If you think it’s possible that you want to turn your hobby into a career, you should start with a realistic business plan. Map out how you will start your business and where you want to end up so you will feel and be successful.

Yes, this writer has even turned a hobby into a business. I’m a multi-faceted individual! I’ve always had a love of garage sales and found myself with an excess of my garage sale stuff that I realized I would never actually use. That’s when I found e-bay!

I started selling my stuff on e-bay and found that there was a real market for some things. It became an obsession. The more money I made, the more I became obsessed. I am now a Power Seller on e-bay and enjoy a nice side income as I substitute teach and write.

The thing about getting started with making a hobby into a career is to find a market and then capitalize on it. Have enough inventory on hand and then start selling what you create. E-bay is a wonderful place for people to start selling handmade wares and has provided a nice living for people who take the time to place their auctions up for sale.

You must have something that makes you stand out from your competition. That applies to businesses on e-bay or on your own. Think about providing an additional service or some extra that will make it worth the buyer’s time to purchase your product. Many a successful business has been successful just because they go that one extra step that makes them stand out.

Networking can be very important when you are trying to grow your hobby as a business. Try bringing your wares to a local business and see if they will be willing to partner with you in sales. You give them a commission and they carry your product in their store. Not only does this give you a market share in your locality, but it helps spread the word about what you are making and selling.

Remember that if you are self-employed, you should be putting some of your profits away to pay self-employment taxes. The last thing you want is for the government to come after you for the taxes that you should be paying. While there are income guidelines as to what you are required to report to the IRS, you still want to be prepared.

The thing about making a favorite hobby into a business venture is to be sure that you will still enjoy it even when you are making hundreds of them a week. Be prepared for popularity and know that you will still love doing what you do after you are successful.

The best part about making your beloved hobby into a business venture is that you will be your own boss! You can work when you want, rest when you want, and enjoy the fruits of your efforts. Sometimes it might be overwhelming, so be sure that you have what it takes to withstand the pressure and continue even when you’re not really sure you want to!

Don’t discount the experiences of others. There are plenty of people who have made millions of dollars just by taking something they love to do and turning it into an empire (so to speak). Read up on them and take the advice that they have to give. It’s always nice to have a mentor, so capitalize on their mistakes and successes and then learn from the mistakes while embracing the successes. Model your own home business on those who have found out the secret to making money without sacrificing your sanity!

You will also want to look into government grants that are available for small businesses. Check online for places that will entertain your request for funds to start your own home business. The government is very happy to offer up funds that will help everyday people start their own business and you deserve those funds just as much as anyone else!

Turning a hobby into a business can be a very amazing way to not only generate cash for yourself and your family, but it is also a way to allow you to work from home and do what you love doing. I’m not sure anyone would turn down free cash so that they could work a job that they love and on their own terms!

When you leave your job, your emotions may be running high, especially if you are leaving on bad terms. You may want to tell your boss or co-workers what you really think of them. Don’t do it, even if they truly deserve it. You never know who you will meet down the road and who you may have to work with one day.

Don’t damage company property or steal something when you leave. You may feel you were mistreated by your employer and you may be really angry. However, vandalism and theft are criminal offenses. Not only will your professional reputation be damaged by your actions, you could end up in jail.

Be sure to ask for a reference or a letter of recommendation. This may sound like an odd thing to consider if you are leaving your job on unfavorable terms. However, you will have to include this job on your resume, so you should try to make sure you get either a good or, at least, a neutral reference.

If you’ve been fired because of some horrible offense, this may be a moot point. However if your parting is due to something less serious, you may be able to ask your boss for a reference, in spite of the fact that “things didn’t work out as expected.”

If your company has hired a replacement for your job and you have the opportunity to be around him or her, do not badmouth your boss, your co-workers, or the company in general. First of all, it will only look like sour grapes, so there’s nothing to gain here. Second, your successor will figure things out for himself or herself.
Third, it may have been bad chemistry, and your co-worker will have a totally different experience than you did.

When you are ready to start interviewing, it’s also important to remember the above suggestion: don’t bad mouth the company or your boss. The only person who this will make look bad is you. Your prospective boss will wonder what caused your relationship with your prior employer to sour and will suspect that you could have been at fault.

Once you’ve decided to leave, you’ll want to put your intentions in writing so that it can go into your personnel file. This is good manners as well and let’s you tell your boss exactly what your reasons and intentions are. This letter should be typewritten and written in business language. Here’s an example letter:
=============================================
“Dear Mr. Smith:

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that, effective May 31, I will be leaving my position with the company. I have decided to take a new career path and work in a different industry. That will require me to obtain further education, and I plan to be in school full-time beginning with the summer term.

My time here has been enjoyable and I hope my work has been satisfactory. I would appreciate it if you would provide me with a good reference when the time comes for me to begin Job Hunting. Thank you so much for everything.

Sincerely,

(You)”
=============================================
Here is another sample letter:
should you find one before my ending date.

I hope I can count on you for a positive reference if needed in the future and thank you for the opportunity to work for you.

Sincerely,

(You)
==============================================
The standard time frame to give notice is a minimum of two weeks prior to your intended quit date. However, it’s often nice to give your employer as much time as possible to find a replacement for you. If you signed a contract with your employer, check the terms to see if you are required to give notice for a specific time frame. Otherwise, two weeks is the norm.

If your employer asks you stay longer than two weeks (or the time period in your contract) you have no obligation to stay. Your new employer will be expecting you to start as scheduled, and in a timely manner. What you could do, is offer to help your previous employer, if necessary, after hours, via email or on the phone.

Don’t say much more than you are leaving. Emphasize the positive and talk about how the company has benefited you, but, mention that it’s time to move on. You can offer to help during the transition and afterwards. Don’t be negative. There’s no point – you’re leaving and you want to leave on good terms.

You may want to tell your co-workers that you’re leaving – especially if you’ve made friends there. But, don’t tell anyone else until you’ve told your boss. You don’t want the news to leak out before you’re ready and it’s just in poor form for your boss to find out from someone other than you.

Another huge part of making a career change is finding a new job once you’ve satisfied educational requirements and how to land that job.

* Experience Designer: These individuals work in the retail industry, creating the essence and aura of a store. Experience designers go beyond the look of a place, creating a unique experience in which shoppers can immerse themselves. From cellular boutiques to the American Girl doll store on New York’s Fifth Avenue, the shops created by an experience designer are often considered works of art; mini universes unto themselves.

Experience designers are involved in every aspect of creation — from choosing accent colors on walls to slanting the windows in the right direction. The next time you go into a boutique and you feel as if you’ve just had an “experience” — you have, and someone went to a lot of trouble to make you feel at home.

* Medical Researcher: It’s no news that what’s on the forefront of medicine is on the forefront of America’s collective mind. Researchers of cancer, Alzheimer’s, and the developers of prosthetics are the most coveted titles in the healthcare industry. With the aging baby boomer population, the need for cures and treatment plans is both paramount and profitable.

Major developments aren’t only taking place in medicine, but also in the way doctors file medical records. Individuals with the know-how and creative juice to mix tech with medicine can expect seven figure salaries in the year ahead.

* Web Designer: What’s new about web designers? We already know they have cool jobs, working as the creative arm behind highly trafficked websites. But Trendsresearch.com reports that the profession is still in its adolescent phase, and for 2007 it’s going to be a new era of web design. Monster.com charts a 26 percent growth rate in this field for the past year, which will continue to blossom for the coming year.

With the advent of new flash technology, companies are looking for people who know how to implement this into their web presence since so many people rely on the Internet for information. Being a web designer is definitely one of the hottest jobs around and some companies will also let you work from home!

* Security Systems Engineer: Monster.com reports that individuals in the protective services industry can expect a rise in demand and salary for 2007. Advances in Vegas-Casino like security systems and satellite maps are helping to wire the world for defense.

Individuals with a head for engineering and computers can easily expect a six-figure salary in this industry. From sonar imaging to keystroke identification, keeping our country and our world safer has never been easier or more profitable.

* Urban Planners: From the Hong Kong International Airport Residential Tower to suburban “McMansion” sprawl, individuals in residential planning and development can expect a lot of work in the coming year. Urban Planners must meet the demand for real estate that’s both decadent and practical. Prefab one-level homes engineered for the aging baby boomer population are changing the face of suburban America, and boosting the demand for urban planners.

* Viral Marketers and Media Promoters: Not to be confused with someone in advertising or public relations, a viral marketer knows how to build an audience from nothing with little more than rumor and excitement. Known for such coups as My Space’s Lonelygirl15 and the Blair Witch Project, Viral Marketers begin “contagious” campaigns that spread largely through word of mouth. They now have a foothold in American advertising due largely to the Internet.

* Talent Agents: As Clint Eastwood would say, “These days, everyone is famous.” And as fame and fortune grows for performers and athletes, a new arena opens for their managers, promoters, and general go-to guys.

Although these titles may speak for themselves, duties for those fortunate enough to get close to the stars often include things like latte retrieval and limo reservations. Yet, next to the celebrities themselves, these positions are some of the most competitive in the entertainment industry as well as in the most demand.

* Buyers and purchasing agents: Trend forecasters predict that 2007 could be a make-or-break year for the retail industry, specifically the department store. Much of the department store’s fate lies in the hands of the buyers and purchasing agents.

These individuals are in charge of store inventory and make decisions on item color, size, quantity, and country of origin. With the recent boom of the retail industry, these jobs are often hard to come by and can be very lucrative if store profitability increases.

* Art Directors: From Broadway to movie sets, any job that involves paint, lights, cameras, and action is in demand, especially within the 20-30 demographic. Now perceived as the ultimate career for inspired artists with an affinity for pop culture, art directors, set directors, and stage production directors clamor for the top positions that call for hands-on creative genius with a couture designer’s eye.

* News Analysts, Reporters, and Bloggers: The Internet has created a new realm for reporters and writers, who previously only saw their names and ideas in print. Now, publications with an online division often hire three levels of correspondents: print news writers, online news writers, and bloggers.

Although most personal blogs aren’t profitable enough to stand alone as businesses, writers can use their increasing popularity as another gateway for their voices to be heard.

There is also a list of jobs that are in the biggest demand these days compiled by the folks at CNN Money. There is high demand for workers in the following fields:

* Accounting – Thanks to Enron and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, those who have a few years of corporate auditing experience working for a large public accounting firm can negotiate a sweet package for themselves when they change jobs.

That applies whether they’re leaving the accounting firm to go work for a corporation or if they’re seeking to return to the public accounting firm from an auditing job at an individual company.

College graduates with an accounting degree but not yet a CPA designation might make between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, or up to $50,000 in large cities like New York. After a couple of years they can command a substantial pay hike if they move to large company as an internal staff auditor or to a smaller company as controller. At that point, their salary can jump to anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000.

The expectation is that they will obtain their CPA designation.

If they choose to return to a public accounting firm as an audit manager after a couple of years at a corporation they can earn a salary of $70,000 to $85,000.

* Sales and Marketing – The healthcare and biomedical fields offer some handsome earnings opportunities for those on the business side.

Business development directors, product managers and associate product managers working for medical device makers, for instance, can do quite well for themselves if they develop a successful track record managing the concept, execution and sales strategy for a medical device before jumping ship.

Typically, they have an MBA in marketing plus at least two to three years’ experience on the junior end to between five and eight years’ experience at the more senior levels. That experience ideally will be in the industry where they’re seeking work.

An associate product manager might make a base salary of $55,000 to $75,000. A product manager can make a base of $75,000 to $95,000, while a business development director may make $120,000 to $160,000. Those salaries don’t include bonuses.

The business development director seeking a vice president position could boost his base to $150,000 to $200,000 — depending on whether the new company is a risky start-up or established device maker.

* Legal – Intellectual property attorneys specializing in patent law and the legal secretaries who have experience helping to prepare patent applications are highly desirable these days.

The most in demand are those lawyers with not only a J.D. but also an advanced degree in electrical and mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, biotechnology, pharmacology or computer science. Even those patent lawyers who just have an undergraduate degree in those fields have a leg up.

Patent lawyers working for a law firm might make $125,000 to $135,000 to start or about $90,000 if they work for a corporation that’s trying to get a patent or to protect one they already have. With a couple of years’ experience, they can expect a 10 percent jump or better when they get another job.

Legal secretaries, meanwhile, might make $65,000 at a law firm or $55,000 at a corporation. Should they choose to move to a new employer, they can command close to a 10 percent bump in pay.

* Technology – Two tech jobs in high demand these days are .NET (dot net) developers and quality assurance analysts.

Developers who are expert users of Microsoft’s software programming language .NET can make between $75,000 and $85,000 a year in major cities. If they pursue a job at a company that seeks someone with a background in a given field (say, a firm looking for a .NET developer experienced in using software related to derivatives) they might snag a salary hike of 15 percent or more when they switch jobs.

Those who work in software quality management, meanwhile, might make $65,000 to $75,000 a year and be able to negotiate a 10 percent to 15 percent jump in pay if they switch jobs.

* Manufacturing and Engineering – Despite all the announced job cuts in the automotive industry, quality and process engineers, as well as plant managers certified in what’s known as “Lean Manufacturing” techniques, are hot commodities.

The same applies to professionals in similar positions at other types of manufacturers.

One lean manufacturing technique is to use video cameras to capture the manufacturing process. A quality engineer will analyze the tapes to identify areas in the process that create inefficiencies or excess waste, both in terms of materials and workers’ time.

Process and manufacturing engineers might make between $65,000 and $75,000. With a certification in lean manufacturing and a few years’ experience, they can command pay hikes of between 15 percent and 20 percent if they choose to switch jobs.

A plant manager making between $90,000 and $120,000 may expect to get a 10 percent raise or more.

Many of the salaries quoted here are based on working in larger cities as opposed to smaller towns; however, it is certainly possible to garner wages such as these when you are working in an industry where there are shortages of knowledgeable individuals. There’s no question that these job fields are lucrative and need workers that can not only perform the job, but do it well.

What about the fastest growing jobs in America? Here they are separated according to your level of education:

High School Diploma or GED

Home Health Aide

Home health aides provide services to the elderly, people with disabilities, and those who are ill, that allow them to live at home. Employment of home health aides is projected to grow by 56% between 2006 and 2014. Median hourly earnings were over $10 in 2004.

Medical Assistant

Medical assistants perform administrative duties in physicians’ offices. They may also perform some clinical duties as allowed by individual state laws. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 52% between 2004 and 2014. Medical assistants’ median hourly wages were just over $12 in 2006.

Dental Assistant

Dental assistants perform duties that may include patient care, laboratory work, and office work. There is expected to be a 43% growth in employment between 2006 and 2014. Dental assistants earned a median hourly wage of $13.62 in 2006.

Personal and Home Care Aide

Personal and home care aides provide housekeeping and routine personal care services to those who are elderly, disabled, ill, or mentally disabled allowing them to remain in their own homes. We can expect to see a 41% increase in the employment of personal and home care aides between 2006 and 2014. Median hourly earnings for those working in this field were $8.12 in 2006.

Physical Therapist Aide

Physical therapist aides keep treatment areas clean, prepare for each patient’s session, and help patients get to or from treatment areas. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 34% between 2006 and 2014. Median hourly earnings of physical therapist aides were $10.28 in 2006.

Hazardous Materials Removal Worker

Hazardous materials removal workers identify, remove, package, and transport hazardous materials (hazmats). There is expected to be a 31% increase in employment in this field between 2006 and 2014. Hazmat removal workers’ median hourly wage, at $16.02 as of 2006, is the highest on this list.

Social And Human Service Assistant

Social and human service assistant is a generic term that encompasses job titles including human service workers, case management aides, social work assistants, community support workers, mental health aides, community outreach workers, life skill counselors, and gerontology aides. Employment of social and human service assistants is expected to increase by 30% between 2006 and 2014. Median hourly earnings were $11.89 in 2006.

Residential Advisor

Residential advisors coordinate the activities of those living in boarding schools, college dormitories, or sorority and fraternity houses. Employment of residential advisors is expected to grow by 29% between 2006 and 2014. The median hourly wages were $10.47 in 2006.

Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists by counting tablets, labeling bottles, and performing other routine tasks. We can expect to see a 29% growth in employment between 2006 and 2014. The median hourly wages of pharmacy technicians were $11.37 in 2006.

Ambulance Driver and Attendant

Ambulance drivers and attendants transport sick or injured people and assist in lifting patients. This occupation is not to be confused with emergency medical technician. There is expected to be a 29% increase in employment of ambulance drivers and attendants. Median hourly earnings were $9.31 in 2006.

Bachelor’s Degree

Network Systems and Data Communications Analyst

Network systems and data communications analysts design and evaluate network systems, for example, local area networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and Internet systems. Employment of network systems and data communications analysts is projected to grow by 55% through 2014. Median annual earnings were $61,300 in 2006 and median hourly earnings were $29.45.

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) perform diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive health care services under the supervision of physicians. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 50% through 2014. Physician assistants’ median annual salaries were $69,200 in 2006 and hourly wages were $33.29.

Computer Applications Software Engineer

Computer applications software engineers use different programming languages to design, construct, and maintain software along with specialized utility programs. They analyze users’ needs in order to do this. There is expected to be a 48% growth in employment through 2014. Computer applications software engineers earned a median annual salary of $76,300 and an hourly wage of $36.69 in 2006.

Computer Systems Software Engineer

Computer systems software engineers build and maintain companies’ computer systems and plan their future growth. We can expect to see a 43% increase in the employment of computer systems software engineers through 2014. The median annual salary was $81,100 in 2006 and the median hourly earnings were slightly over $39.

Network and Computer Systems Administrator

Network and computer systems administrators maintain and monitor computer systems. Those with experience take on more responsibilities which include making recommendations about the company network to management. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 38% through 2014. Network and computer systems administrators earned an annual salary of $59,100 in 2006 and hourly wages of $28.42.

Database Administrator

Database administrators determine ways to organize and store data, working with database management systems software. There is expected to be a 38% increase in employment in this field through 2014. Database administrators earned an annual salary of $61,900 in 2006 and median hourly wages of $29.78.

Computer Systems Analyst

Computer systems analysts use computer technology to meet the needs of their employers. They also solve computer problems. Employment of computer systems analysts is expected to increase by 31% through 2014. Median annual earnings were $67,500 in 2006 and median hourly wages were $32.46.

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers use their knowledge of biology and medicine, combined with engineering practices and principles, to develop devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 31% through 2014. The median annual salary was $70,500 in 2006 and median hourly wages were $33.90.

Employment, Recruitment and Placement Specialist

Employment, recruitment and placement specialists are responsible for hiring new employees. We can expect to see a 30% growth in employment through 2014. The median annual salary of employment, recruitment and placement specialists was $41,200 in 2006 and median hourly wages were $19.80.

Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers use the principles of biology and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. There is expected to be a 30% increase in employment in this field. Median annual earnings of environmental engineers were $67,600 in 2006 and median hourly wages were $32.51.

Master’s or Doctorate

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that restore patients’ functions, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. Employment of physical therapists is expected grow by 37% through 2014. Median annual earnings were $61,600 in 2006. Median hourly earnings were $29.60.

Medical Scientist (Except Epidemiologist)

Medical scientists (except epidemiologists) generally have master’s degrees. They conduct research about human diseases, but do not practice medicine. Employment of medical scientists (except epidemiologists) is expected to grow by 34% between 2006 and 2014. The median annual salary in this field was $60,200 in 2006. The median hourly salary in that year was just over $21.

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people who have disabling conditions improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. There is expected to be a 34% growth in employment of occupational therapists between 2006 and 2014. Occupational therapists earned a median annual salary of $55,600 in 2006 and a median hourly wage of $26.75.

Postsecondary Teacher

Postsecondary teachers instruct students above the high school level. They work in colleges, universities, and career, trade and technical schools. Included are faculty members and graduate assistants. Employment of postsecondary teachers is expected to see a 32% increase through 2014. Median yearly earnings in this field are $51,800 and vary by rank, field of study, type of institution, and geographic area.

Hydrologist

Hydrologists study the quantity, distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 32% through 2014. Median annual earnings of hydrologists were $60,900 in 2004. Median hourly earnings were $29.27.

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors help those who have problems with drug, alcohol and gambling addictions and with eating disorders. There is expected to be a 29% increase in employment in this field through 2014. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors earned a median annual salary of $32,600 or a median hourly wage of $15.69 in 2006.

Instructional Coordinator

An instructional coordinator’s job is to improve the quality of education in the classroom. Instructional coordinators also are called curriculum specialists, staff development specialists, or directors of instructional material. Employment in this field is expected to increase by 28% through 2014. Median annual earnings were $50,100 in 2006. Median hourly wages were just over $24.

Mental Health Counselor

Mental health counselors address and treat mental and emotional disorders and promote optimum mental health. Employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 27% through 2014. The median annual salary was $33,400 in 2006 and the median hourly wage was just over $16.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker

Mental health and substance abuse social workers provide individual and group therapy, outreach, crisis intervention, social rehabilitation, and training in skills of everyday living to those with substance abuse issues. We can expect to see a 27% growth in employment through 2014. The median annual salary was $34,300 in 2006 and median hourly wages were $16.50.

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate and describe the determinants of disease, disability, and other health outcomes and develop the means for prevention and control. There is expected to be a 26% increase in employment of epidemiologists. Median annual earnings were $52,500 in 2006. Median hourly wages were $25.25.

Finally, we have the list of jobs with the most vacancies. That means your chance of finding employment in these areas is very good.

Retail Salesperson

Retail salespeople assist customers. They receive most of their training on the job. The median hourly earnings of retail salespersons were $8.98 in May 2006. That figure includes commissions. The starting hourly wage for salespeople is generally the minimum wage. Nationally that wage is $5.15 an hour, but it may vary by state.

Cashier

Cashiers work in supermarkets, department stores, gas stations, movie theaters, as well as in other businesses. They usually receive short-term on-the-job training. A cashier earns a median hourly wage of $7.81, but most start off earning the minimum wage. The Federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour but it may vary by state.

Waiter and Waitress

Waiters and waitresses serve food and beverages to restaurant clientele. They receive short-term on-the-job training. The median hourly wage for waiters and waitresses is $6.75 (as of May 2006), which includes tips. Tips usually range from 10% to 20% of the total bill and are usually given at the customer’s discretion.

Food Preparation And Serving Workers (including fast food)

Most food preparation workers receive short-term on-the-job training. Executive chefs and those who work in fine restaurants usually receive much more extensive training. Earnings vary greatly by type of job and by location. The median hourly earnings for food preparation workers were $8.03 in May 2006.

Registered Nurse

Most registered nurses providing direct patient care in hospitals. A registered nurse must have a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing, an associate degree in nursing, or a diploma issued by a hospital. Median annual earnings of registered nurses were $52,330 in May 2006. This is one of the highest paying occupations on this list, and also requires more training than all but one other occupation.

Laborers and Hand Material Movers

Laborers and hand material movers manually move freight, stock and other materials. They receive short-term on-the-job training. Laborers and hand material movers earned a median hourly rate of $9.67 in 2006.

General Office Clerk

General office clerks carry out various duties which may change on a daily basis. They receive short-term on-the-job training. Median annual earnings for general office clerks were $22,770 in 2006.

Postsecondary Teachers

Postsecondary teachers include college and university faculty, postsecondary career and technical education teachers, and graduate teaching assistants. Education and training requirements for postsecondary teachers are the highest of all occupations on this list, ranging from a bachelor’s degree to a doctorate degree.

The median earnings for those in this occupation were also higher than for others on this list. They were $51,800 in 2006, but vary according to position and level of education.

Janitors and Cleaners (except maids and housekeeping cleaners)

Janitors and cleaners perform heavy cleaning duties. They receive short-term on-the-job training. Their median annual earnings were $18,790 in 2006.

Customer Service Representatives

Customer service representatives help customers with their questions and concerns. They receive moderate on-the-job training. Median annual earnings of customer service representatives in 2006 were $27,020.
Now that you have so many options open to you, it’s time to really explore making your career change.

Chapter 7 – What Comes Next
(Return to Contents)

It’s essential that you do your research before you jump in head first towards a new career path. Once you have your list of possible jobs narrowed down, you’ll need to look at the requirements it takes to do the job. Will you need more education or training? Are there jobs in this field available in your area? Can you support your family on what the expected wages are going to be?

You will also want to know what to expect when you are considering a career change to a different field than what you’re working in now. This is where an informational interview can be very helpful. The purpose of an informational interview is to get information about a field of work from someone who has some firsthand knowledge.

You can do an informational interview in a couple of different ways. You could talk informally to someone you know who is doing similar work. Ask friends, relatives, fellow students, your teachers, and neighbors if they know someone who works in your targeted field. People love to talk about themselves and what they do, so you can find out some valuable information just by having lunch or dinner with someone who has your “dream job”.

You can also contact a company in the field you are considering and ask the human resources director if you could set an appointment with them to talk about the jobs available and what they entail. This serves a dual purpose.

First, you will be making contacts in the business you are interested in. Once you get the necessary education and training and you are ready to ask for a job, chances are good that they will remember you and that will get you an “in”.

Asking for an informational interview like this also shows that you are a thorough person who takes the time to do research and find out information about a specific career path. People in the business field talk to each other all the time. Networking is an important part of almost every job.

The old saying “It’s who you know” is true and it can make a difference if filling a job comes down to you and another person. It can get you the edge you need to get hired.

When you are doing a formal informational interview, you will want to go into it prepared. There’s nothing worse than looking less than intelligent and unprepared when a human resources manager has agreed to take the time to talk with you. You should have a list of questions ready when you walk through the door. Here is a sampling of some things you might want to ask:

* Describe a typical day at work.
* How many hours do you normally work in a week?
* What do you see as the potential for growth in this field?
* What can I do now to help me find employment in this field?
* Are there any educational requirements for this job such as a specific degree, etc.?

Whatever you do, DO NOT ask for a job when you are doing an informational interview. When you called, you asked to speak with the human resources person, your purpose was to simply gather information for yourself and that is what they will be prepared for. There’s plenty of time to submit your resume later. This is just an educational mission, not a job interview.

Just as with a real job interview, it’s important to make a good impression – especially if you have aspirations toward working for that specific company. Dress appropriately, arrive early, keep your questions short and concise, don’t take up too much of the person’s time, and remember the basic rules of etiquette. Since they may be the one hiring you someday, you will want them to remember you in a positive light.

Because making a career change is so important and a very big step, it’s also important for you to have an action plan. In the above chapter about things not to do when making a career change, we mentioned that you should have a plan as to how you will be going about this life-changing event. It helps if you begin by setting some goals and then devising an action plan.

A goal is something that you want to achieve. It is the end result of what might be a lot of hard work but that hard work will help you realize your dream of working in a job that you’ll love.

There are two types of goals you need to set: long-term and short-term. Long term goals can take about three to five years to achieve. Short term goals can be realized within a year or so. It’s important to have goals because you need to have something to focus on – keeping your eye on the prize so to speak! When you are setting goals, you need to keep in mind a few things. Your goals should be:

* conceivable: you must be able to put it into words;
* achievable: you must have the attributes, energy, and time to accomplish it;
* believable: you must believe you can reach it;
* achievable within a certain time frame: you must be able to state how long it will take you to reach it;
* clearly defined: you must know exactly what it is;
* flexible: you must be willing to modify it as necessary;

Once you have your goals set, you can move on to making a career action plan. This will list all of your goals along with the steps you have to take to realize your goals. Having all of this information written down will make it more real and motivate you to achieve those goals and realize success.

A career action plan is a road map that takes you from choosing an occupation to becoming employed in that occupation to reaching your long-term career goals. The career planning process is ongoing, and bi-directional, meaning you can move back to previous steps when you need to gather more information or clarify your choices. Once you have identified an occupation to pursue you should develop an action plan.

According to Individualized Career Plan Models – Eric Digest No. 71(ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult Career and Vocational Education), “Personal plans of action — individualized career development plans — are becoming important instruments that counselors and others are using to help their students and/or clients (both youth and adults) meet their changing goals, interests and needs in this fast-paced, rapidly changing society.”

Though the ERIC Digest talks about individualized career plans being used by counselors and other professionals, you can develop a plan yourself. Even if you do work with a counselor, you will need to do some of the work yourself.

For example, a counselor can’t set your goals for you. He or she will just help you clarify your goals and help you find strategies to reach them. In addition, an action plan should be amended over time as your goals change, your priorities change, and your career grows. Let’s begin now to take a look at how to develop a career action plan step-by-step.

Begin your career action plan by writing down your educational background and employment history. When you are listing previous jobs, start with the most recent one first and work your way back. Include the location of the company, your job title, and the dates you worked at that job. When you put together your resume, having organized this information will prove very helpful.

Then you will want to outline your education and training. Again, start with the most recent and work your way into the past. List the schools you’ve attended, the dates you’ve attended them, and the credits, certificates, or degrees you’ve earned. Also list additional training and any professional licenses you hold. You should also list volunteer or other unpaid experience.

You may find that several of these activities are relevant to your occupational goals. By volunteering you may have developed skills that will play an important role in your future career. Again, this information can be used on your resume. It can also be used in job interviews, or when applying to college or graduate school.

If during the career planning process you met with a career development professional that used self assessment tools to help you gather information about yourself, this is where you can write down the results of those assessments. If you took one of the online career assessment tests, this is where you want to put the results as well.

You can then list the occupations that were suggested to you during that phase. You may even want to attach the information you gathered when you explored those occupations in case you want to refer to your notes later on.

Out of all the occupations you explored, at some point in the process you narrowed your choices down to one occupation. That is the one you plan to pursue. You may even have two occupations — one to pursue in the short term and one to pursue in the long term.

They should be related, the second being one that is a step up from the first. For example, you can say you want to first become a nurse’s aide, and then after you get some experience you will pursue a career as a registered nurse.

You should break your career plan down into goals you can reach in a year or less and goals you want to reach in five years or less. You can use increments of one or two years in this five year plan as well. This breakdown will make your plan easier for you to follow.

You should also include your goals for education and training. Your occupational goals and your educational goals should correspond to one another, since reaching your occupational goals will usually be dependent upon reaching your educational goals.

If your long term occupational goal is to be a lawyer, here’s what your short and long term plans might look like:

* Year One: Complete my bachelor’s degree (12 credits left to go), apply to law school, get accepted to law school (a positive attitude is a good thing)
* Year Two through Year Four: Enter law school, study hard and earn good grades, graduate from law school with many job offers
* Year Five: Begin working in a law firm

You are likely to encounter barriers along the way to realizing your goals. This is normal and to be expected. You will have a better chance of overcoming those barriers and obstacles if you try to ascertain what they might be and then come up with a plan to defeat them if they do arise.

For example you may be the primary caregiver for your children or elderly parents. This may interfere with your ability to complete your degree. You can deal with this barrier by enlisting the help of your spouse or another relative. Perhaps you can arrange for child or adult daycare.

Some might say that going through so many steps just to choose a career is wasting time and doesn’t serve any purpose, but nothing could be further from the truth. A well-thought-out career action plan will prove to be a very useful tool.

You’ve gone through the career planning process carefully choosing a suitable occupation. Setting goals and planning what you need to do to realize them will insure that you reach your career destination.

So you’ve got a career action plan and it’s time for you to quit your present job. You’ll want to do this in the right way.

What one person may think of as a boring and mundane job might be another person’s dream job, so there is a career out there that can fit good with you and your lifestyle and abilities.

Make a list of potential careers where you think you could be happy. Do you like helping people and think that social work would be a good fit for you? Maybe the medical field is more your speed. It’s a good idea to simply identify the general field you want to work in and then explore the types of jobs that are available in that field.

We can’t list every single option in this book due to space constraints, but here are a few career fields you may want to explore:

* Medicine/Health Care
* Sales
* Recreation
* Food Service
* Law Enforcement
* Education
* Social Work
* Marketing
* Performance
* Graphic Design
* Research
* Computers
* Outdoor Jobs
* Legal
* Sports
* Finance/Accounting
* Construction
* Child Care
* Service

Now, we’ll narrow that list a little bit by giving you some ideas about jobs in these specific fields. Again, this is only a partial list and there are many, many other opportunities than just those listed here.

* Medicine/Health Care
Doctor, nurse, surgical technician, dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, phlebotomist, medical research, insurance specialist, x-ray technician, forensic scientist, coroner, physical therapist, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, hospice worker, elder care, MRI or CT technician, optometrist, mental health counselor, therapist, emergency medical technician, veterinarian, veterinary assistant, DNA profiler, and lab technician

* Sales

The possibilities in the sales field are endless and salespeople are always needed when a product is available for sale. Some possible sales jobs include yellow pages, radio, television, newspaper, pharmacy, medical equipment, office equipment, janitorial supplies, and food service supplies, telephone sales for various products, retail sales for various products, real estate, office supplies, industrial equipment, farm supplies, automobile sales, and insurance.

* Recreation

Park maintenance, coach, cruise director, dance instructor, karate instructor, travel agent, personal trainer, day camp director, amusement park personnel, managing a recreation complex, nursing home event coordinator, and tour guide

* Food Service

Cook/chef, sous chef, waiter/waitress, counter help at fast food restaurants, caterer, bus boy/girl, bartender, research cook, food critic, maitre ‘d, hot dog vendor, nutritionist, dietician, menu planner for nursing homes and schools, recipe developer, winemaker, organic gardener, and lunch lady.

* Law Enforcement

Police officer, detective, dispatcher/telecommunicator, detective, crime scene investigator, private detective, evidence analyzer, prison guard, traffic cop, security guard, bail bondsman, bounty hunter, crime scene technician, and meter maid.

* Education

Teacher, teacher‘s aide, principal, superintendent, sales trainer, day care provider, pre-school teacher, test administrator, special education specialist, librarian, substitute teacher, English as a second language instructor, college professor, job placement coordinator, counselor, school nurse, and seminar director.

* Social Work

Welfare counselor, psychologist, child rights advocate, drug counselor, elderly rights advocate, nursing home administrator, adult day care provider, child abuse investigator, teacher for parenting classes, Lamaze instructor, hospice caregiver, therapist, and peer counselor

* Marketing

The marketing field is very similar to the sales field in that there are a myriad of possibilities available. Marketing and sales generally go hand in hand as they both are involved with promoting a product and generating income from the sales of that product. Nonetheless, here are a few marketing jobs to look at.

Public relations, advertising buyer, promotions director, advertising coordinator, brochure designer, celebrity agent, book agent, model agent, stylist, salesperson, advertising copywriter, commercial producer, and sales promotion

* Performance

Actor/actress, dancer, back-up singer, singer, ballerina, theater manager, set designer, musician, director, producer, playwright, screenwriter, camera operator, sound technician, recording studio manager, board operator, road assistant, costume designer, prop master, personal assistant, agent, cruise ship entertainer, comedian, casting director, dance instructor, commercial producer, and contract negotiator.

* Graphic Design

Logo development, yellow pages ad creator, brochure creator, layout artist, brand identity designer, creative/art director, illustrator, photo editor, multimedia designer in the film or television industry, photographer, web designer, and pre-press technician.

* Research

Biologist, scientist, medical researcher, pollster, agricultural research, fact checker, marketing researcher, field interviewer, statistician, and results coordinator.

* Computers

Computer programmer, video game designer, web site designer, computer repairman, software developer, data base programmer, key stroke technician, information technology coordinator, flash site designer, systems coordinator, LAN specialist, Internet specialist, systems engineer, network engineer, data entry, computer construction, troubleshooting specialist, and computer research.

* Outdoor Jobs

Lawn care, landscaper, zoologist, environmental engineer, outdoor adventure director, summer camp counselor, sky diving instructor, white water rafting guide, hiking guide, park ranger, fishing guide, campground administrator, ski instructor, organic farmer, tour guide, and botanist.

* Legal

Lawyer, paralegal, judge, court reporter, police officer, parole officer, legal secretary, politician, lobbyist, legal rights activist, mayor, council member, file clerk, adoption specialist, legal advisor, bankruptcy associate, contract administrator, court administrator, patent agent, law trainer, and legal trainer.

* Sports

Professional athlete, coach, referee, umpire, statistician, sports agent, sports instructor, team manager, weight trainer, sports marketing, equipment manager, promotions, director of sports relations, ticket agent, talent scout, stadium manager, scheduler, sponsorship coordinator, and team development.

* Finance/Accounting

Certified public accountant, bookkeeper, banker, stock broker, market analyst, mortgage specialist, bank teller, auditor, tax accountant, controller, tax preparer, budget analyst, loan officer, commodities broker, insurance underwriter, financial manager, insurance adjuster, insurance investigator, insurance examiner, collections agent, and investment banker.

* Construction

Carpenter, dry wall hanger, electrician, plumber, architect, roofer, carpet installer, tile layer, engineer, estimator, civil engineer, paver, project coordinator, surveyor, heavy equipment operator, safety coordinator, painter, gutter installer, septic system installer, deck builder, and project foreman.

* Service

Wedding planner, event coordinator, advertising specialty item creator, house cleaner, lawn care, tree trimmer, garbage person, closet organizer, home inventory specialist, photographer, dee jay, floral designer, life coach, street sweeper, handyman, car detailer, antique dealer, thrift shop manager, assistant to the elderly, clothing designer, interior decorator, and budget advisor.

Of course, the list above is merely a sampling of what kinds of jobs you can look for. Keep in mind that all industries and job fields need clerical help like secretaries, file clerks, and receptionists. Almost all fields also need sales people and marketing specialists as well as computer advisors and troubleshooters. Starting out in jobs like this can be a great way to move up in a specific job industry with experience.

The thing about making a career change is that you want to work in a job that fits well with you and your personality. You want it to be interesting to you and that you look forward to going to work instead of dreading it.

Many jobs will require additional education or some type of training. If you have always wanted to be an attorney, you’ll have to go to law school – obviously. But remember that you are not happy with your present job and want to work in the legal field.
Register for law school and apply for a job with a firm that can help you in the future and learn more about the business such as a legal secretary or even a paralegal.

When you consider that you are trying to better yourself and make yourself happier, the extra education will be well worth it. There’s nothing more satisfying than knowing you’ve worked hard to get into an industry where you’ll be happy working. It’s a fulfilling journey, believe me!

You may be curious to know what the hottest jobs are right now. Maybe one of them will interest you!

Therefore, facing the reality that you probably won’t be doing what you thought you’d be doing back when you were eight years old can be a painful thought. However, some people do get to be what they always wanted to be. One man this writer knows had always dreamed of being a police officer. This can be a difficult field to get into and doesn’t always happen overnight.

He knew that he’d have to work at it, but he also knew that he had to support his family. So he went to work in the family business and would test for the police department as openings were advertised. He could pass the tests, but would find himself in the lower part of the list that was compiled for possible new hires. For three years, he worked and waited.

Then, he had a successful tryout for one particular police department and found himself number two on the list. It just so happened that this particular force was hiring two officers and he was hired soon after. His dream had come true and he has had a successful career as a police officer and has received several awards for his police work.

Making a career change decision was easy for him. It was easy for this writer too.

Since I was little, all I’ve ever dreamed of doing was teaching. When I graduated from high school, my college major was education. I knew that I’d have to have extensive education if I was going to be a teacher, but I was committed to it and eagerly attended my classes with a goal in my mind.

Then, life changed. I suddenly found myself with two children, a husband who was also attending college, and bills piling up. My husband’s part-time job just wasn’t cutting it. It was decided that I would be the one to go to work since he was further along in school than I was. I took a job as a secretary and toiled away at similar jobs like that for six years.

I still took classes trying to work for my degree, but I was working full-time in jobs that I really didn’t like. I found myself in the sales field eventually. While the money was terrific and I was good at selling, I still was unfulfilled. I would go to my children’s parent-teacher conferences and find that longing to be a teacher still aching in the back of my mind as I spoke to their teachers and wandered the hallways of their school.

Then, life changed again. Only this time, it changed for the better. Our finances had finally reached the point where it would be possible for me to quit my job and attend school full-time to earn my bachelor’s degree. It took two and a half years and some very hard work, but I was rewarded when I walked across the stage at my college and received my diploma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.

Now, I am a certified teacher – and a freelance writer – and am more satisfied now than I have ever been. While it was scary to make this drastic career change, it really was a no-brainer when it came to deciding what I wanted to do.

The point is that if you’ve always dreamed of working in a specific career field and it’s possible for you to do so – even with a little hard work – go for your dreams and don’t stop until you realize them.

For some people, however, a career change decision isn’t as easy as mine was. They know they are unhappy in their current job and want to get out, but they really don’t know what they want to do. Perhaps, also, they have a couple of ideas in their minds but are unsure as to which was to go.

High school graduates are also faced with an important decision when it comes to their career field. So many young people go to college taking core classes without knowing what they want their major to be.

So, are there certain things you need to consider when choosing a career field? In fact, there are many things that you need to keep in mind. You will want to be successful in whatever job field you choose, so it can be very important to be sure you are going to go into a business where you will be happy and where you can realize your full potential.

There are all sorts of tests you can take online that can help with your career field. What is a career test? It’s a series of questions you answer based on what your preferences are or how you feel about specific job situations. The test will then analyze your answers and present you with the top jobs that fit you based on those answers. Some of the more accurate and reliable online career tests require you to purchase a membership or a package to get your results, but you can find some free career tests.

I took one test at www.livecareer.com and it was quite eye-opening. It was no surprise that the two job fields they recommended to me were writing and education! This website and test are free to users due to the sponsors that want you to sign up for information, so you do have to click through a lot of advertisements, but if you are not sure which career field you want to work in, this test can be a great place to start.

Of course, you can “purchase” a more detailed and in-depth report at the end of the test which is what they want you to do, but that is strictly optional. I’ve found that most of the career testing sites will do this as well.

The basic format of many of these career tests are the same, for the most part. You are presented with three situations and you pick which one you prefer most and which one you prefer least. This is how they can find where your interests lie as well as where your abilities and talents can be best utilized.

Of course, when considering a career change or choice, you don’t necessarily have to take a test. Take a look at what you enjoy doing. What have people said you are good at? Where could you be happiest? What are your interests and hobbies? You should also classify what’s important to you and where you could make concessions.

For example, if spending time with your family is a priority, you probably won’t want a job that requires extensive travel or overtime such as sales. If you are single or very career driven, you may want to look at a position that can provide for upward mobility when you put in hard work such as marketing or stocks.

What types of jobs are available to you? The choices are limitless and you will want to take a lot of things into consideration before you make the leap towards a career change.