The Ultimate 4 Step Guide to Changing Careers

The Ultimate 4 Step Guide to Changing Careers Choosing a career is a tough thing- and a lifelong process. You might pick a job early, just out of school or based on your interests as a 20-something. It would be great if that were a direct path to your retirement decades later, after years of building a fulfilling career from that initial decision. But not every career path is quite that straightforward. You might wake up after 10 years and think, â€Å"I really don’t want to be a widget coordinator anymore.† Or maybe you’ve been laid off, and realize that hmm, you weren’t all that happy in your career even before the fact. Whatever leads to that revelation, you should embrace it as an opportunity when it comes.  If you are thinking about making a career change, here are the 4 steps you can take to make it a reality: Step 1.   Figure out what do you really want to be doing.Step 2.   What does the roadmap look like?Step 3.   Updating Your ResumeStep 4.   Build (and then work) your network  I f you’re thinking about changing your career, you’re in in good company. There are very few hard stats on how many people do change careers midstream- the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t keep data on career changers, mostly because the data is so unclear  and not really tracked anywhere- but we do know that some very famous people only achieved those heights only after they pulled the trigger on a career change.Did you know that:Walt Disney was originally a newspaper editor?Actor Harrison Ford was a carpenter before his first big movie role?Uber-chef Julia Child was a bureaucrat and spy for the U.S. government during World War II, before she mastered French cuisine?Actor Steve Buscemi was a New York City firefighter?Pope Francis was a chemical technician before joining the priesthood? One thing these people all have in common (aside from amazing success) is that they each made a career decision based on the difference between what they were doing, and what they wanted to do with their lives. This isn’t to say that everyone should drop a stable, bill-paying job in order to pursue that dream of opening a puppet theater. However, if you think that changing careers is the best next step for you and your goals, then there are ways to make the jump in a smart and practical way.Step 1: What do you want to be doing?The best thing you can do up front is to start thinking about what it is you really want to do. According to a Deloitte Shift Index survey in 2010 (which tracked workplace trends), a staggering 80% of respondents lacked passion at their jobs. That’s a lot of disengaged people, or people at risk of checking out. Still, it’s not enough to feel vaguely unhappy at your current job, or on your current path. You need a plan for finding what it is you would be passionate about doing as a career.80% of respondents lacked passion at their jobsIn the following Tedx Talk, career coach Scott Dinsmore offers some advic e on how to transition that dissatisfaction or malaise into real and lasting personal change. He recommends doing some soul searching on the following questions:What are your strengths? What are you good at doing? What would you do even if no one paid you?What are your values? Are you driven by people (family, friends)? Are you most concerned with success and achievement? How do those factor into your decision, and what is your â€Å"soul† made of?What are your experiences? What do you like, or dislike? What are you good at or bad at doing? What have your experiences told you about what you want, and what experiences inspire you? You have years of experiences, as well as successes and mistakes, which form a baseline of expectations. Together, these factors can be pulled together to help you figure out what you want those successes to look like in the future, and what kinds of jobs would help you get there.Step 2: What does the roadmap look like?Changing careers is a process. At an early point in said process, you can’t really predict the outcome. But you can definitely map out your expectations, and the likely steps it will take to get there.For example, take a look at this  career change roadmap:Step 3: Update your resume.This means updating your resume and your cover letter to align with your revised career goals. Many job hunters make the easy mistake of assuming that their same old resume will do, and that hiring managers will connect the dots on skills and experience. Don’t let that be you! Take the initiative to rebuild your resume for your soon-to-be new career. On your resume, you have a bit of an added challenge, compared to another candidate who has more industry experience, so you need to craft your resume 2.0 to reflect that reality.If you have a lot of skills that will be transferable from your old career to the new job(s) for which you’re applying:Your best bet is likely a combination resume, where you craft the stan dard linear list of your jobs, but kick off the resume with a bulleted list of qualifications/skills. The bullet points in the work history section should, of course, emphasize the skills you want to play up in the qualifications summary. You might want to get your resume evaluated by  a professional resume expert  as well. (For more on how to write a great qualifications summary, visit Resume Genius.)Here’s an example:Qualifications SummaryLeadership:Leading marketing teams of 5+ people.Creativity:Designing and implementing ROI strategies aimed at streamlining marketing campaigns.Communication:Presenting marketing proposals to clients. Combination resumes can be great for covering up gaps in experiences or long lags between jobs, but keep in mind that the lack of specific dates and other details might raise a red flag with hiring managers or interviewers. Be prepared to speak to those in the interview, as well as emphasize the transferrable skills you have.If you are bas ically starting over, and want to downplay your work history:Work on drafting a functional resume, where you group your skills into headers and bullets.Here’s an example:Marketing ExperienceCreated brand-awareness social media campaigns for a national car rental company.Improved engagement and conversion rates for 3 straight years.If you’re concerned that your career change narrative won’t overcome the relative lack of experience: Write a resume that covers the standard skills and work history, but write a detailed cover letter that explains a) your passion for the industry you’re trying to break into; b) why your experience travels well into this new arena; and c) your strong motivation to start over, or find a foothold at this particular company. Your resume will still need to stand on its own, but you want to make sure the hiring manager is clear that you know your experience may not be extensive, but you have the skills and passion necessary for this job.Step 4: Build (and then work) your network.The best new resume in the world may not mean much if you can’t get it in front of the right people. Online application engines and emailed resumes have their place (and will likely do so for a long time to come), but one of the most effective ways to get noticed is also one of the oldest and lowest-tech: word of mouth. If you know someone in a company who can recommend you for an open position, it’s like getting a gold star on your resume. It may not get you an automatic job offer, but having an insider vouch for you could very well increase the odds of getting your application a closer look. Plus, seeking out people in your target industry can help you get a better handle on the industry itself, letting you ask questions and get information that might not be as readily available from internet searches.And don’t discount your existing network: you never know who knows someone else, especially in this age of LinkedI n. Don’t be afraid to put it out there that you’re looking to make connections in a new area. Use your social networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) to find new connections or experts to follow. However, make sure you’re discreet about it if you’re not ready to announce your career change plans to your current employer. (Maybe don’t post a status update that says, â€Å"Hate my job, want to know more about alpaca farming. Anyone know any local animal farmers I can talk to?†)If you truly don’t have any overlap between your current network and your new industry, start with some basic research. Look for groups online related to your target job, and â€Å"listen† in on message boards or email lists for a while. This can also let you know about industry events, job openings, or networking opportunities that you might not know about otherwise.Whether your new career is on par with the carpenter-to-Han Solo transition, well, that rema ins to be seen. But if you know that you’re ready to commit to a jump (or at least commit to the idea of jumping), there’s no point in waiting until the time is right. Because you know what? That time may never come if you don’t make it happen yourself. But you can set yourself up so that there’s a time that feels comfortable for making the transition.

Implementing a Successful Tutoring Business Plan

Implementing a Successful Tutoring Business Plan So youve decided to start a tutoring business and youve already envisioned what you business will look like, who your potential clients will be, how much to charge, and where and when to schedule your tutoring sessions. Now Im ready to discuss how to handle the time in between your initial conversation with the client and the first tutoring session with your new student. Again, think Big Picture and think RESULTS. - What are your short- and long-term goals for this particular student? Why is his/her parent hiring you at this time? What results will the parent expect to see from their child? When parents send their children to public schools, they sometimes have lowered expectations because the education is free and the teachers have so many other students to work with. With tutoring, parents are shelling out hard-earned cash on a minute-by-minute basis and they want to see results. If they feel that you arent working productively with their child, you wont last long as their tutor and your reputation will suffer. Always keep that goal in mind before every session. Aim to make specific progress during each and every hour of tutoring. Facilitate an Initial Meeting. - If at all possible, Id recommend using your first session as a getting-to-know-you and goal-setting meeting with yourself, the student, and at least one of the parents.Take copious notes during this conversation. Here are some of the things you should discuss at this initial meeting:Clarify the parents expectations. Tell them a little about your lesson ideas and long-term strategies. Outline your invoicing and payment plans. Solicit tips for how best to work with the students strengths and weaknesses. Inquire about what strategies have worked in the past and also which ones havent worked. Ask if its OK to contact the students teacher for additional insight and progress reports. If it is, secure the contact information and follow-through at a later time. Ask for any materials that might be helpful for your sessions. Ensure that the session location will be quiet and conducive to studying. Let the parents know what you will require of them in order to maximize the effectiveness of your work. Clarify whether you should assign homework in addition to the homework the student will already have from regular school. Set Up the Ground Rules. - Just like in the regular classroom, students want to know where they stand with you and whats expected of them. Similar to the first day of school, discuss your rules and expectations, while letting the student know a little bit about you. Tell them how to handle their needs during the sessions, such as if they need a drink of water or to use the restroom. This is particularly important if you are tutoring in your own home, rather than the students, because the student is your guest and will likely be uncomfortable at first. Encourage the student to ask as many questions as he or she needs to. This is one of the main benefits of one-on-one tutoring, of course. Stay Focused and On Task Every Minute. - Time is money with tutoring. As you get rolling with the student, set the tone for productive meetings where every minute counts. Keep the conversation focused on the work at hand and hold the student tightly accountable for the quality of his/her work. Consider Implementing a Form of Parent-Tutor Communication. - The parents want to know what youre doing with the student each session and how it relates to the goals you set. Consider communicating with the parents on a weekly basis, perhaps through email. Alternatively, you can type up a little half-sheet form where you can write some informative notes and have the student bring it home to his/her parents after each session. The more you communicate, the more your clients will see you as on-the-ball and worth their financial investment. Set Up a Tracking and Invoicing System. - Carefully track each hour for each client. I keep a paper calendar where I daily write down my tutoring hours. I de cided to invoice on the 10th of each month. I acquired an invoice template through Microsoft Word and I send out my invoices over email. I request payment by check within 7 days of the invoice. Stay Organized and Youll Stay Productive. - Make a folder for each student where you will keep their contact information, as well as any notes about what youve already done with them, what you observe during your session, and what you plan to do in future sessions. That way, when your next session with that student approaches, youll have a shorthand for knowing where you left off and what comes next. Consider your cancellation policy. - Children are so busy today and so many families are mixed and extended and not living all under the same roof. This makes for complicated situations. Emphasize to the parents how important it is to attend each session on time and without too many cancellations or changes. I instituted a 24-hour cancellation policy where I reserve the right to charge the full hourly rate if a session is canceled on short notice. For reliable clients who rarely cancel, I might not exercise this right. For troublesome clients who always seem to have an excuse, I have th is policy in my back pocket. Use your best judgment, allow some leeway, and protect yourself and your schedule. Put Your Clients Contact Information in Your Cell Phone. - You never know when something will come up and you will need to contact a client. When youre working for yourself, you need to maintain control over your situation, your schedule, and any extenuating factors. Its your name and reputation that are on the line. Treat your tutoring business with seriousness and diligence and youll go far. If you decide that tutoring is for you, I wish you lots of luck and I hope all of these tips have been helpful to you!