Back to School for a Career Change

Q. I hate my job as a computer consultant. I am ready for a career change. The aptitude tests say I should be a recreation specialist. I like the idea but I dread returning to school for a new degree.

A. Before you invest in a degree, try out the new career. A test drive will tell you more than any pencil-and-paper test. Find two or three people who are doing what you want to do and ask to spend a day or a week with them.

If you like what you see, visit a few schools or universities that offer degrees in your area of interest. Ask for names of people who have graduated one, three and five years ago.

Ask the alumni, "Did this degree help you get your job? Advance in your job?

"Would you have done better with a degree from another school? Or would you have done as well with a degree from a lower-ranked school?"

Don't stop until you have talked to six graduates -- maybe more.

Talk to students, not faculty. Professors must support their own programs, even when they want to say, "You can do better elsewhere," or, "This program is a waste of your time and money."

And these days, anyone with a title like "Admissions Director" or "Enrollment Management" may be trying to make a sale, not offer objective guidance.

Investigate several options.

You may find an equally satisfying career that offers on-the-job training. You may find an educational program that takes less time or comes with a stipend.

No degree program offers a magic bullet.

Ultimately you may win the job and career success by your power networking as well as you social, interpersonal and technical skills. There are many paths to career fulfillment, not just one.

I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.

From Back to School: A midlife career guide

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

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.uindy.edu/news/%3Fp%3D955cid=1277184005ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNEocRJyfIKEIxP6b_aF9M4vIfzn8w‘Brain drain’ grant supports effort to prepare students for b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fUniversity of Indianapolis,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1A substation of the university’s Office of bCareer/b Services will focus on bemployment/b opportunities for older students who have returned to higher education b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp%3FID%3D32855cid=1277184005ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNFtqfV7WFaPM0Qms63iMJMbASXeaAButler to Use Grant to Deal With quot;Brain Drainquot;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInside INdiana Business (press release)/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1277184005hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.midwestbusiness.com/news/viewnews.asp%3FnewsletterID%3D19510cid=1277161680ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNHKDH-1XzWjDUdWANYkeaAghO09fAThe Job Hunt: Despite Slowing Economy, Older Workers Continue Job b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMidwestBusiness.com,nbsp;ILnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1They can go to competitors, switch industries and some are even changing bcareers/b. Others may start their own consulting firms or spend their time b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://mywebtimes.com/ottnews/archives/ottawa/display.php%3Fid%3D370902cid=1274028095ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNEOaHwtkN9KPDt3bCa4HKUYpc_K6QRecession-proof your bcareer/b - bEmployment/b expert offers job b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMyWebTimes.com,nbsp;ILnbsp;-/font nobrNov 23, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b understandable to be concerned about bemployment/b, there are steps workers can take to help them be more indispensable and “recession-proof” their bcareer/b. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20081203/BUSINESS/81203024/1003/BUSINESScid=1277244239ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNFJD3s04gwA5OwoSYDLWy_Q7XYnzgUIndy will use $750000 to address #39;brain drain#39;/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fIndianapolis Star,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b high-need bemployment/b areasquot; such as the healthcare professions. UIndy also would provide additional bcareer/b services for adults returning to learning, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.cantoncitizenonline.com/120408/bhrts.htmcid=0ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNHJ3Dn6mHA1DO-gY4mxGDvRsGQLXgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=kgH7OlF4ohAJimgurl=www.cantoncitizenonline.com/120408/pictures/bhrts.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Canton Citizen/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.cantoncitizenonline.com/120408/bhrts.htmcid=0ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNHJ3Dn6mHA1DO-gY4mxGDvRsGQLXgPopular BHRTS nursing program offers clear path to satisfying bcareer/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCanton Citizen,nbsp;MAnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1“The admission and applicant rates are up because of the shortages in nursing and the bemployment/b opportunities,” McCann said. Gibbs, a Canton resident, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/ecpi_college/south_carolina/prweb1703974.htmcid=1277272566ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNFWh9TIORarbshvNCd2RSO99qFJGgECPI College of Technology and Medical bCareers/b Institute Announce b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Up to $150000 in scholarships is available for students who begin classes at ECPI College of Technology or Medical bCareers/b Institute, the School of Health b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm%3FpnpID%3D730%26NewsID%3D938465%26CategoryID%3D3511%26show%3Dlocalnews%26om%3D0cid=1277265455ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNHWhVruPQv0F-JVktitRrU6vfXqxgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=M2izHp4FAqsJimgurl=news.mywebpal.com/partners/730/images/news/WTCAndCVTC1Davenport.jpg width=80 height=74 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Walker County Messenger/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm%3FpnpID%3D730%26NewsID%3D938465%26CategoryID%3D3511%26show%3Dlocalnews%26om%3D0cid=1277265455ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNHWhVruPQv0F-JVktitRrU6vfXqxgTechnical College System of Georgia has long history of helping b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWalker County Messenger,nbsp;GAnbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b effect in Georgia in July 2000, CVTC and NTC help dislocated workers retrain in new bcareers/b after losing bemployment/b in business closings or downsizings. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/22602/female-actors-get-less-pay-and-shortercid=0ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNGoRmYxiXUEh2nEwvM0XLNtyl_b8gFemale actors get less pay and shorter bcareers/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fStage,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The report, entitled Changing Gender Portrayal - Promoting bEmployment/b Opportunities for Women in the Performing Arts, was compiled using the responses of b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/a_sampling_of_pee_dee_employment_highs_and_lows_in_2008/21314/cid=0ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNGFBchKyTB0jxlXPqiH24m3acPLjgA sampling of Pee Dee bemployment/b highs and lows in 2008/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSouth Carolina Now,nbsp;South Carolinanbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Monster, an online job recruitment and bcareers/b resource, announced in late June it plans to invest $28 million and create 750 jobs over five years through b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://newsticker.welt.de/index.php%3Fchannel%3Dfin%26module%3Dsmarthouse%26id%3D818790cid=1277257748ei=cT43ScnJM4u-9gSkldyZDwusg=AFQjCNFDVr3Z1z77buH9PbyLTNLI0KGCywMonster Worldwide Names TL McCreary President of Military.com/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWELT ONLINE,nbsp;Germanynbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Military.com enables Americans with military affinity to access their benefits, advance their bcareers/b, enjoy military discounts, and stay connected for life b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
careers employment - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Feng Shui Your Desk for Career Success

Have you used feng shui around your desk? It's a... Read More

Finding Employees For Insurance Industry Jobs

Finding the right employee for any job opening can be... Read More

Ten Tips to a Powerful Resume

A new resume can jump-start your career. Your network contacts... Read More

How To Receive Payment as a Freelance Translator?

A problem most freelance translators are facing with is how... Read More

Managing Emotions During Career Change and Job Search, Part Two

Half the battle in successfully managing your emotions during a... Read More

12 Steps to Targeting Success in Your Career or Job Search

Is your job search sagging? Are you still looking for... Read More

How to Deal With Workplace Inflexibility

You've been a model employee: responsible, industrious, creative and productive.... Read More

How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview

Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are... Read More

Workplace Melodrama--A Flair For The Dramatic

A flair for the dramatic is a theatrical term used... Read More

Travel Light to Work

As a frequent traveler, my goal for each trip is... Read More

Five Biggest Resume Mistakes You Can Fix Yourself

A career consultant can diagnose and overhaul a troubled resume.... Read More

Kill the Hype

She was waiting for me when I returned from a... Read More

Interview Skills That Attract Offers

An interviewer's mission is to assess your qualifications compared to... Read More

How To Find Your Dream Job

Here's the bottom line: many people work in jobs that... Read More

Looking the Part

I don't know his name and he wasn't trying to... Read More

Why Choose A Professionally Written Resume?

Good question, considering that nowadays you can find many useful... Read More

Don?t Discount the Temporary Position Interview

If you think, 'it's just an interview for a temp... Read More

Resume Objectives: How Do You Know if Resume Objectives Are Right for You?

Some experts say NEVER bother with resume objectives. While others... Read More

How to Give Job-Winning Answers at Interviews

Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts... Read More

How to Tell if You are Fired and Just Dont Know It

No one should be fired and be surprised about it.... Read More

The Springtime of Your Career

Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love, introduced... Read More

Ten Things To Do If You Really, Really Hate Your Job

1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how... Read More

Change Your Career, Change Your Life!

Lots of times I see and talk to people who... Read More

Confidence Is Critical to YOUR Success....

Make EYE contact when you look at another person. Look... Read More

Can You Tell Me Something About Yourself!

Interview Question, "Tell Me Something About Yourself?""Tell me about yourself"... Read More