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.

  • Career Change for Athletes

    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
    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.
    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.

  • Career Spotlight: High School Teacher

    Career Spotlight: High School Teacher

    Do you love kids? Are you a good communicator who has a passion for coaching and developing others? Is organization one of your strengths? If so, then a career as a High School Teacher may be perfect for you.

    On the other hand, if you don’t enjoy being around children or are interested in an enormous salary, becoming a teacher may not be a good fit for you.

    High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market. Read more at Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Check out this article from The Washington Post to find out the 12 Qualities Great Teachers Share.

    What do you need to be a High School Teacher?

    Education:

    A Bachelor’s Degree is required to become a high school teacher.

    If you are a high school student and would like to become a teacher, focus on taking classes in the subject(s) you plan to teach.

    If you are interested in a career change to the education field and already have a Bachelor’s Degree, you can enroll in an alternative certification program and become a teacher in 1-2 years. Find out more at Education Portal.

    Skills:

    High School Teachers know about:

    • Learning Strategies
    • Speaking and Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Time Management
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Social Perceptiveness

    Is the field growing?

    ONET reports a “Bright Outlook” for High School Teaching Jobs. Careers in this field are expected to have a large number of job openings over the next 10 years.

    According to Teach.com, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education is a great example of an area where there is a high demand for great teachers. Teaching might be an ideal career change for an individual with a degree in one of the STEM areas.

    students

     

    What is the pay like?

     

    High School Teacher Pay

     

    What’s the Holland Code* for a High School Teacher?

     

    Interest code: SAE- Social, Artistic, Enterprising

    Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
    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.
    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.

     

    Source: http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2141.00

     

    If you are interested in learning more about becoming a High School Teacher, check out ONET.

     

    Would you want to be a High School Teacher? 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.

  • Career Spotlight: Most Stressful Jobs

    Career Spotlight: Most Stressful Jobs

    Do you like to live on the edge? If so, you might find your future career on the most stressful jobs list. A recent study suggests that jobs that require you to face unpredictable conditions, immediate dangers and high-stakes situations rank among the most stressful of 2014.

    According to a study from job search site CareerCast, jobs where people are putting their lives on the line are the most stressful. Who tops the list you ask? Military personnel (enlisted and generals), firefighters and airline pilots are all there.

    According to the site, salaries and education levels for the most stressful jobs vary. The median salaries and education required for those jobs are:

    Enlisted Military Personnel – $28,840 (GED or high school diploma)

    Military General – $196,300 (varies: specialized training, may also require a master’s degree)

    Firefighter – $45,250 (training varies: certificate, 2 years or 4 years of college)

    Airline pilot – $114,200 (training varies: license, 2 years or 4 years of college)

    According to ONET, the only one of these careers that will be considered high demand in the next several years is a career as a Firefighter.

    If you are interested in learning more about these careers, check out these links: Military Careers,Firefighter, Airline Pilot.

    Would you want to have one of these most stressful jobs? Why or why not?

  • 1 Tip for Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads Ready to Re-enter the Workplace

    In talking with a successful realtor (see her story on Thursday’s blog post!) about her transition back into the workplace after ten plus years out of the pay-for- working world (believe me she WORKED while she was at home, she just didn’t get paid to do it) her advice to those seeking to do the same was simple:

    Figure out where you frequent and pursue work opportunities there.

    Where you frequent could be a physical place or it could be a place in your mind. For example, this stay-at-home mom turned realtor featured on House Hunters found that she loved looking at and thinking about properties and houses and also had a desire to promote the community she loved, which she had done quite frequently through volunteer work with the schools and the hospital in town. She realized that she could continue to promote the community through marketing and selling homes, and in fact, this could potentially be the best way for her to give back and make the most impact to promote her community.

    In considering where you frequent look around and consider the jobs that may be available there.

    1. Where do you volunteer your time regularly? The animal shelter, library, volunteer centers, churches, etc. all have full and part-time positions that you may be suited for.
    2. Are you drawn towards volunteering frequently at your child(ren)’s school? Teaching or a role in education may be an option to consider. Teach.org has more information on how to get certified to teach state by state.
    3. Love to shop? Where is your favorite place to shop? People get paid to work there! Ask about job opportunities that may be a fit for you at your favorite store.
    4. Have a hobby? There are probably people in the market for what you make or the skills you have. Check out this post on where you can tap into the “free agent” society for your goods and skills: Are you a free agent by nature? All of the following are platforms to do this:

    Etsy

    Udemy

    Google Helpouts

    Freelance.com

  • 4 Ways to Take LinkedIn to the Next Level

    4 Ways to Take LinkedIn to the Next Level

    You’ve gotten a LinkedIn account set up, created a stand-out profile, built your network and have started searching for jobs.  Now what?

    Ideally your job search should lead to people seeking you out instead of you having to search and apply for openings.  This is done by creating a stellar profile and maintaining a personal brand that is consistent with your career goals.   Be active in your use of LinkedIn so that people will come to you.

    1. Manage your Skills & Endorsements to ensure the ones you want to be known for are seen (How to reorderthem)
    2. Get Active with Groups
    3. Get Active with Recommendation
    4. Be a Content Driver

    Have you taken your use of LinkedIn to the next level?  If so, what results have you seen?