Career Assessment During a Bad Economy
Career Assessment During a Bad Economy - According to the U.S. Department of Labor, people change careers 7-9 times in a lifetime; what's more, job changes can average 10 - 14 or more just between the ages of 18 to 36.
At 2011 survey conducted by the Conference Board states that only 45% of Americans are satisfied with their careers. That is the lowest level in entire 22 years of the survey. Many of the 55% who are dissatisfied feel they are in a dead-end job and are looking for a career change.
And why not? Given the depressed state of the economy, many are holding on to their jobs for security reason. But this is the best time to be looking to get a whole new set of skills! When you have no good options, you can get pretty creative.
For example, when our gas supply is threatened we see an explosion of solar, wind and biofuel options for energy. When our jobs disappear, people realize security is a myth and many decide to start their own company.
There are several reasons why changing your job in this economic downturn is beneficial to you and your career development. Right now, the job outlook is bad and there is no guarantee that your job is even safe.
Now, that might seem counterintuitive but look at it this way...you literally have less money and fewer employment offers to lose.
Use this time to find the job that is right for you since your pay may be reduced if you stay in your boring, dead-end job. And then you're stuck in a boring, dead-end job without any guarantee that it's even worth it.
Another reason is your ideals in terms of education. Maybe you are using this time to go back to school, or maybe you've used that fact to decide you want higher education instead of working straight out of school.
This will significantly impact both your future career ideas, as well as the qualities you bring to a potential employer. They will see you in a different light to your last employer, so don't get stuck in a rut keeping the same job because that is all you have been doing your whole life.
Use an online tool such as an Education Explorer to figure which schools or even apprenticeships you might want to look in to.
Lastly, there really are better jobs out there despite the dismal reviews you might have heard. The rise and rapid expansion of the internet has led to a whole new wave of entrepreneurs, freelancers and independent workers.
It has also paved the way for entirely new careers in large corporations such as Social Media Analyst; or, as Apple likes to call them, SM Genius. Building a solid resume will help you find the right job and give your career a huge boost. Employers like individuals who are diverse, not constrained.
If you're stuck for ideas, why not try taking some online career assessment tests? Websites such as www.careerdots.com have heaps of online career assessment tools to help you decide exactly what would suit you.
And unlike other assessment tests, it takes in to consideration what your interests are. So get out there, and give a new job a try. Remember, if you have any questions just feel free to ask the companies who specialize in that field what it is like. You might be pleasantly surprised by what's out there.
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