~ Retraining ~

Going back to school can for many be a scary, yet worthwhile experience. Earning that "piece of paper" can make a significant difference in their professional or personal life i.e. the achievement of a lifelong dream - but the idea of returning to school after a long absence can present quite a challenge.

In my own experience it was the fear of failure that caused me to question my decision to go back to college. For others who have spent the last few years within the workforce and not in a classroom, they may be concerned about either not fitting in or with being stuck with people that they are unable to relate to.

If you have decided that retraining is the best option for you, than the following guidelines will get you started on the path to completing your education.

Take an inventory

·         Are you going to college for the first time or re-entering after an absence?

·         Are you currently working or are unemployed?

·         Would there be funding available for this program?

·         Are you able to take the course on a FT / PT basis or through distance learning?

·         Do you have any potential prior college credits you can apply to the course?

·         What impact will returning to school have on your family life?

Keep these questions in mind as they will help to guide you and maintain a healthy dose of reality when looking at the different options available.   

Define your educational goals

Why do you want to go back to school? Is it your goal to change careers, grow professionally, or finish a degree program started years ago? By focusing on your motivation, you can best define your educational goals. Personality and Interest assessments such as Career Cruising and the Jackson Vocational Interest Survey are available to help pinpoint interests and help you identify occupations best suited to talents and temperament.

Another good resource is the Canadina National Occupational Classification Codes which is available for access online at (http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/). The NOC includes an overview of a wide range of professions as well as the education and training required for those chosen careers. 

Search the Web

The majority of school boards, colleges, universities and training organizations have their own personal website. Accessing these sites can help you to research online courses or traditional programs, find out how to get credit for life experience and information on whether you qualify for financial aid. You can also brush up on forgotten study skills and read motivational articles about others who are successfully returning to school. Finally there are also a host of recommendations online for best-selling books and guides for those looking into retraining.

 

A lot of schools and colleges also have Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts so you are able to get the answers to some of your questions quicker as well as being able to see what current and past students are saying about them.

Take a Tour

Many colleges and training organizations offer student orientations or campus tours before the start of a semester. Sometimes there is an orientation especially for non-traditional students. These orientations often include information about campus resources, re-entry services, study skills and stress management tips. They also help familiarize you with the campus and provide assistance with other important issues you may need to address while continuing your education.

Finally - What will be the best outcome for you?

Only you can truly know the answer to this question, everybody has a different capacity for learning and how they prefer to learn. It’s only by comparing multiple schools that you will be able to figure out which one has the best environment for you. 

~ How to Make a Career Change ~

In my last post I looked at some of the advantages and disadvantages of making a career change. For those that were not put off by the disadvantages and feel that a career change is the route to follow I want to look at some of the steps you will need to take to make a successful transition.

Start With a Plan

As with everything in life the first thing to do is to carefully map out an effective career-change strategy. This includes a detailed action plan that takes into consideration finances, research, education, and training. Keep in mind that a successful career change can take several months (or longer) to accomplish, so patience is key. Don’t forget though that this part of the process isn't just about a picking a new job -- it's also about you.

People often pursue a career based on their likes, but a truly good career fit also takes into account what you enjoy doing, what you're good at, and what sort of lifestyle you desire. For instance, you may really love cooking, but if working nights and weekends conflicts with your vision of a great family, you might want to reconsider applying to culinary school.

One method of determining what career can fit in to all these categories is by using Personality Assessments and Interest Surveys. These tools can help to identify your key strengths and interests and match them to potential careers; they can also help in your research by providing links to further information. Assessments such as the Jackson Vocational Interest Survey (http://www.jvis.com/ ) and Career Cruising (www.careercruising.com) can be accessed online, while others such as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Personality Dimensions are often delivered through Employment Resource Centres.

Research

In your research be sure to examine all avenues. This includes talking to people in your network, meeting with an employment or guidance counsellor and learning about the industry. Reading industry journals and talking to people in the profession about what they do. Learn whether your target industry has growth potential and get the real story on what it’s like to work in it.

A good way to do this is to set up "informational interviews" with individuals who are already doing whatever it is you're considering moving into. You can ask them what they love and hate about their jobs and what it takes to be successful in their field. Your research can also involve volunteering within fields of interest. Not only will this help you to “test the waters” in your desired new career but it will help you to build your network connections within the field as well.

It is important though to begin nurturing professional friendships early and tend to them regularly. Professional organizations and industry trade associations are a good place to start as many of them hold networking events. It is also at this stage where social media sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter are invaluable as not only can you find out information about careers and companies, you can also start to ask questions and even make contributions to ongoing discussions. This social capital will pay off in the long run when it comes to connecting with employers in the industry.

Training

Based on your research do you have the necessary experience and education to put yourself out there as a qualified job candidate in your desired new career field? If not, you will need to find a way to bridge the credentials gap, this might mean making your goal more long-term while you go back to school or receive additional training. Again you need to consider the time and cost impact for you career change, so it is worth comparing the different community colleges, private career colleges and school boards to see which one best fits your plan. It is also advisable to get advice from those in the industry as to which schools carry the most respect within that field.

Targeting Companies

So you’ve completed your research, you’ve connected with people in the industry and have brushed up on your qualifications and experience. Now is the time to start identifying specific organizations you want to work for. This is where the connections that you have developed through networking and social media come into play. Who do you know that works for or has connections with that company? Would they be willing to introduce you?

It is also important have prepared a well crafted resume and cover letter should an employer or contact request one or if you need it to apply to a specific positing. While advice on what a resumes and cover letters should look like is abundant on the Internet, I suggest seeking advice from Employment Resource Centres on issues such as content and formatting as well as people in the industry. After all these are the people that will be viewing the resumes and can tell you what they prefer to see in them.

Remember as you start to actively pursue vacancies, only focus about 20 – 30% of your efforts on advertised positions; those posted on want ads or on job boards. Make sure to spend the rest of your time exploring the opportunities you find through research and your network.

When Do You Make The Change

Ideally the best time to begin considering a new career is when you are already working. It goes without saying that a steady pay check can relieve a lot of the stress and financial realities that come with the territory. Remember only you can decide whether you are in a position financially to make a change or if you need to return to your previous career to fund the next. However, you can also think of it as an investment that will pay off with less stress, more joy, and greater success down the road.

~ Why Make A Career Change ~

Over the next few posts I'm going to be looking at the subject of career change, starting with a simple list of the advantages and disadvantages to making such a big life choice. Now this isn't an all inclusive list but it will give you the general idea of the main factors to consider.

The one important thing to keep in mind though and one which is not on the list is the issue of Family. This issue is going to affect everyone differently because everyone's family is different (some like mine are very different). If you are considering a career changes make sure to talk to your family, particularly your life partner, because what changes you make will affect them.  

Advantages

Lack of Stress

– One of the main reasons people change career is so that they can move into a less stressful working environment. A successful career change will help you to limit the amount of stress in your life and give you the opportunity to enjoy life more beyond work

Control

– A comment often made by individuals who have made a successful change in career is that for the first time in their life they have been able take control of their future. For once, they are in charge of the direction they wish to head in.

Skills Upgrading

– A key element to any career change is the opportunity to learn new skills and complete new qualifications which you may never have had the chance to in your previous career

No Boss

– A career change does not necessarily mean you have to work for someone else. Many people in their 40’s and 50’s are taking the time to open their own small businesses and become their own boss.

Disadvantages

Financial Insecurity

–        The main drawback to making a career change is that in most cases you are starting from the bottom again. At times you will have to initially settle for a reduction in pay as well as any additional costs that could be incurred through retraining and skills upgrading.

Time

–        The average length of time to make a successful career change can take from six months to one year. Training courses can last anywhere from a semester to three years depending on the level of education you need to reach in order to make a successful transition.

Uncertainty

–        No matter how much time, planning and research you put into your career change, with today’s Labour Market and the number of job seekers presently competing for jobs there will always be an amount of uncertainty of whether or not you will secure the career of your dreams in the time you have allotted yourself.

~ Second Career Tips and Advice ~

Over the past 6 months I have assisted a number of people put together their applications for Second Career funding. Now while there is no magic formula for getting an automatic approval from the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, there are however, a number of things individuals can do to increase their chances of success. The following tips aren’t complicated or magical by any stretch of the imagination but they are important. Not following them could result in your application being returned, delayed or even declined.

For those that are interested in finding out more about the Second Career program I would recommend visiting the Ministry’s website at www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/secondcareer. This site will also allow you to find details of your local Employment Ontario assessment centre, which can help you determine if you meet the Eligibility and Suitability criteria for Second Career. They can also provide assistance in identifying occupations with good employment prospects and developing a Return To Work Action Plan.

·     Research – No matter what you are doing, whether it be looking to go back to school or finding a job, it is important to do research. During the Second Career application process there are several types of research you should be conducting:

Occupational Demand – See point below

School Research – Within the guidelines it states that you are required to research three schools. The reason for this is so you have explored all the options and are able to make an informed decision about where to go. Things to ask in your research include:

The percentage of people who graduate / go on to find work in that field

The type of teaching methods used

What Job search support they offer upon completion of the course

Complaints / Refund Policies

Financial Viability – Second Career is not going to cover all of your expenses and depending on your circumstances, you may be required to contribute towards the cost of your training. Simply put, are you going to be able to afford to go back to school?

           

Occupational Demand – Demonstrating occupational demand serves two purposes. The first is to show the Ministry that this is a viable industry and that there are employers out there willing to hire qualified candidates. The second purpose though is to demonstrate to you, how easy or difficult it’s going to be to find work within that field. Depending on the career you are interested in there may be a number of factors that can affect your prospects, things such as the experience needed, do you need to commute/relocate and if employers will even recognise the education you are getting or are there other courses you should take (or need to take in addition to the main course).

Remember the point of this funding is to get you into long term, sustainable employment; therefore you need to know ahead of the training that this is a realistic possibility.

Job Search – Something else that people are not aware of when going into Second Career is that you need to show evidence of your job search. Now this evidence can take the form of job search logs, (where you list the date, employer and position you applied to), copies of emails sent out, copies of job posting and cover letters sent, to even job search diaries. The main reason I tell clients why the assessment centre and the Ministry want to see this information is to demonstrate that, with your existing skills and abilities, you are having great difficulty finding secure employment. 

So if Second Career is something you are thinking about, start tracking your job search now. Not only will it come in handy for your application, but it also helps you to keep your job search organized.

Timing – This is an issue that a lot of people are unaware of. It takes time to meet with a counsellor. It takes time to conduct all the school / occupational research and put together an application. It also takes time for the application to be sent to the Ministry for them to approve it and then to get you to sign the actual contract. All these things must take place before you actually start the course and depending on the time of year and the number of applications being dealt with, it could take up to several months to complete the whole application/approval process.

It is important to note, and I cannot stress this enough, you should not start a course unless you have written approval of support from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in connection with Second Career. To do so can make you ineligible for funding.

Understanding and Communication – One thing to bear in mind during the process is that the person you are working with, to put your application together, is not the person who is going to approve it. It is our job to assist you with identifying career / training goals and to help you understand what needs to be included within the application. What we cannot do is tell you what you are going to be approved for, exactly how much you are going to be getting or even how long it’s going to take to get it approved.

Also make sure you stay in communication with your counsellor. Let them know when you are having issues with the application or getting in touch with schools. Even more important is to stay in touch with them once you’ve started your course, not only do we need to collect progress reports on your performance while you attend your training, it’s also wonderful to hear that things are going well and that you are enjoying your course.

Finally

While there is a lot of work involved in getting approval for Second Career, for a number of people it is a wonderful opportunity to access Skills Training. Even if you are not sure if you qualify, look into it anyway, that way you know that you have explored all the options.

Job Fair Season

Well it’s a New Year and I’m happy to say a new start for a number of my clients who are in Second Career. A bunch of them have already started their courses this month and I have another 6 – 7 who will be starting in the next few weeks. Having spoken to them I know how excited they are and how much they are looking forward to getting their qualifications. I have been asked by a few people what makes a successful applicant for Second Career and while there are guidelines that have to be complied with, there are a few extra things that individuals can do to help their case. So one of the things I am working on at the moment is a blog posting focused on Second Career.

For right now though I want to share some tips regarding Job/Career fairs. We are rapidly approaching that time where it seems that everyone is having a Job Fair. My agency is hosting one in March and Niagara College has theirs in February to name just a couple that are rapidly approaching.

One of the problems though with job fairs is that a large busy job fair resembles a chaotic human bazaar. Because there are so many people present, when you do meet with an employer you have only a short amount of time to make a positive first impression and try to ensure that it is not lost amongst the others.

Like most things in the world of job search, the keys to success at a job fair depend on the time you take to prepare, execute and follow-up. The following are some simple tips that everyone can use no matter the size of the job fair they attend.

How to prepare

-          If you are exploring new occupations that fit with your career interests, look over the list of participating companies to determine which ones are a good match.

-          Do you home work and research the companies in advance. The more you know about a company the better you will be in marketing yourself to that organization.

-          Prepare your resume. Is it up to date with recent qualifications/experience. Be sure to include contact details like a daytime phone number and your email address.

-          Anticipate questions they might ask, for example: why do you want to work for us?

-          Practice how you want to present yourself. You should look and act professionally when meeting recruiters. If possible, dress in business attire. At the very least, good grooming is essential. When you shake hands make it a firm, friendly handshake and be sure to make eye contact to establish rapport.

During the Job Fair

-          Offer the recruiter your resume.

-          Sell yourself. Be ready with a short summary of the skills and talents that can set you apart from others who are competing for the same job.

-          Ask about the application process.

-          Listen to what they're saying.

-          Convey interest, enthusiasm, and confidence.

-          Be aware of the time. At a job fair there maybe others waiting behind you.

-          Ask for a business card from the person you are talking to.

After the Job Fair

-          Wait a few days to allow the employer time to process the resumes that they received then call to follow up and express your interest in working with them.

-          If an on-the-spot interview was conducted, follow up with a thank you note or e-mail.

-          Continue to check the employer’s websites (usually included on business cards) for additional job openings.

Revitalizing Your Job Search for the New Year

As we approach 2011 I’ve already seen dozens of articles on how to make the new a year a prosperous one, how to find your true love in 2011 and of course the myriad of weight loss and exercise regimes that realistically I should be taking advantage of.

The New Year though is a time when people’s minds turn to fresh starts and reassessing where they stand in life. And if you’ve been out of work for some time either for several months or even years it is always a good idea to regularly take a look at your current position and ask yourself some of the following questions:

-          Is my job search producing results?

-          Am I still fresh and focused, or have I become bored and complacent?

-          Are there any opportunities available to me that I have not taken advantage of?

-          Is it time to look at other types of employment?

Depending on your answers to these simple questions, it may be time to examine what you are doing and explore how you can change things in time for the New Year.

1.     Make a List of Goals.

Making a list of long as well as short term goals is essential in planning your career path and continued professional growth. And at this time of year we don’t even need to call them goals, you can call them New Year’s Resolutions instead.

Now a simple ‘get a job’ won’t suffice as a resolution, we need to be slightly more specific and include details for example:  

-          Have my resume checked by a professional at an Employment Resource Centre

-          Make a connection with Mr. X at Joe Blogs Ltd.

-          Complete my grade 12 equivalency

Also don’t restrict your resolutions to just job search goals, achieving something in one area of our life inspires us and gives us confidence in the other areas. So if working out, losing weight or starting a new hobby will help motivate you in other areas of your life, go for it.

2.     Update your Resume

Your resume is your main sales document; it tells the employer what you can do and how good you are. Of course in order for it to do that your resume needs to stand out from the rest of the pile and catch the employers eye, the first thing that an employer reads on your resume can either put them off you or entice them to read on.

It is always a good idea to review all your accomplishments over the past 6 – 12 months and add them to your resume. So take a look over the past year, what have you accomplished? Maybe you went back to school and got a new certificate, or you completed some volunteer work and gained some new skills and experiences. No matter what it is, look at it and the information that is currently on your resume and ask the question will this benefit my application with a company? If it does, great put it on your resume; if not just leave it off. Regularly looking at your resume this way will help updating the resume to be less of a daunting task in the future.

3.     Be ready to adapt your plan

Things change and your job search plan needs to change accordingly. You may have intended to take one straight route however; sometimes veering off the course can lead to some great opportunities. For example some job seekers decide to change careers and try new lines of work, this often requires the individual to learn new skills or gain new qualifications. This can take time and effort but adds to your job search by introducing you to new networking contacts and job opportunities.

4.     Brush up on your skills and/or acquire new ones

Colleges and training organizations offer an array of continuing education classes to help you further develop your professional skills. However, no knowledge is ever wasted. If you've always been interested in languages, take a French or Spanish class for example. It may not help you in your immediate position, but it will expand your marketability or come in handy for future jobs. For instance, if your background is customer service, your newly acquired language skills could land you a job in call center that specializes in bi-lingual tele-sales.

5.     Keep Your Network Alive

When was the last time you connected with people in your network? Last week, last month, last year maybe? We all have these amazing connections; the problem is we often forget they exist. Now is the perfect time of year to reconnect, so whatever medium you like to use cards, letters, emails start making contact with the people in your network and wish them a Merry Christmas

You’ll notice I didn’t say “Can you get me a job for Christmas” because let’s be honest if that’s the message you received what would you think? So instead just be nice wish them happy holidays and that you look forward to connecting with them in the New Year and then make that a New Year’s resolution.

6.     Relax

It's important to keep your job search active, but not at the expense of your own sanity. I always encourage my clients to take breaks to keep their spirits and energy level high. Unchecked stress can feed on itself, so make time for enjoyable pursuits. And while Christmas can be especially stressful at time, it is also the perfect time (because most employers aren’t going to hire around this time) to put the job search aside and spend some time with friends and family. Then in the New Year you'll come back to your job search with some fresh perspective and energy.

I'm continually impressed and amazed by some the focus and determination of my Second Career clients. Some of them are going or have been through situations that most people couldn't dream of, let alone function in. Yet my clients are focused on a goal, they believe that the training they are applying for will help better them and establish them in a long-term sustainable career and if they place the same amount of passion into completing the course as they have applying to it, I can see them succeeding.

This along with two births in the family has left me feeling very optimistic this week and so I will share one of my favorite happy songs by Alanis Morissette - Enjoy.