Major Career Change

5 hard questions to ask first

Dan Armishaw, MBA

MidlifeCareerist.com

“No matter how far you have gone on a

wrong road, turn back.”

Turkish Proverb

Let’s get that clear

• Requires extensive training

• Work history not an asset

• Ideal temperament may differ

• Significant resistance from family, friends

Major Career Change:

Bob, training to become an accountant after 20 years as a truck driver

Here’s a Major Career Change:

Images courtesy of jannoon028 (Left) and Bill Longshaw (above) / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Alice, training to become a real estate agent after 20 years as a travel agent in same city

And here’s a Moderate Career Change:

Images courtesy of luigi diamanti (Left) and Stuart Miles (above) / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Alice Bob

Career Change Travel Agent to Real Estate Agent

Truck Driver to Accountant

Transferable skills Significant Limited

Work environment Similar Dissimilar

Personal Adjustments Required

Moderate Extensive

Why is Bob’s Change Major?

1. What is the real demand?

2.What do people in this career actually do?

3. What are the real barriers facing you?

4.What will the competition be for you?

5.Will you do what it takes to be remarkable?

5 Important Questions for both:

Ask hard questions:

• What positions are usually offered graduates of this college/university program?

• To the top/middle/bottom third of the class?

• What salaries do these positions typically offer?

• How many of each type are typically available in Bob’s geographic area each year?

Don’t over rely on answers from anyone with a vested interest in your decision!

What is the real demand for Bob?

• Much entry-level accounting work is tedious.

• Other concerns: working in a cubicle for long hours, limited autonomy.

• Job shadowing feels awkward but provides reliable information.

• Bob needs to ask: Can I thrive here?

If Bob is leaving truck driving reluctantly, can accounting be a good fit? Employers will wonder, too.

What Do Accountants Actually Do?

What’s Bob’s New Competition?

Employers will visit campus and compare Bob to students with identical training. Where will he rank on employers’ key criteria? What actions can he take now to rank higher then?

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

• How will employers view Bob apart from grades?

• He needs reliable answers now.

• Bob can’t change his age or remove 20 years of truck driving from his resume.

• Bob can initiate “Remarkable” projects for his resume.

What Real Barriers Face Bob?

• Will Bob:

• Take the Proactive option, face the awkwardness of change and ignore pushback from family and friends, or

• Take the Passive option, wait until graduation and hope “They” will take care of whatever preparation is needed.

So is Bob Willing to Recreate Himself?

Bob will present himself credibly as an accounting candidate.

Bob’s resume and interview will improve his ranking significantly .

Research now will pay off later

• How competitive is the local real estate market?

• Undersupply/oversupply of agents

• What firms dominate the market?

• Characteristics of the housing market?

• Turnover, demand/availability

Alice may value her relationships with her existing clients, but are they buying or selling homes?

What’s the real demand for Real Estate Agents?

Will Alice accept:

• Inconvenient hours?

• Varying income?

• Intense competition?

• Attention to detail?

What Do Real Estate Agents Do?

Images courtesy of artur84 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

• Can Alice build relationships and earn the trust of prospective clients?

• Can she manage her time and perform all the tasks that are required?

• Can she build on her closing skills or other weaknesses?

• Does she have the financial resources to meet her personal needs while she builds her business?

What Real Barriers Face Alice?

What’s Alice’s New Competition?

Alice will compete more for listings than to be hired. There are already many established agents in an aggressively competitive industry.

Image courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

• Alice’s transition could be manageable

• Self-employment may be a more significant challenge

• Family/friends support may erode if success is delayed

• New agents can be unwilling or unable to deliver what is required for success, so turnover is high

Is Alice Willing to Compete?

Alice can prepare in advance by

upgrading her marketing skills,

begin part time or reduce living

expenses.

Payoff for Alice’s Research

Image courtesy of criminalatt / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

• Don’t assume someone else will make sure you are ready

• Don’t just trust it will all work out

• Do your own research

• Do many information interviews for reliable local and specific information

• Do accept discouraging and encouraging information

Major Career Change Do’s and Don’ts

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Changing Career?

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Dan Armishaw MBA