5 New Careers You Should Consider

Photo credit: policymic.com

It’s easy to be discouraged by unemployment statistics but the reality is there has never been a better time to change careers. There are some very strong growth industries that could offer you a chance at a brand new career path. With a little lateral thinking and some training you could set yourself on a pathway to a prosperous and fulfilling future.

Where to Start

Don’t be overwhelmed. It’s not that difficult to change career paths. Spend sometime researching the industries that are seeing strong employment growth; think about what you are good at and passionate about; and then decide what could be a good fit for you.

Next, sign up for some training and get the qualifications you need. Training options are relatively inexpensive and incredibly flexible. Learning is generally self-paced and is usually offered externally. Check out HBA Learning Centres Australia for an example of how today’s training is designed to fit your schedule and your needs. As Nike says, “Just do it”.

Step Up into Management

Perhaps you don’t need to change the sector you work in as much as you need totake up a step up into management. Your years of experience can be put to gooduse and earn you an excellent income. Many highly experienced people just needsome training in management to equip them to take a step up into a more fulfilling role. Being experienced in an area doesn’t necessarily make you a good manager, there are strategies and skills you need to learn to help you excel in a management role. Management training is definitely worth considering.;

Child Services

A major growth industry is in the arena of childcare. Working parents are on the increase and quality childcare is top of mind for most of them. If you have a passion for children, this is definitely a career choice you should consider. Options include being a childcare worker or being engaged in the planning, implementation and management of early childhood services.

Safety is Huge

Workplace Health and Safety is a massive growth area, particularly within the mining industry. If you would like to coordinate and maintain the workplace health and safety program of an orrganisation, then this could be the career for you. Training will help you to develop the knowledge base and skills to work within a wide variety of contexts.

Become a Trainer

Many people who have significant life and work experience make excellent trainers. Adult education is another growth area and work in this field is both interesting and rewarding. Gain qualifications in training and assessment services and you can put your skills, experience and knowledge base to work for you. This is an excellent career choice for anyone who has a desire to pass on their knowledge to help equip others.

Auditing

Another excellent way to utilise your experience is to gain qualifications in auditing. This will allow you to apply your knowledge to help others plan and evaluate their work practices. Training will give the managerial competencies required to tackle this career.

Corporate Trainings

I am pleasantly surprised by the full support our managers are giving us regarding our professional and even personal growth. I say this because from my previous department, I barely had the opportunity to attend trainings and seminars. Not that the management discourages us, it was just that, asking permission was a bit of a challenge due to the demands of work. Also, we had to coordinate with other colleague to ensure that no one was on leave on the date I would attend my training. Unfortunately, there were times when the only offered available dates were on the times my other colleagues were on leave. I always end up sacrificing my chance to learn and develop.

The case now is very different in my new department. In a span of 8 months, I have already done 5 instructor-led trainings with my fellow colleagues and bosses. I am not even counting the online courses I have completed during that time.  I have never seen so much support from the management in my previous work experience. I am overwhelmed in a positive way because I love attending trainings, seminars and workshops. I love to learn more and acquire skills which I can use in my day-to-day tasks in the office and also, something to leverage my chances of promotion.

I am grateful that the opportunities are being presented to us in a silver platter. The one I just attended yesterday was a "mandatory" training arranged by my boss. Everyone in the team was present, including our big boss who did everything to ensure that all of us get our fair-share in learning and developing. Our whole unit was closed for the day while we acquire more knowledge in the workforce. Closing a unit for a day rarely happens in a company but our management deemed it necessary for our career growth and well-being. I think that's a very altruistic gesture from the management side and it's not left unappreciated.

And as of this writing, there is another training in the offing that the whole unit will attend to as instructed by our big boss. My quota is already filled to the brim!

Imagine, 5 trainings in 8 months in my new department as opposed to the very few trainings I had during the past 8 years in my previous department. Now that's what I call healthy working environment.

Fresh Start for 2012

I have been praying for good things to happen not just for myself and my family, but for everyone too. I am giving myself a chance to grow and one of doing that is to jump out of my comfort zone. I started with my career. I was not getting anywhere with my career in the place where I am in so I thought, the only way to go forward is to apply for a lateral move somewhere I can showcase my talent and skills. And God has been good to me. He knew what was best so he gave me the position I applied for. So, by end of February 2012, I will be reporting to a new department with new people to meet and new challenges to face.

My health is another aspect in my life that I want to give a new lease. I started walking again. It's still early to say if it's going to be regular but I am envisioning myself to do that. I just hope my determination to wean off my other medications will be a great impetus for me to carry on with the weight loss. Also, I am working towards making myself fit enough to carry another full term pregnancy. My daughter has been bugging me for a sibling and I am pushing 40 this March. I think it's not yet late for that.

The financial aspect of my life is getting better too. Although there are still plenty of bills to pay, I can finally scrimp enough to save some which will eventually go to our dream house project.

My personal life is rosy too! It's mostly rosy anyway but this year will be more of family solidarity and giving time to people who truly matters.

So, I welcome 2012 with open arms, new hope and a better perspective in life. I pray that God will have more compassion to humanity inspite of the negativity surrounding us. I know God is good and He will not forsake mankind. I just pray that 2012 will be great for everyone.

A Career Move

God just heard my prayers. He gave me his early Christmas gift in terms of my career. No, it was not the promotion I have always wanted (and so deserve) but something better in terms of going to a different direction in my career.

I received a call from the Human Resources on 23 Dec. and was informed that I was selected for the position. It took me a while to process the news and I was really not expecting a call the day after my interview. It was just too soon to get the news. Not that I don't want it. Of course, I have been waiting for that for the longest time. Now that I have it, I will have a better perspective in my career this 2012. Fresh start in my career... what more can I ask for?

Assessment is Over

I had the assessment for almost 4 hours this morning. There were 3 parts in the assessment. First was to sell yourself by telling them why you are best for the position, second was the role-playing (and I was so conscious because I don't like acting at all!) and lastly was the written exam. I came prepared and studied really hard but I still forgot some items in the examination. I think I was ok in the role-playing and during the first round. I still have to find out whether I passed to proceed to the next level which is the last screening - interview.

I am looking forward to a successful assessment so I can move on to the next round because this is the moment I have been waiting for. I know it is time to move on and learn new things. This can be the impetus that will spring my career to greater heights.

Career Assessment

I should be used to all these career assessments by now. I must have been to a lot of assessments already in the span of 21 years of service. However, I always feel it is something new  each time I am invited to attend one. I always have this knot in my stomach and I feel nauseated. I am not sure if that is accounted for my diminishing confidence, my age, loss of belief in the system or simply because I am just tired going through all the process only to be rejected in the end.

This assessment on Thursday is not even for a higher pay scale. It is just a lateral move for me to be able to learn new things and expose myself to the different operations of the airlines. It will not give me any monetary improvement but it will certainly make my resume heavy and it will make me a strong contender for planning and scheduling positions that will become available in the future.

Anyway, I just pray I can pull it through. I know my qualifications and knowledge, albeit not very in-depth, will help me fulfill the new department's requirements. Good luck to me!

Career Move

The classified ads are brimming with vacancies again but for top management level. I know the pay will be sufficient for me to save in a short period of time but I don't think I want the stress tied to a high-end position. No thanks!

I am considering switching career from administrative to Technical Recruiter Consultant Jobs or anything to do with Human Resources. I always believe that being in the HR department gives you the chance and opportunity to go around easily as compared to the ones in the administrative and operations areas.

It has been a while since I last applied outside my current company. I think it has been 7 years to be exact and honestly, I do not know how the market goes outside now. I always re-evaluate my skills and know-how and I am happy to say that with what I know and do, I can actually command a high salary. However, the caveat is, I think it is still scary outside so I am not sure if moving out of my current employer is a wise decision. So, I am thinking whether to jump out of my very comfortable zone and have a leap of faith. I have to consider plenty of factors when I do this. I have financial obligations, my kid is still in school, we have mortgage to pay back home and we still want to save more for our retirement years. This thought is a bit tricky but I do hope that better paying opportunities arise in my current employer so I don't have to go through this dilemma. Otherwise, I may just take chances and jump!

Third Stage: Informal Tete-a-Tete with the Big Boss

I almost fell from my chair when the HR Coordinator called before noon to inform me that I have a "casual meeting" with the Big Boss of the department where the vacancy was.

Informal meeting? What is that? I wonder...

I asked the Coordinator if I had to prepare for anything, she said no need as it was just a casual meeting. Of course, this is not a reason to be jumping up and down with glee because I am not sure if the same invitation was extended to the other applicants who made it as far as the interview.

So, I am meeting the big boss on Sunday. I don't know what to think this time. I just want to thank God for taking me this far in the application process.

Meanwhile, let me just enjoy my weekend without any additional stress.

Assessment Today

I applied for a higher position in a different department sometime back. I have forgotten about it already until last Tuesday when I received an email stating that I was shortlisted. I was so ecstatic!

Today was the assessment day. There were only 9 (including myself) shortlisted candidates for the one position we were all applying for. Five of them are from the same department. The rest are using the product being marketed by the department already. I was the only one who has no background on teaching nor have a lengthy use of the system required. I am familiar but not a very intensive user.

We were asked to present something to gauge our ability to be spontaneous and creative. I showed them what I am good at - arts and crafts. The feedback was really good and I was tickled pink.

Much as I want to be positive in this endeavor, I feel that half of me says to be realistic... 5 people from the same department where the opening is needed are vying for one position they are already familiar with. You do the math.

I am thankful though that I was considered for the post. That, in itself, is a great consolation. I have reached that far as compared to the numerous who have applied for the position and was not called. The next step will be an interview if I pass the assessment. Let us see where the Lord will take me from here.