In pursuit of a Career Change

This is Eileen

by Eileen Dooley 9/21/2012 3:32:34 PM
Hi everyone, let's get started. With us is Eileen Dooley, a certified coach and lead consultant for McRae Inc. in Calgary. She'll be answering questions that have been sent to us via e-mail and questions that arrive in the live queue.

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:03:22 PM
If you sent in an e-mail with your question, Eileen will address those. As well, fell free to press the Comment Now button above and send in your question now. They will go into our queue. Here's Eileen's column addressing this issue: www.theglobeandmail.com

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:03:43 PM
Hi everyone! I'm Gillian Livingston, the Careers Web editor. We'll begin the chat at noon.

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:03:46 PM
Welcome Eileen!

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:04:00 PM
Here's our first question from a reader who sent in an email, and has joined us online: I work in government as a Marketing and Communications Advisor with a salary of about $65k per year, decent benefits and a defined benefit pension plan. I'm 26 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Lately, I have been bogged down by the inefficiencies of government and lackluster career opportunities. I have five years experience. But I'm not sure how marketable I am or what options are available to me in the private sector. What do you advise?

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:06:10 PM
You are marketable and the experience and skills that you have honed during this time can be used by other organizations. What are the key skills you have as it pertains to marketing and put those skills out there when applying for other jobs. It is not about where you worked. It is about what you can do

by Eileen Dooley 9/21/2012 4:06:51 PM
What's the best way to highlight your skills, not your past jobs, when looking for a change?

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:07:39 PM
If you are referring to resumes, have a skills and accomplishment section underneath your profile. List four key skills and underneath each skill, list three key accomplishment that illustrate that skill. Also, in talking with others, tell them what your skills, are in addition to your job area.

by Eileen Dooley 9/21/2012 4:09:16 PM
Another question that came to us via e-mail: I've been working in IT/Software Support for a little over a decade. I've worked with a half dozen companies, and am tired of dealing with constant restructuring and poor management.

As I approach 40 I feel I really need to make a change soon. I'm not opposed to continuing to work with technology. I do, however, want to move away from a break/fix role and find something more meaningful.

Healthcare seems to be an area of growth with promise of stability. I feel knowing I'm helping people and not just "greasing the wheel" would make me feel better at the end of the day. I really don't know much about the industry, however. Outside standard IT roles, do you know of any healthcare related technologies that don't require medical degrees?

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:10:04 PM
Make sure you are making a change for the right reason. Restructuring and poor management exist everywhere. It is just something you need to roll with. To answer your questions, you need to research and a good place to start is a government career website. In Alberta it is called ALIS (Alberta Learning Information Service). You can search professions and it will list industries, education required, salary, etc. Go from there.

by Eileen Dooley edited by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:11:00 PM
An aside: Go to tgam.ca/careers and vote in our poll on the right hand side. It asks if you're bored with your job. So far 25% are bored and looking for a change; 19% are bored but will stay put; 27% say if they're bored or not depends on the day; and 30% love their job.

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:11:29 PM
Here's a question from our queue.

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:12:05 PM
I work for a Electrical utility company in B.C. I've been in this area of profession for 8 years. With baby on the way we are looking to make the jump to Asia. I've researched extensively but haven't found a suitable new passion. I consider myself social and a hard worker.

by Mr. M edited by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:12:08 PM
In doing a significant relocation like that, it may be a good idea to find what you already do in Canada. When in Asia, see where the jobs exist and in what area, and start researching from there.

by Eileen Dooley 9/21/2012 4:15:46 PM
Can working in 1 job too long, especially mid career, hinder yourself unhireable by other employers?

by Water Meter 9/21/2012 4:16:41 PM
No, as long as you demonstrate a progression of learning and responsibility at that company. Even if you have had the same job, illustrate how the job has grown since you have been there.

by Eileen Dooley 9/21/2012 4:18:00 PM
Here's a question from e-mail: I'm a journalist by profession. My credentials are from Pakistan, and somehow they have not gotten me anywhere here in Canada. My MA in journalism and a Sheridan College 1 year certificate in 'Canadian journalism for internationally trained writers' has proved of no use even after living in Canada for 17 years. I've done call centre jobs in supervisory positions, and only could find one year in The Hamilton Spectator newsroom as a web internee. I'm so done and don't want to go back to call centres reading from limited scripts, when I can be the one who knows how to write better scripts.
My question:I want to start a not-for-profit for foreign trained professionals, especially journalists, and other new immigrants, providing them with settlement services through government of Canada funding and other donors. Will this make as a good career change?
(I've always been good in mentoring and leading in my life.I consider these to be my strengths.)

by Gillian Livingston 9/21/2012 4:19:25 PM
When starting a new business, be sure to check to see if there is interest in this kind of business before you put a lot of time and money into it. See who is interested in funding it, and what the funder would get out of it. And check to see if there is competition out there. Research is paramount in this case.

by Eileen Dooley 9/21/2012 4:20:15 PM
A question... how do I know it's time to be looking for a new job? Are there signs I should be looking for? Like lack of challenge, or everyone else seems to be advancing but me?

by Career Guy 9/21/2012 4:20:34 PM

In pursuit of a Career Change

How to go about searching for a new career