Career Change: A Winning Approach!
By John Groth
Almost everyone planning to change careers faces a big obstacle. If you don't have the required experience how can you get hired into your new planned career? You can't, the answer would be a loud, "No."
Does this sound a bit like the answers Matt would get if he tried to change careers from programmer to chef? No experience, no job would be the answer.
- It reminds me of a little girl named Angie who wanted a dog for a pet in the worst way. Her father, in the most explicit manner, told her a number of times, "No dogs in the house." Further her father said he didn't like dogs, they were trouble and he definitely didn't want to take care of the dog because he knew his daughter, who he loved dearly, would tire of the dog and he would be stuck caring for it.
Well Angie was made of sterner stuff. A few days after the last, "No dogs" from her father she went out and bought a dog's leash. She walked through the house on her way out the door dragging the leash. Her father asked what was going on? Angie sweetly responded, "I'm taking Max for a walk," and went out the door.
This repeated itself for a few days and then a dog's dish appeared on the kitchen floor. Her father asked about the dish? And Angie responded with a bit of indignantly, "Max needs to eat doesn't he?" This continued with a book on the history of shelties (this was the dog Angie wanted) showing up which Angie would read portions out loud, always within her father hearing.
- Angie also saved her allowance, birthday money and what she earned from babysitting. She did her research and one Saturday asked her father to go for a drive. They went a ways into the country and she asked him to turn into a lane which led up to a small farm.
They were met by the owner where they went to the barn and there in the straw was a new mother with eight sheltie puppies. Do you think Angie's father would still say, "No?" You know he wouldn't. The evidence countering all his objections is just too overwhelming.
Matt has to take the same approach in changing careers. He has to act like, look like and project the appearance of a chef, his new profession. Once this is accomplished he will have the necessary skills and experience to qualify for a position as a chef.
- He started by attending a cooking school part-time. Matt began watching TV cooking shows and taking notes. He searched his area and he got a part-time weekend job cooking basic menu items in a small restaurant. He attended area restaurant association meetings.
Matt became a member of a state-wide association of chefs. He wrote a couple of short articles which were published in their newsletter. Whenever he met someone who was a chef or worked in a restaurant he added them to his networking group. He kept them informed as he gained cooking experience.
In speaking to his network he learned he need additional training in management and budgeting skills. Matt started a course of self-study to close this skills gap. He read books on cooking and tried out various recipes. As his skills increased he though of himself as a chef
This proactive approach paid off as Matt learned of a chef's position, through his network, in a larger local restaurant. He applied and because of his body of work was hired. The career change was complete.
So if you want to change careers the key is do everything you can to act like you wish to be seen. Study the new career, join appropriate groups and actively participate, read and study the latest trends, build your network and like Matt and Angie, your dream will become a reality.
- Career change is a bit of a step into the unknown. Others will voice objections, like Angie's father, but you can overcome them one by one by not looking for the ideal job but doing it. As you gain recognition in your new career doors will open and your planned career change will be achieved.
John Groth has changed careers seven times during his working life. Learn more about changing careers and career planning at http://careersafter50.com. Discover how others over age 50, built winning career plans and found the right careers by career change planning after 50.
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