Competition was on the rise. Where once we only had to concern ourselves with competitors in the next street or city, now we had to contend with organizations from across the world operating in the same markets.
New technology was transforming work. Computers were doing the work of ten people and doing it in half the time. The internet meant traditional trading patterns were redundant overnight.
Demographics were changing too. We had ageing populations wanting to work for longer and young people with twice the qualifications of their parents. Politicians, industrialists and even religious leaders struggled to adapt and provide new models to help the rest of us cope. Now everything has changed again with the worldwide financial crisis and shrinking economies.
Many people will be affected by these changes and be feeling loa little bewildered. Whilst many new opportunities exist, these tend to be for more part-time, flexible working or for self-employment type arrangements. Such opportunities can seem alien to those used to a commute and a 9-5.
So, what to do if you find yourself affected by all this change and trying to find a new position?
Sort out your life priorities
"Get some income!" might be your obvious response but jumping from the frying pan to the fire right now might not be your best idea. Look for an opportunity that enables you to devote time to friends, family and pastimes. Look for a role you can enjoy. Passion shines through and potential employers can smell it from miles away. An engaged, happy and motivated candidate is a much better prospect.
List your achievements
Before you can convince anyone else of your worth you need to convince yourself. It is also vital to do this at a time when your self-esteem has taken a battering. There is no longer any stigma in losing a job; few people will avoid it happening at some point. You are still you; with all your skills and talents. A £20 note dropped in a gutter, trampled over, rained upon, torn at the edges and covered in mud is still worth £20. Make a list of the things you've achieved and then add to it with comments from friends and family.
Ask "who needs me?"
When an employer has a vacancy, it is they who have the problem. They have a vacancy to fill and are hoping someone is going to come along and fit the bill perfectly. Make sure that person is you. Approaching your job search with a "gizza job" mentality will get you nowhere. Approaching your job search with a "Here's how I can help your organization move forward" mentality will get you hired.
Make sure you mine your previous experience for valuable skills to highlight now. Let's say you're an ex-banker. You can point to your technological competence, your honesty your customer focus and your salesmanship. All desirable qualities; credit crunch or not.
Examine your future options. Do you want to stay in your current job? Do you want the same role in a different organization? Do you want a different role in the same organization? Do you want to change roles and employers? Would you consider self-employment or freelancing? What about a 'portfolio' of a number of different income generating activities?
Until you have decided on which options you prefer you are likely to send out confusing signals and are liable to get in your own way.
Increase your employability
Accept the need for change rather than burying your head in the sand. Take responsibility rather than blaming circumstances. Develop new skills that make you a better prospect. Be prepared to be flexible. It might be worth accepting an interim post to give you time to look for the ideal role.
Take action
Hope is not a strategy and your dream role is unlikely to come floating by all by itself. Get busy. If necessary make your new job finding a new job. Fill your diary with interviews and appointments. Even if you're sure you wouldn't accept a job with XYZ Ltd why not go to the assessment centre and get some practice at psychometric tests and interviews? Meet with recruitment agencies and pick their brains. Get off Facebook and Twitter and on to LinkedIn. Polish your CV and send it out speculatively.
Go to bed each night with the peace of mind that comes from taking control.
Career Change Teacher Resume
In these tough economic times, manywomen over 40 are considering a career change. Perhaps you're one ofthem. Maybe you've been forced to make a change because of the manylayoffs that have happened around the country. Or maybe your job justdoesn't hold the allure for you that it once did.
Thinking about changing careers can bescary for anyone, but many women over 40 have special concerns. Thereare often kid-related schedules to consider. And many of us are alsostarting to care for our aging parents. And then there's the familybudget, which seems to be shrinking as gas and food prices rise.
But millions of people successfullymake a career change each year, and you can do it, too.
The first step to changing careers isdeciding what your next step in life will be. Do you want to tweakwhat you are doing now or make a total departure?
Many women over 40 consider a careerchange to further their life goals. Do you like your current fieldbut want to move up into a bigger role? Perhaps taking businesscourses could net you a promotion into management.
Or maybe you've always consideredchanging careers to become an entrepreneur. Can you take your currentwork experience and start your own business? A longtime bookkeepermight hang out her shingle to do the books for small businesses. Aretail clerk might open her own boutique or online storefront.
Do you have a hobby you'd like to turninto a career, or a childhood dream you never realized? Start withsomething you love to do and then brainstorm until you find a way tomake money while doing it. A woman over 40 who spends all her sparetime gardening might consider a career in landscape design. A littlegirl who loved to play school might consider now changing careers toget her teaching degree. A bake-sale diva may want to become aprofessional cake decorator.
Now that you know what you want to donext, you'll need to do really do your homework on this careerchange. How much education and training will you need? Are jobs inyour new field plentiful? What will your earning potential be?
Planning for your transition is keywhen changing careers, especially with the added responsibilities youhave as a woman over 40. Are there ?baby steps? you can take,such as going to night school while keeping your current job? If yourcareer change involves going into business for yourself, you mightconsider starting the business on a part-time basis to judge it'spotential before leaving your current career.
It is possible for women over 40 tomake a career change. Do your homework, plan for the transition andfigure out if you need to take baby steps to your new job. Thesesteps for changing careers will put you on the road to success andfulfillment.
Did you enjoy this article? You'll finddozens more at http://www.i40club.com.i40Club is the place to connect with women just like you who knowthat age doesn't matter, attitude does!
Both Matt Somers & Jayar are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Matt Somers has sinced written about articles on various topics from Power of Coaching, Career Change and Depression Cure. Matt Somers runs his own consultancy specializing in turning managers into coaches. He consults in the UK, Europe and beyond, and runs a number of workshops and seminars throughout the year. He has published three books on coaching and promotes a range of. Matt Somers's top article generates over 8100 views. Bookmark Matt Somers to your Favourites.
Jayar has sinced written about articles on various topics from Career Change. a graduate of Bachelor of Sciences in Information Technology major in Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Jayar's top article generates over 480 views. Bookmark Jayar to your Favourites.
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