How to Choose a Second Career
Whether you've gotten laid off from work or you just need a change in your professional life, there are ample career choices. The need to choose a second career comes at many different times in different people's lives. Although it may seem overwhelming and stressful, there probably is a second career option that matches your personality, strengths and interests. Avoid making a hasty decision, and take necessary steps that will lead you to success in your second career.
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Instructions
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Follow the job market. It may not be in your best interests to choose a second profession that simply may not exist in a few years. Find out which careers are prospering and which ones are suffering. With technological advances, many career paths wane. Read financial magazines and news articles, and conduct research on the United States Department of Labor website. According to a 2008 "U.S. News & World Report" article, "Six Tips on Planning a Career" by Kerry Hannon, professions in the fields of health care, education and technical consulting services are growing quickly, and new opportunities in these professions are being created.
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Evaluate your strengths. Do you have excellent public speaking skills? Are you a great leader? Are you a good communicator? Do you have good analytical skills? Write all of your strengths down on paper, and you may also want to include a few of your weaknesses. These weaknesses will give you an idea of the areas that you may want to try and improve before your leap into a second career. Research job opportunities that match your strengths. For example, if you are good at working with numbers, then you may want to consider looking into accounting. And remember, just because you may be good at something, it doesn't necessarily mean you enjoy it. When choosing your second career, consider selecting a profession that you'll enjoy for years to come.
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Network and seek advice. Attend community events, networking opportunities and social parties in your community. These events are typically chock-full of people who work in a wide array of professions. You may find a group of people who share you interests and even career-change experience. You also may meet individuals who work in a career field that you're interested in pursuing, and it's important to talk to these people and ask them questions, according to Hannon. Examples of questions are, "What are the challenges of the profession?" or "What are the perks of your job?" If you feel it's appropriate to ask if he knows of any openings or opportunities, then go for it.
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Research. If you have narrowed down your list of second career choices, then conduct as much research as possible about the profession. Find out the salary, education requirements and growing potential. These are serious things to consider. If you are considering a specific second career that has a median income significantly less than you're already making, then determine whether it's a wise choice. Or if the new profession requires that you go back to college and earn an additional degree, then you may need to determine whether it's something you're willing to pursue. Obtaining this information may be found by doing online searches. Obtaining an internship or doing volunteer work for a potential job may be beneficial, and you'll be able to get an idea of what a day in the life of a particular professional is like.
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