The increase in the “baby boom” population will also drive a continuing need for surgeons, nurses, and financial specialists.

Many jobs in local, state and federal government will surly continue. Jobs related to the energy field such as engineers, line technicians, and fuel cell sales and distribution specialists will grow. Our wired society will continue to drive the need for applications engineers, network and technical support technicians for many years.

Last and certainly not least, a vocation in religious institutions and employment in nonprofit organizations will definitely continue. There will be a need for ordained ministers, priest’s, rabbis, and all the jobs associated with religious and nonprofit intuitions such as, executive directors, counselors, program directors, grant writers, fund raisers, lobbyists and administrative support individuals.

As new discoveries are made in medicine, science and technology, new and unnamed jobs will be created. Each major discovery in these fields has spawned new industries which have created tens of thousands of jobs.

The key to survival and winning in the career game will be your ability to make smart career choices, spot and learn new jobs, and be the best at what you do. Even in tough times, if you have a reputation for being a quick learner and being the best in your field, you will do better than most.

A Very Important Point: In most if not all careers, no matter how secure you feel, you will experience ups and downs due to the economy, unexpected changes in technology and world events. There are no guarantees, but with determination, focus, and learning new skills associated with in-demand career fields, you can make smart career choices and stay employed.

Tags: career choices, Career Planning, Careers., Next Career, Smart Career Choices
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Careful Career Planning Generates Greater Income

What do most of the specialists tell you to do in order to be prepared for a hard drive crash? Be sure to back up your files! Well, it is important to do the same with your career planning. In this changing economy, it’s anyone’s guess which careers will keep growing and which will not. No one could have for seen that white-collar programmers would soon encounter problems in unemployment in the United States after 9/11. We still haven’t been faced with all of the ramifications of the housing meltdown on employment. Will mortgage brokers and people in this business be faced with loosing their jobs? How will they work in their career field if the whole business has been affected?
These are the types of questions today’s workers encounter when career planning. That’s where the second career comes in. The backup career is not your preferred choice of career; it is the career that is pretty much recession-proof and not affected by the changes in global economy. It is the career that can provide money to live on while you advance in your five-year plan. Hopefully, if you’ve prepared for the eventuality of a poor market, you won’t be one of the people facing dead-end jobs at retail stores. It should be a career that requires little training and that you enjoy, which can keep you going when everything else fails.
Your backup career planning can help your five-year plan, if you’ve thought about it carefully enough. For instance, if your career choice is to practice medicine, then you will want a backup career in the area of health service. You can become a home health aide, take a few health and general care classes, and always have a way to make a living. The job cannot be outsourced and will give you income. It can also be put on your resume as experience in caring for patients. When career planning, remember that the backup career can also be used as a second job while you are working full-time. It can be a way to generate income when times are tough.
If you pick the right career field and get the training required to maintain that position, it will be a small blip in your career aspirations that might eventually help you network into your dream job. These are careers that don’t require a lot of training or long hours in the classroom, but can provide a means of support. If you find yourself lost and not moving, then you will automatically be moving backwards. Life has a tendency to take you backwards, if you don’t make a conscious effort when career planning to stay focused and persist in your ambitions. Always keep your feet moving and you will eventually get to where you want to be. Some people start out in these fields and find that they absolutely love them. If the job is right for you, you can keep it and stop there. Or you can decide to use these jobs while on your way to other better and lucrative work while you proceed with your career planning.

Tags: Business, Career Planning, Career., Industry, Job.
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Time To Advance Your Career? What You Need To Know About Asking For Promotion

Is the present state of your career leaving you frustrated? Would you like to make a career forward move at work? If the answer to these questions is yes, you might consider trying career advancement by asking for a promotion.
Whether you should ask for a promotion is a tricky issue for your career. You need to consider various factors carefully before you ask your boss for one. It is not something you do on a whim.
A request for promotion can do many things. It may work in your favour, no doubt about that. But it might also do nothing for your career development; worse, it could do more harm than good to your career planning.
An important factor in deciding whether you should ask for a promotion or not is whether there is an opening. Do you really know the human resource requirement of your employers, now or in the near future? Timing, as they say, is everything.
If an open position does exist, it will greatly enhance your chances of getting a promotion. It is imperative that you are aware of the relevant career information at all times. You need to know if there are any open positions in the company, whether from inside sources, online recruitment portals, or even the local newspaper. As soon as you hear of one, you may consider asking your boss for a promotion.
How long you have been with your current employers is another big factor you need to take into account before you make that career forward move. Although a short period with your present employer does not necessarily rule you out, your chances of career advancement would be significantly higher with a longer period of employment. Many employers like to reward with promotions people who have been with them for a longer period of time. So you should always keep your tenure in the present concern in mind when deciding whether to ask for a promotion.
Your career planning goals are another important element that you should keep in mind when you make the decision whether you should ask for a promotion or not. Would you be willing to make a career transition in search of a job that offers better pay, better benefits or better prospects of career advancement? If you are inclined to do that, you might as well consider asking for a promotion.
The fact that you are considering moving on to greener pastures itself means that you have nothing to lose by asking for a promotion. The answer that you hear may in fact surprise you. Many companies will be ready to give out promotions or better terms to retain employees they do not want to lose.
When you are trying to decide whether you should ask for career advancement or not, you need to know the history of such attempts in the company. Getting that information from the office grapevine could be tricky business; you could yourself end up being the subject of workplace gossip. However, it is important for you to know if any other employees have in fact sought a promotion in the past. Did they succeed in their efforts? If not, were there any negative repercussions? Again, rather than gossiping around to get the information, you need to keep your eyes and ears open to get the answers.
A lot of tact and caution is necessary if you were to decide that you would ask your supervisor for a promotion. Your supervisors may not be fully aware of your achievements as an employee or your contribution to the company’s cause. Perhaps you have not worked personally with the decision makers either.
You need to try and get an appointment with those who matter in your quest for career development. Treat this meeting like a job interview and try to sell yourself. Point out delicately your contribution to the company’s success; also mention how important career advancement is for you.
The above factors are important when you finally decide if you are ready to step onto the next level of your career. Should you decide to do so, you need to be tactful and delicate and also confident enough to sell yourself. The bottomline is, do not get upset or feel insulted if your request for a promotion is rejected.

Tags: Asking For Promotion, Career Advancement, Career Forward Move, Career Planning, Career Transition, Career.
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Why Impulsive Decisions Are Not Wise When Planning Your Next Career Move

Are you frustrated with the present state of your career?
You might be, if you find yourself locked in workplace conflicts with a colleague or your boss. You might also feel that you deserve more than what you are being paid, or that you are regularly being required to work late without an overtime pay to match.
Such circumstances are bound to get you thinking about a career change. Of course you can find a new position of your liking, but you need to watch out for the pitfalls when you actually cross the threshold and make that bold career forward move.
Now you might want to give a good thought to your reasons of quitting before you seek a career transition. Making money after all is serious business; your livelihood and your family’s well-being depend on it. An impulsive decision is not in the best interest of your career planning.
A frivolous or petty reason should not make you put in your papers. You should not, for example, let conflict with another individual or small issues make you resign. However, if you feel you have no hope of any further career development, if there are concerns for your safety at work, or if you need a career change to support the changing needs of your family, you will want to look at all the options before you.
Speaking of your options, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of a career change before you actually take the plunge. That would entail taking a good, hard look at the current employment opportunities in and around your area.
Career transition has to go hand in hand with career planning. The last thing you would want is to give up your job on an impulse and find no good openings in your area. That would leave you in a precarious position with bills to pay and a family to support.
When contemplating a career change, you obviously need to explore all avenues to find out the current employment scenario in your area. You should start examining the employment pages of local newspapers for job openings in your quest of a career job opportunity. You also need to gather all the career information available with online recruitment portals on the internet.
In the course of your job search you should take into account the current pay levels, the benefits, and other relevant particulars of all the available jobs. If the package advertised looks attractive, it is important that you examine all job requirements, such as any training or work experience. Unless the job scenario in your target area is exceptionally bright, you cannot count on being offered employment in a position you are not fully qualified for.
When you are satisfied that there are enough opportunities for career transition, it is time you take your job search to the next level. This means you start applying for the job openings in and around your area. You need to apply right away for positions which interest you, for the best jobs always draw a lot of qualified applicants quickly.
Once you have made the career forward move, you may want to consider submitting your resignation, with the requisite period of notice, to your current employer. You realistically can only resign once you get a concrete offer, just to be on the safe side.
It is important for your career planning that you have a proper resume. Not only do you need to brush up your resume and make it up-to-date with all the skills and experience gained in your current job; it should be done with a professional get-up.
A nice resume creates a very good impression. It can land you a job interview, and may go a long way in leading you to a career dream find. You can take the help of free resume templates online or those provided with software such as Microsoft Word or Works. You can also seek professional help in writing your resume.
These are some of the things you will want to take into consideration in your quest of a career change. Just a small advice: do not terminate your position with your current employer until you have some concrete offer in hand.

Tags: Career Advancement, Career Change, Career Management, Career Move, Career Planning, Career Transition
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Career Mapping For A Smooth Journey

You can dream of being a Vice President, but you may not know how to reach that position. If you don’t have a career map, then eventually you may end up being in the same position as before.
Career mapping can be highly beneficial at any stage of your career. Whether you are entering the workplace for the first time or you are a veteran of the rat race, career mapping can prove to be one an invaluable tool – particularly if you are thinking of switching careers.
A career map is a two-piece document that actually summarizes a person’s career strategy. In short, it is like a road map that will guide you throughout your work life. You should refer to your road map when you want to reach a destination; similarly, you should use your career map when you want to go ahead in your career. A career map is particularly handy when you experience job loss through downsizing or layoffs – when you have a career map, you won’t have to panic, because your strategy will already be in place.
Career mapping can help you go about achieving your goals with purpose and clarity, whether that is advancing in your current career or searching for a new one.
Overview
This point clarifies what it is that you would like to accomplish in the future – in as short as one year or as long as five – and gives you the route that you need to take to get there. There are times when you may have to change the map suddenly when you find a lucrative job opening or when you realize that you have taken a wrong turn in your career – so it pays to be flexible.
Marketing Plan
If you are presently working long hours and not making the kind of money that you want, it could be a matter of insufficient focus. Decide which aspect of your profession is the most valuable, and develop a plan to market your knowledge, skills and experience to get a position that’s right for you.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Maximize your strengths through experience and reduce your weakness through education. If you are stuck, then you can consult a career coach or counselor.
Plan of Action
Once you know your goals, then you need to identify how you will get there. You can do this by talking to experts or getting help from a mentor. Similarly, you should seek advice from people in similar positions that are already successful.
Financial Plan
Analyze why you want to change your career and direct your strengths to influence your finances. Look at your present position and then set a pattern to monitor your progress.
If you want to change your career for the better, then it pays to have a plan. Having a career map is one of the best tools for getting you where you need to go.

Tags: Career Mapping, Career Planning, Career., Job Mapping, Job Planning, Job., Life Planning, Mapping
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Career Planning – How To Choose Your Path

Career planning entails choices. This means you have to choose a path you would want to lead your life to. A job or the work you do does not only help you financially but also has a great effect on your personal life-psychologically, emotionally, and physically. which is why it is imperative that you give career planning your full serious attention. This holds true, more so today that many new fields and opportunities are available.
Career planning entails having a good understanding of the terminologies of job and career seeking. Try looking and reading at the following words:
• Employment
• Position
• Job
• Occupation
• Career
Reading them for the first time you’d think that they all mean the same thing. There are, however, slight differences. A manager and a machine operator are both employees in one company but the manager would more often refer to his work as a position, while the machine operator sees himself as an employee. Thinking of getting a career? Then it is also of importance that you familiarize yourself with these terminologies:
• Career development
• Career management
• Career counseling
• Career guidance
These are all steps to a systematic approach at making certain that you find the best career path and to progress satisfactorily. Career planning entails that you gauge your own planning capability. It’s you who will have to figure out and identify your short term and long term goals. You do your own decisions, choose your own options, and evaluate your resilience and flexibility. These factors are going to be very important when it comes to meeting career challenges. In the long run, all you have to rely on are your own personal management skills. Career planning involves life changing decisions, and different survival skills as well as role and work-leisure integration. Career planning would also mean acquiring good marketing skills. Do you know your skills and strengths? How about your weaknesses? Can you conduct an effective and efficient job search? Do you know what image you project and should project? Can you sell yourself to the employers? How do you make yourself more marketable? Career planning means taking your own steps at being aware of the opportunities available out there. You should keenly investigate labor trends and get hold of training opportunities. There is a high probability that you will be taking on more than 1 job in your lifetime, and by means of a well designed career planning system, you have a better chance of succeeding at your chosen career path. Through these, you are able to gain skills and experience, making you an even more productive and marketable employee.

Tags: career choices, Career Planning, Career., choosing your path
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Career Planning – How To Choose Your Path

Career planning entails choices. This means you have to choose a path you would want to lead your life to. A job or the work you do does not only help you financially but also has a great effect on your personal life-psychologically, emotionally, and physically. which is why it is imperative that you give career planning your full serious attention. This holds true, more so today that many new fields and opportunities are available.
Career planning entails having a good understanding of the terminologies of job and career seeking. Try looking and reading at the following words:
• Employment
• Position
• Job
• Occupation
• Career
Reading them for the first time you’d think that they all mean the same thing. There are, however, slight differences. A manager and a machine operator are both employees in one company but the manager would more often refer to his work as a position, while the machine operator sees himself as an employee. Thinking of getting a career? Then it is also of importance that you familiarize yourself with these terminologies:
• Career development
• Career management
• Career counseling
• Career guidance
These are all steps to a systematic approach at making certain that you find the best career path and to progress satisfactorily. Career planning entails that you gauge your own planning capability. It’s you who will have to figure out and identify your short term and long term goals. You do your own decisions, choose your own options, and evaluate your resilience and flexibility. These factors are going to be very important when it comes to meeting career challenges. In the long run, all you have to rely on are your own personal management skills. Career planning involves life changing decisions, and different survival skills as well as role and work-leisure integration. Career planning would also mean acquiring good marketing skills. Do you know your skills and strengths? How about your weaknesses? Can you conduct an effective and efficient job search? Do you know what image you project and should project? Can you sell yourself to the employers? How do you make yourself more marketable? Career planning means taking your own steps at being aware of the opportunities available out there. You should keenly investigate labor trends and get hold of training opportunities. There is a high probability that you will be taking on more than 1 job in your lifetime, and by means of a well designed career planning system, you have a better chance of succeeding at your chosen career path. Through these, you are able to gain skills and experience, making you an even more productive and marketable employee.

Tags: career choices, Career Planning, Career.
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Career Development Process – Tips To Realize Your Career Goals

Career development is an avenue that a person must adhere to in order to prepare for, sustain and to advance in the careers they have chosen.
Before now, many big name companies had conferences that centered on the topic of career development for their employees. It was good for 2 reasons; it helped its employees gain the needed skills important to enhancing their future goals in their career.
Many companies will still educate their employees, however nowadays it is important for the individual to assume this responsibility by taking control of their own education and progress through career development. The more the person prepares himself the more chances he will have at advancement.
One of the most important things that a person can do is to examine the career development goals and the skills they possess. They should know what they are going to be, if they are good at organizing others, and can they work in one to one situations with their clients. Companies are interested in the skills their new employees will bring to the table.
The next aspect of career development is the decisions you will make about what career is best for you presently. An example would be, Joe wants to be a graphic artist, he knows he will need schooling and talent in the graphic arts, and maybe even some mathematics in his bag of tricks.
Once he knows what skills he can market in his career choice, then he can fully realize what areas will need tweaking if he is to move up in his career. In career development education is a key factor.
While deciding on classes to take to enhance your career it is a good idea to choose a few career development classes as well. You can do this at anytime during your career development process. These classes teach important skills such as writing the perfect resume, and may also recommend seminars or conferences that will further your career objectives.
Continuing Education is an important part of change; it makes you more prepared for the new avenues your company may want to explore.
There are many career development studies and surveys which watch for the stress levels of the employee. Companies want to have an idea of how well you will cope with stressful situations, whether or not you can get others to do their job effectively, are you a social or solitary person, Is he the type of person to explain problems to his employer, or hold it bottled inside, or to take it out on others.
There are many other things to consider, but here is a few to get you on the right track to your perfect career.

Tags: career development process, Career Planning, Career., tips for realizing career goals
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Advanced Career Training: is it for You?

Advanced Career Training: Pluses and Minuses

There is one basic reason to consider advanced career training. That is the reason to further and grow your current career. Whether your advanced training is in the medical, management, technology or some other field the main factor behind your decision is to advance your career. A further consideration may not be to advance your career so much but to keep up with the changes going on in your career or industry so you continue to qualify for the position.

Generally, there are both plus and minus reasons to be considered before planning advanced career training. While there are many positive reasons the negative reasons should also be considered in your decision.

Let’s review some of the reasons that deserve consideration. Positive reasons for advanced career training are the first things that come to your mind when considering such training. These reasons may include the following:

• Career Promotion: In considering advanced career training, you always plan for the possibility of career promotion. Your value to your employer will increase and many times this is a prerequisite for promotion and greater responsibility.

• Awareness on updates in the area of expertise: Keeping yourself knowledgeable about the latest developments in your area of expertise is critical. As you become more knowledgeable your productivity and effectiveness will increase. Hopefully the added training will lead to greater earnings.

• Involvement in specialized training: Being involved in specialized yet advanced career training enables you to become highly-skilled and experienced in your particular career.

• Enhance your Resume: A completed training course can look good in your resume especially if you have acquired advanced career training which is highly in demand and very relevant in the present time. Advanced career training is essential if you decide to make a career change. It is necessary to get you prepared for the next level of career challenges and responsibilities.

Before you consider your advanced career training there are also some negative reasons that you may consider. They are as follows:

• Redundancy of Information: If you have the initiative of self-study in some preferred or highly in demand skills but you’ve already learned the required information and now your employer requires the training, there’s a great possibility that you will be required to spend valuable time going over what you already know. However, if there is a “ticket punching” requirement you may have no choice but to attend the training.

• Additional Risks Taking Your Career to the Next Level: The added training may be oversold so in reality you may not be as prepared t o move to the next level. Carefully study this factor before making your decision.

Advanced career training, in general, serves as an integral part of continuing education and career development. If however, the key ingredients for advancing your career are present in the additional training, approach the activity with a positive attitude and you’ll maximize the results to your career.

Tags: Career Advancement, Career Development, Career Planning, Career-training
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Tips For Successful Career Planning

The average worker changes their career many times during their lives, so it is never too late to start planning.
Career planning is not a difficult task; you don’t have to avoid it or put it off, rather you should seek to understand it. Planning your career should always be a positive experience.
Here are some successful career planning tips:
-Career planning as a regular event- In a year, many of us have regular appointments such as a visit to an eye doctor or a dentist. Similarly, you should do career planning regularly. Take some time off from your regular routine and plan out your career. Sit in a silent place and block out all distractions so that you can concentrate. By making career planning a routine event, you will feel secure about your career choice and growth. You will be prepared to tackle any adverse situation that may surface.
-Career planning from your last career plan- While planning your career, don’t forget to start from your last career plan and spend some time jotting down your career reviews. If your career growth has lots of ups and downs, sit and analyze and plan ahead. Past mistakes can guide you towards a better future. If you are content with your career growth, then continue along the path or find a significant way to grow further.
-Don’t neglect your likes and dislikes- While planning your career, don’t forget about your likes and dislikes, since your likes two years ago may have changed. Take time to reflect on the new developments in your personal life, not just on the job front.
Make two separate rows of likes and dislikes, and then use this list to analyze your current job path. If you feel your current job falls under the like column, then you can consider yourself lucky as you are on the right path. If it falls into the dislike category, then you need to examine your career and your available options. Career planning also gives you time to think about your hobbies and pastimes. It may sound bizarre, but sometimes these passions and hobbies give you insight into what you like doing on the job.
-Jot down your past activities- Generally, people don’t keep track of their accomplishments. Some past achievements can be included in your resume and can be useful while planning your career. Sometimes reviewing your past achievements can reveal successes that can help you plan your career.
-Look for transferable skills- Search beyond the regular options for new career openings. If you focus, you may find good career growth opportunities in that area. You might have some skills that can be applied to various jobs.
If you keep these tips in mind, career planning will be less of a chore and more rewarding.

Tags: Career Change, Career Planning, Career., Choosing The Right Career, How To Choose The Right Career, Job.
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