Published in How To Change Your Career and Do The Work You Really Love, Atlantic Publishing, 2008

As a life coach I help people discover what they want in life and many times this involves helping them with career changes. The following is a brief overview of my career change process.  

Phyllis Reardon,   Life Coach

 

 

 

Life coaching is all about change. Change is a part of life, in fact the only thing that truly remains constant in today’s economy is change. To successfully navigate a career change planning is essential.

 

 

Imagine if you would your favorite recreational activity, golf, reading, dancing, playing musical instrument; now picture yourself every morning getting up and preparing to go to work in your area of choice. Oh joy, it wouldn’t seem like work. This is how you need to think when trying to find the work you love. Keep this thought as you complete the following activities.

 

In order to make your career change you need to know your strengths and passions. Your strengths are the skills you are using now or used in past work areas or recreational activities. Your passion is what you love to do. Make a list of all daily work/recreational activities.

 

Next take each of these work/recreational activities and use each as a heading. Under each of these headings write all of the skills and competencies you possess to complete these activities.

 

If you get stuck you may want to show this list to someone you trust and ask if they would add skills that they believe you have.

 

 

If you have a career change in mind, write it down. Writing it down gets it out of our head and on paper.

 

Continue by taking each of your strengths from step one and next to each make a list of career areas that would utilize this strength/passion. When this is complete review and identify commonalities. You should now be getting a clearer picture of the career change.    

 

Now that you are more self aware and have a better understanding of careers that suit your strengths and passions it is time to decide. Only you can do this! Analyze all the information gathered in steps one and two;  locate a common theme.

 

Remember that careers are our life and career choices can’t be made in isolation. When making the final decision, which is yours alone, all other parts of our life most be considered, ie. family responsibilities, financial resources etc. Research and experience shows that individuals who choose a career related to their passion tend to be happier and more successful in work and life.

 

Follow your Passion but be sure to do it in the context of Life Planning.