Horizon Point Consulting

Category: Changing Careers

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

  • 3 Things to Do When You’re NOT Looking to Make a Career Move

    3 Things to Do When You’re NOT Looking to Make a Career Move

    HR professionals know the War for Talent is real. So, what does that mean for individuals who are comfortable in their current jobs? It’s simple; don’t get too comfortable.

    I received a call from a colleague once who said a hiring manager had reached out to her about me. Apparently, she had seen our connection on LinkedIn and asked if she thought I might be interested in a job. I wasn’t even looking, but was offered an opportunity that turned out to be enjoyable contract work and nice supplemental income.

    Now more than ever, recruiters and hiring managers are seeking out passive candidates. Even if you love your job, you never want to become complacent. Always strive to be the passive candidate companies are looking for.

    Here are 3 things to consider:

    1. Grow and foster your connections – reach out to at least one potential or current contact per week to touch base. This can be as simple as a call, text or email. Check out: 7 Networking Do’s and Don’ts.
    2. Keep your LinkedIn profile current. If you don’t have one, check out 3 Steps to Get Your LinkedIn Profile Job Search Ready.
    3. Be a lifelong learner. For ideas, read this article via HR bartender: How to Plan Time for Self- Learning.

    Are you ready to be an amazing, passive candidate?

  • 4 Reasons Why Job Hopping is a Good Thing

    4 Reasons Why Job Hopping is a Good Thing

    In my first gig out of college as a corporate recruiter, I had responsibility for the grind of hiring classes of customer service reps. Volume recruiting at its finest.   When I was trained by a co-worker on the company’s process for screening applicants, my fellow team member told me that the process used to include screening people out who were “job hoppers”- those that shown through their resume- couldn’t seem to stay at one job for more than a year or two at a time.

    Then the lawyers got involved and told us we couldn’t screen people out for that.  I understood both sides.  On the view of screening those job hoppers out, the company invested a substantial amount of time in training quality customer service reps. If someone had been shown to not stay with a place for longer than a year or two through their past behavior, (and past behavior predicts future performance had been drilled into my head from an interviewing and screening perspective) the company was making bad decisions hiring those that might not even stay through the entire training period.   And, although rule follower I am not, I could see why the lawyers told us not to.  Whisper potential adverse impact and you cut it out.

    But now I see another reason why screening people based on their “job hopping” isn’t a best practice.   In today’s workplace, average length of service is declining, hovering at less than five years for all workers. People change jobs quite often, and often for advancement and career growth reasons.

    Now when I look at someone’s resume and see they have been in the same job for more than 8-10 years, I am more inclined to think, what is wrong with you?  Why have you moved up, done more, gained more experience?

    A quote I saw on LinkedIn a couple of days ago said something along the lines of,  “What we used to call job hopping is now called career experimentation.”

    Whether you think the wording is all bull or not, there some potential advantages to hiring a job hopper:

    1. Diversity of experiences, which could lead to an ability to innovate and to contribute in a way that the company may not have thought of before.
    2. Indication of motivation and drive. Because many people job hop in order to advance in pay and/or responsibility, job hopping could show a greater level of drive than someone who is content to stay in one role at one company.
    3. Ability to find cultural fit. Because job hoppers have seen different work environments, they are better able to compare and contrast environments to know what environments are the best fit for them and seek out those environments and opportunities.
    4. A social capital advantage. People who have worked at a variety of places are bound to know more people.  And as social capital replaces human capital (who you know and what they collectively know as opposed to just what you know) as the biggest asset an employee can provide, having those who are well networked on your team can lead to better outcomes.

    As an employer, you’ve got to weigh your opportunity cost as to what a job hopper may bring to your table.   Considering the amount of time and training it takes for them to be a contributing member of your team, not to mention recruitment/replacement costs for particular roles, verses the above advantages is worth the analysis.

    Do you love or hate job hoppers?

     

    Like this post? You may also like:

    Millennials Stop Apologizing for your Job Hopping

  • Midlife Career Change – Is it for you?

    Midlife Career Change – Is it for you?

    Are you halfway to retirement and considering a career change? Maybe you’re in a role that is being eliminated or just ready to try something new as you dive in to the last half of your career. Where do you begin?

    First, a career assessment is a great place to start. My Next Move is a free one that can be completed online or we can help you with an in-depth assessment that examines your personality and desired skills and abilities.

    Another great resource for making a career change is the internet. You can search for “in-demand” careers online. According to Fortune, “healthcare and technology industries tied for the most openings in 2015.” ONET is another great tool for researching careers along with salaries and provides career exploration tools.

    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?

    Finally, why not do a trial run before jumping into a new career? Job shadowing is a great way to try out a new career (or two) before you make a change. Read 4 Tips for an Awesome Job Shadow or Informational Interview before your first one. 4 Great Benefits of Job Shadowing for Grown Ups offers more benefits of job shadowing for career changers.

    Check out 4 Ways to Change Careers in Midlife and 5 Tips for Midlife Career Change for more insight into making a midlife career change.

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

    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

     

    pay

     

    Civil Engineer

    CE

     

    Mechanical Engineer

    ME

     

    Environmental Engineer

    EE

     

    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)

     

    students

    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.

  • Career Spotlight: Urban Planner

    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?

    Pay-UrbanPlanner

     

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

    Interest code: IEA – Investigative, Enterprising, Artistic

    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.
    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.