Category: Beyond Work

Beyond Work is our line of resources for people and community leaders looking for something new and innovative outside, be it a new job, career change, or personal development outside of work.

Career Change Ahead! Could Engineering be the Right Fit for You?

Engineering is a “hot field” right now. Whether you are considering changing your college major or are currently in the workforce and looking for a career change, engineering may be one option you should consider.

Do you enjoy science and math? Maybe lab work and analyzing data is something you do in your current career that you like and want to continue to do. Or maybe you enjoy working with blueprints and designing. If so, a career in an engineering discipline might be a good fit for you.

According to Wikipedia:

Engineering is the application of scientific, economic, social, and practical knowledge in order to invent, design, build, maintain, research, and improve structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes.

The discipline of engineering is extremely broad, and encompasses a range of more specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied science, technology and types of application.

As referenced in the above definition, there are several types of engineering. Check out the links below to read about a few of the options:

Chemical Engineer

Civil Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Environmental Engineer

If you are currently in the education field and are working as a science or math teacher, and are looking for a more lucrative career that allows you to incorporate your math or science expertise, chemical or environmental engineering may be for you.

Read The 10 Worst Mistakes Career Changers Can Make before taking the leap to a new career.

What education is required?

In general, engineering jobs require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. If you currently possess a bachelor’s degree in another field, you can check with your local university to find out what additional courses are required. Check outEducation Portal for information on engineering courses.

What is the pay like?

Chemical Engineer

Civil Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Environmental Engineer

What is the Holland Code* for Chemical Engineers?

Interest code: IR

Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Source: http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2041.00

(*Holland codes for other types of engineering can be found on ONET)

On the other hand, maybe you are an engineer. You earn a great salary, but work long hours. You loved your career as a young college gradate, but now you have different priorities. What are your options?

Again, since there are many enigneering disciplines, you should consider a career change that incorporates what you love(d) about engineering to begin with. That may be science, math, designing, etc. Maybe a high school teacher would be a good choice for you. If time with family is a priority and salary is not an issue, consider the education field.

Check out Three Simple Questions That Will Change Your Engineering Career for more insight.

Regardless of what career you currently have, if you are itching to make a change, examine the following as you begin:

What is missing from what I do now that I want to be able to do on a regular basis? What skills do I need to use on a regular basis to bring satisfaction?

What is it that I do now that I want to continue to be able to do? What skills that I want to continue to use are transferrable to other careers?

What type of environment do I enjoy working in?

What careers match with the skills and abilities I want to use and are also in line with my work values?

A career assessment may help you with these questions. We can help you with an in-depth assessment that examines your personality and desired skills and abilities or you can take a free one here.

February 17, 2015

Would you hire someone based on their bumper sticker(s)?

If matching individual and company values drives job satisfaction and organizational results more than anything else, maybe one thing we need to add to our selection processes is a bumper sticker check.

Bear with me here. Before you interview a candidate. Walk out to their car. Do they fit?

http://www.losanjealous.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/decal-576×363.jpgFamily oriented. How do you feel about that?
Do you support family values as an organization or are you one of those who wants to ask in an interview (but I hope refrains from doing so for the reality of legal retaliation) do you have kids or plan on having kids?

If you want to ask this question, your organization may align more with this one:

http://legalinsurrection.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Bumper-Sticker-Charlottesville-VA-stick-figure-family.png

Or this one:

Proud family man/woman? What does this say about a candidate?

Or what about this one?:

Ouch!

Or this one:

Apple huh? We want to be them. You value innovation, I like you.

Or take the political bumper stickers:

Or

Does it matter to your organization which side of the aisle they align with or how they express which side of the aisle they are on?

Or take this one:

Hard worker? Hum??

Or what about if you don’t see anything. Not a one. Is this good or is this bad?

Or, instead of a bumper sticker you see this:

Make it easy on yourself. Check their car/truck out before you interview. It could save us all a lot of time and effort.

February 12, 2015

Career Spotlight: Urban Planner

Do you love planning? Are you a good communicator who has a passion for designing? Are interested in geography? If so, then a career as an Urban Planner may be perfect for you.

On the other hand, if you don’t enjoy working directly with the public or developing strategies and thinking creatively, becoming an urban planner may not be a good fit for you.

Urban and regional planners develop plans and programs for the use of land. Their plans help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.Read more at Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Check out American Planning Association to find out more about urban planning.

What do you need to be an Urban Planner?

Education:

A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree (typically in civil engineering) is required to become an urban planner and most planners have a Master’s Degree.

If you are a high school student and would like to become an urban planner, consider taking geography, pre-engineering and economics in high school.

Urban planning may be an option for Engineers and Project Managers interested in a career change. Find out more at Education Portal.

Skills:

Urban Planners know about:

Complex Problem Solving
Speaking and Active Listening
Critical Thinking
CAD Software
Judgment & Decision Making
Social Perceptiveness

Is the field growing?

ONET reports that careers in Urban Planning are expected to increase by 10% over the next 10 years.

What is the pay like?

What’s the Holland Code* for an Urban Planner?

Interest code: IEA – Investigative, Enterprising, Artistic

Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Source: http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3051.00

If you are interested in learning more about becoming an Urban Planner, check out ONET.

Would you want to be an Urban Planner? Why or why not?

*Holland Codes are a way to classify a person based on their skills and interests as well as jobs based on the nature of the work. If you have an interest in knowing what your Holland Code is in order to match yourself to careers to pursue, you can read more about our assessment process.

February 3, 2015

Goal Setting for Students

I’ve always been a list maker. I love to make a list at the end of each work day, so I can draw a red line through item after time the following work day. And, by the way, I don’t just do this for work. I do it for everything: grocery list, kid’s activities for the week, Christmas shopping list, cleaning for the week and the list goes on and on. I’m the queen of lists.
That being said, even though I’m a list maker, I’m still not as organized as I would like to be. But, when I began the process of quarterly goal setting and implemented a weekly tracking process, organization and my life ran much smoother.

I believe this process can not only be valuable in a person’s career, but is a great tool to help students become more organized and, long term, be ready for college or career. What a great habit to begin as a high school student?

First things first words written on the chalkboard

To quote Stephen Covey, first things first, developing a mission statement is a great way to get on the right track. Check out Developing a Personal Mission Statement to prevent stress and burnout and Power of 3 – Mission and Purpose to help you develop a mission statement. Then, you are in a great position to begin your quarterly goal setting. You can begin this most any time of year, but I suggest beginning on January 1 or in the summer before the upcoming school year. Develop 3 or 4 goals for the quarter. Then, document how you will achieve those goals. This will help you as you begin entering action items into you weekly tracking spreadsheet.

Even if you are very disciplined, it is great to have an accountability partner. So, grab a friend and begin the process together. How great will it be to be entering your senior year of high school and already be on the right track for college or career? You could have your portfolio complete, applications completed to your top college choice, job shadowing experience and even taken the ACT for the fourth time. You will be leaps and bounds ahead of some of your classmates.

Check out our Goal Setting Worksheet to help you get started.

January 27, 2015
Career Change for Athletes

A career as an athlete is something many dream about, but only a small percentage of those who dream of playing a sport actually make that dream come true.
After your “glory days” or maybe after you begin a family, you may consider a career change. Regardless of whether you have an injury that forces you to consider a new career or if you are just ready to get out of the game, where do you begin? What’s your next move?

There are several careers that allow you to be in the sports arena, just in a different capacity. If you are a motivator and love kids, you can consider being a teacher/coach. A career as a high school teacher allows you to motivate and teach kids and you can consider coaching as a supplemental income. Check out Career Spotlight: High School Teacher to learn more. According to ONET, coaches and scouts are in demand.

High School Basketball Team Having Team Talk With Coach

Do you enjoy writing? Sports journalists who are former athletes are always a favorite among readers. What a great way to share your love of the game and personal experience with others. Check out Best. Job. EVER.: Sports Journalist to read about this cool career. Sports broadcasting is another option in the journalism area. Check out Education Portal to learn more.

LOS ANGELES, CA – June 13, 2014. NBC Sports announcers sitting outside the LA Staples Center before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

A career as an athletic trainer is another option for former athletes. Check out the following sites for salary information and more details:

ONET

ExploreHealthCareers

Education Portal

Regardless of what career you currently have, if you are itching to make a change, examine the following as you begin:

What is missing from what I do now that I want to be able to do on a regular basis? What skills do I need to use on a regular basis to bring satisfaction?

What is it that I do now that I want to continue to be able to do? What skills that I want to continue to use are transferrable to other careers?

What type of environment do I enjoy working in?

What careers match with the skills and abilities I want to use and are also in line with my work values?

A career assessment may help you with these questions. We can help you with an in-depth assessment that examines your personality and desired skills and abilities or you can take a free one here.

January 20, 2015