The Big Career Re-Shuffle Is Coming. Are You Ready?

I have a crazy idea I’d like to tell you about.  It has to do with career change.  A hot topic today with the economy all bunched up.

Some of you may be in love with your careers.  You are doing the exact thing you were meant to do.  And you’ve been in this groove since high school, college or since getting your advanced degree.

So much it has you dancing down the office hallway.  Smiling and launching high-fives around the water cooler.

For the rest of you (the other 99%), some days it is hard to peel yourself out from under the sheets, the warmth of a partner or the insecure feeling of heading to a job you are not sure about anymore.

But you are scared to leave that job.  To jettison your body and soul into a job market that isn’t any friendlier.  And offers no hope of happiness or security.

Some of you have felt an urge for something new.  A new company.  A new role or a new industry. Say it with me.  Career change.

I know this is true because it comes up at least twice a week in my meetings with active job seekers.  And it is a tough time to look for a job outside of your strengths.  Because, despite your obvious talent and transferable skills, you represent a risk to a recruiter or hiring company.  When so many properly equipped people are available today.  And companies only have the ability to bring in one person.

So what are you to do if a career change is bubbling up in you?   Well, first I’m going to share some ideas from fellow bloggers who’ve written on this subject.

And then I’ll tell you about my crazy idea.

1.  Not sure whether you should change your career?  Try this career change quiz created by Dawn Rosenberg McKay over at About.com.

2.  If there is no doubt in your step.  If there is no question you are in the wrong career, move on to the 10-Step Plan To Career Change by Randall S. Hansen over at Quintessential Careers.

3.  Fan of checklists?  Here’s one from Nisa Chitakasem of Position Ignition in a guest post for The Undercover Recruiter.  Top 10 Things To Do Before You Change Jobs Or Career.

4.  Hang out on the blog of Jonathan Fields.  Jonathan wrote a great book called Career Renegade.  And shares new insights on his blog regularly.  I read his book and had a chance to meet Jonathan recently at the Blog World conference.  Good guy and a great book to help kick off your career change.

5.  Another great blog and book option for you.  Especially if your career change will take you out of corporate America.  Not back in it.  Pam Slim’s blog called Escape From Cubicle Nation.  She also has an “escape book” by the same name.  I bought that one too.

So now are you ready for my idea?

A few years ago I had this thought about career change (a big re-shuffle).  I haven’t written the rules for it.  Maybe you can help me with that part.  Unless you think I’m nuts.

The big re-shuffle involves me, you and everyone else out there making a living for ourselves and our families.  But, for the first time perhaps, it seeks to recognize and act on the needs of our hearts.  Not just our heads.  Or wallets.

So that all of us who followed the pack out of college into finance, sales or marketing jobs without much thought.  Can have a re-do.  Without penalty.  Political, cultural or, in an ideal world, financial.

An opportunity to re-draw from the deck.  Once it has been re-shuffled.  Or maybe you create a simple card like this:

Put your name on the back, drop it into a big box.  And wait.  While some big supercomputer churns it.  And finds a match for you.  And perhaps someone who had the exact same card.  But in reverse.

And then you can train each other on your new jobs.  And agree to split the difference in salary.  So you can slip into your new role.  With a smile.

Of course this is strictly Utopian.  Would never work.  Unrealistic.    But if imagining the ability to do it.  Or willing the world to make it mandatory gets you excited about a new career.

Well then I hope you’ll start acting on your career ideas.  Getting yourself one step closer to making that career change.

Are you ready?  What step will you take today to get started?

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Written by: Tim Tyrell-Smith
Tags: Career | Career Change | career changes | change | change job | change your career | for a | hot topic | Job Search | jobs marketing | jobs seeker | jonathan fields | labor | quintessential careers
Categories: Career And Life Development