E-mail to a friend X

*Required

  • (Separate multiple e-mails with a space)

Help, I need a new job!

A career coach answers three common questions about changing careers, balancing family and job, and dealing with lack of respect in the workplace.

By Crystal Campbell

While the details may differ from person to person, working women are often concerned about three job topics: achieving work-life balance, knowing when to leap to another company, and deciding when it's time to switch careers. Here are tips for handling these workplace issues.

Q: My work permits me to help people, which is really great. But I'm also interested in interior design, creative writing, fashion design and photography. Should I change careers?

A: It sounds like there's a wide spectrum of occupations that appeal to you. Beginning with what you know about yourself is a great place to start. Notice your reaction to the above jobs. Which ones interest you? You'll likely categorize these as being enjoyable, even fun. Here are some other things to consider:

Which activities are you passionate about?
These are things you typically believe are important, that you value and love doing. Now think about the skills you're using when you're at your best.

Which career would bring out the best in you?
What knowledge, strengths, abilities, experience and education do you have for each of these fields? Which occupation is the best fit for you given your personality and preferences? Assessment instruments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and DiSC Profile can provide pointers on how your personality jibes with certain careers.

Make sure you target the type of work that most fires you up! Making the distinction between what you're curious about and what you're committed to can help steer you toward the job that's right for you. If these other areas are simply hobbies, recognize them as such so you can get down to the real business of doing the work you love.

Page 1 of 2

Next »



Your Comments

Comment reported

Thank you for reporting this comment as inappropriate.

Back to Comments »

Add your comments

Please fill in all required fields (*).

Back to Comments »

Advertisement







Featured Menu

Our Partners



Our Contests