Not having a job doesn’t feel very good. It gets even worse when you realize that the job market may not value your skills and experience as much as you do. The “new” economy needs a new skill set and this may be your golden opportunity to find a totally new career.
An article in the Free Press (freep.com) in January tells the stories of some who have retrained and regrouped to find new opportunities. One person who was a telecommunications specialist is now earning a Master’s Degree in Counseling. The article quoted a 2008 MetLife Foundation Career Survey that found as many as 8.4 million people between the ages of 44 and 70 had launched a new career to combine earning a salary with jobs that had more social impact and were important to that person. Another avenue many pursue is to update skills in their field through additional schooling. At the local community colleges there are engineers and administrators taking specific classes to open new doors in a growing industry.
Now may be the time to pursue your passions or interests as you look for the next great job. To get more information on what industries to target, the local workforce surveys and economic studies are a good resource. Your local university or community college can tell you what industry is looking for in their graduates. Most educational institutions have a career center, and those people are there to help you find a direction. They can provide testing to identify interests or aptitudes and then show you what classes are available in your area of interest. Local professional societies are another source for potential jobs, and it is also a good idea to keep up on the business news.
Once you identify some opportunities that might interest you, figure out what type of candidate will be successful at that job. Ask associates if they know anyone in the field and interview them. Sometimes the job described isn’t the job you get, so make sure you know what you are asking for. All this being said, there is still an economic downturn to deal with, so don’t lose heart. While you are waiting for your big break, look for simple things you can do to provide a service that might give you some revenue. An area of opportunity that I have recently discovered is helping an advocate for the older generation that has no living family members to look after their affairs. There should be many services that will be needed. Be creative – and good luck!
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