|
For My Second Career, I Want to Do Nothing!Q. For my second career, I'd like to know "What to do when you have done a lot and nothing really interests you anymore. The things that interest me are not financially feasible right now, because one of the things I'd like to give up is working!" A. People often want to stop working when they've experienced a series of challenges. You leave one career and begin another. You experience a great burst of energy as your second career takes off. And then your exciting new career goes away. Or you realize your dream was not at all what you anticipated. 1. Don't think of crashing the career party. Stop pounding on closed doors. Think of creating yourself as a person who will collect all sorts of exciting invitations! 2. Reach out for more opportunities to do what you enjoy. As you become enthused, you'll generate unexpected connections. And you'll come across as purposeful and productive. For example, I began writing book reviews for amazon.com just for my own amusement. At first my reviews seemed to generate only intangible rewards. Then one day the UPS truck delivered a box of best sellers from a major publisher. Now I get books, clients, media interviews, website visitors and more. 3. Find something to enjoy every day, even something as simple as walking the dog (well, that's not always so simple). Keep remembering what fun feels like. 4. Share your career frustrations only with a paying audience who will keep your questions confidential. People tend to get the most help when they appear to have everything they want. Opening to the wrong person can kill a potentially exciting option. 5. Gain information by expressing lively curiosity. Attend professional meetings, classes, and informal gatherings. 6. Keep moving. It's tempting to hide when you're not sure what you want to do, but activity fuels creative problem-solving. 7. Remember that most people don't follow a linear path as they move to their second (or third or fourth) careers. They take two steps forward and one step back. They zig and they zag. And usually they fall into their next lives  sometimes literally!  and realized they've been preparing for this move all along. I offer one-to-one consultations on business and career strategy, specializing in Second Careers. About The Author Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com. "Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294 |  | | | RELATED ARTICLES The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work Gets Done Will cubicles be a distant memory for today's workforce? Will the expense of office space and the tremendous burden of employee benefits be a thing of the past for modern day businesses? The Secrets to Interview Success Many well qualified and extremely able candidates fail at job interviews simply because they are unaware of the conventions of the job interview and the expectations of the interviewer. How to Reach Your Next Job Faster with Fewer Potholes, Roadblocks Complacency damages your career more than lack of qualifications. The most obvious roadblock you'll encounter on the race to find your next job is usually regrets about skills, education, and professional knowledge. However, be careful that you don't possess an inner smugness that rests on past successes. Complacency will trick you to believe that employers will find you without any effort on your part to find them. You'll be anesthetized to job search urgency by this false sense of security. Overconfidence costs you money and opportunities if you decide to sit back with a Jack Daniel's and idle your time away until the phone rings. It won't. 18 Career Enhancement Caveats Core value investing in your career Sawbones I was rushing through the white-tented terminal building at Denver International Airport when my attention was diverted ? as if often is -- by a storefront massage business. Checking my wristwatch, I calculated I had just enough time for a 20-minute chair massage. Job Search Blurts I coined this word to draw attention tothe nervous and apprehensive way ofsaying something in the job search thatmakes you feel like a buffoon. A "blurt"is a catchy way of saying: Gaffe. Job Trap; Relationships with Co-workers Most of us interact with our co-workers on a daily basis, its what helps us get through the day. Most employers go to great lengths to promote the "team", some thousands of dollars on retreats and seminars and the like. Basically, to them a group of cooperative, resourceful employees all working together is as valued as good advertising. And no wonder, without it their business would fare well. Picture a workplace populated only by the characters of the show "Family Guy". How succsessful do you think this business would be? Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid By avoiding these 8 simple mistakes, you can improve your chances ofhaving a successful interview and landing the job of your dreams. Gray Hair, Black Prospects If you're reading this article, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that discrimination has become much more sneaky than in the past. No one comes out and say, "We're not hiring you because you're too old." Instead, discrimination is subtle and equally damaging. Resume Layouts ... The Hidden Pitfalls Options for Resume Layouts 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. This ache was not a medical condition ? it was me longing to have a career where I could be happy. How To Ask For A Pay Rise! Negotiating a pay rise is not something many people do on a regular basis. By applying these keys you will be well positioned to improve your negotiation skills and feel more empowered when asking for a pay rise. How to Write a Better CV (UK), or Resume (USA and elsewhere) The first point to make is that the terms "CV" and "Resume" (with or more often without the French acute accents over the e's) are virtually interchangeable in the UK; they mean the same thing, but if anything the norm is CV. In the USA and elsewhere, the CV (Curriculum Vitae to give it its full title - literally "Life Study") is a different animal - a dry listing of qualifications and experience more suited for a university faculty listing for example. We Rejected Your Résumé Today Hi, I am Mr. Employer. A Peek at Nursing as a Career We need more people to choose nursing as a career. There is a national shortage, so the career choice would guarantee future employment fresh out of school. 17 Surefire Ways to Annoy Potential Employers Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still in sorry shape. There are more job seekers than job openings, so do NOT make things harder on yourself by doing any of the things on this list! Never, ever do these! Working Abroad - Employment Advice In Spain Jobs and employment on the Costa Blanca Whats Stopping You from Getting Your Next, Good Job? This question comes up often when I'm working with someone to help them move forward in finding their next job. Don?t Discount the Temporary Position Interview If you think, 'it's just an interview for a temp job -- no big deal,' that's where you're mistaken. Some wonderful opportunities, networking connections and careers have resulted from temporary positions. Dont Get Caught In The Security Trap The day you begin to think of your job in terms of the security versus the opportunities it provides is the day you start to put the brakes on building your career. |
|
|
Copyright © Advancing Women (TM), 1996- 