When changing careers many people tend to overly focus on what they need, whether that be further qualifications or new skills, rather than what they already have.

For instance, several years ago I was in the process of making a career transition from a finance background to web design. Having taught myself sufficient design skills to work in the web industry, I was, rather apprehensively, going through the process of approaching design studios seeking work.

Needless to say there were plenty of knock backs, but one creative director called me in for a chat one afternoon. At that point I really had no commercial portfolio (aside from some “demonstration” work) to show, and was wondering how on Earth I was going to make any sort of impression.

The creative director looked over my CV (as totally devoid of web design experience as it was!) and with a smile said, “I like what I see here.”

He could see I was a little puzzled, so elaborated. “You have all these communication and customer relationship skills. They’re so important in this industry. It is essential that we listen carefully to our clients, and understand what they want. And the ability to communicate with clients is also of paramount importance. I see these skills all over your CV!”

The way he spoke, I felt 90% qualified for the job before we had even talked about my design skills. He had recognised, and even pointed out, a number of transferable skills I hadn’t even thought about!

While new skills and knowledge, and possibly some study, are more than likely required to make any career transition, the first thing you should do is make a list of your existing skills, and then find ways of seeing how they could apply to your new career.

And everyone, no matter what they’ve done, or where they’ve worked previously, will have transferable skills. They are almost like invisible abilities, or talents, we acquire and develop without even realising it.

For instance a check out operator, bus driver, or waiter, will have customer service, communication, and multi-tasking abilities. An accountant, or computer programmer, could have problem solving and presentation skills.

So lets make a list of the more common transferable skills: communication, problem solving, customer or client relationship, training or supervision, office management, other languages spoken, multi-tasking (which, by the way, doesn’t necessarily mean doing numerous tasks simultaneously), report or letter and email writing, public speaking and presentations, and delegation.

And don’t over look less obvious skills, and knowledge, such as “day-to-day” computer software, like Word and Excel, which are virtually staple requirements of just about any office based role.

This list is by no means comprehensive, and I’m sure you will have other transferable skills unique to your own background and experience. But by understanding what you already have, and what can be “recycled” in your new career, will make the task of working out what new skills and knowledge you do need to acquire, a whole lot easier.

Friday’s are always good for reading and research I think. You don’t want to be getting yourself in too deep so close to the weekend now do you?

With that in mind I’ve prepared a list of articles and quizzes to kick start your career change research.

• What’s Your True Talent? Try this on-line quiz from Tickle that tests your talents in five categories, Abstract Reasoning, Mechanical, Numerical, Spatial, or Verbal ability, and challenges you to answer a blend of logical and metaphorical questions. While free to take an email address is required to view the test’s summary results. A more in depth analysis of your test score is also available for a small cost.
• On Cruise Control is an inspirational and insightful article at Jugglezine offering strategies to avoid, or get out of, life ruts. It’s not an article that focuses on changing careers as such, but certainly some of the suggestions for getting out of life ruts make food for thought for those looking to change careers.
• Groper is on-line career assessment tool developed by Australian company Groper International and assesses your level of interest in over 170 occupations to determine the career, and area of study, that best suits you. The test costs AUD$29.95 and takes about 30 minutes to complete, after which results are emailed to you. Take a tour to learn more.
• Starting your own business is a sure fire of making a career change and doing the sort of work you enjoy. If only there were a way to overcome the anxiety and uncertainty that taking such a big step invokes. Yet “fear is not the problem… the problem is how we respond to our fear,” writes Life and Business Coach Linda Anderson in Overcoming fear of running your own business, an article that shows us how to come to allay the fears that may be holding us back.
• I very much doubt that any career, no much how we may love it, is completely free of stress. Reducing stress requires a scientific approach and the boffins at New Scientist have obliqued with an article that suggests Six steps to a stress-free career. Maybe this would make better reading on a Monday!

Well here we are, almost at the end of the first week of The InterChange Desk.

I’d just like to thank everyone who has dropped by and had a look at what’s happening here. I hope you will find this site a useful resource, if not right now, then certainly at some point in the future.

With the design and setup of the site is pretty much complete, I can now focus more on content production and also start spreading the word about this place.

As the The InterChange Desk has a Monday to Friday working week, we’ll see you again on Monday. Thanks once more for dropping by, and always free to send a message, or leave a comment, if you wish to contact us.

Have a great weekend!

Here’s something we’ll be discussing in more depth later, but I thought I’d touch on the topic today since this little promotional gimmick from Sydney plumbing company, Chiswick Plumbing, arrived in my letter box this morning.

So let’s open it up and have a look. The “letter-box drop” essentially comes in two parts. First up there is a “cash back” offer if you use this particular company’s plumbing services.

While that is an enticement in itself, what for me makes this particular gimmick eye catching is the inclusion of a “lucky penny”. By the way, the term “gimmick” is used in its most positive connotation here.

The lucky penny is something that definitely makes this promotional campaign all the more unique, and most importantly, memorable.

And finally, that staple of all letter-box drop campaigns, the “fridge magnet”.

But what a simple, yet effective, way to make an impression! Out of all the fridge magnets that arrive in my letter box, vying for attention, this one wins it hands down!

To me this stresses the importance of self marketing and promotion, during the career change process, especially while searching for work in a new field. Particularly a field, or industry, where you have little or no experience.

If the proverb “first impressions last” holds true, promoting or marketing yourself in a unique and specialised manner may work wonders. Doing something that draws attention to yourself could very well tip the scales in your favour, and lead to the opportunity you are looking for.

In summary, don’t worry so much about who to impress, but rather how to impress.

Acting has to be best job ever, right? I mean you get to work with all those stars, socialise with all those stars (and go to all those decadent parties to boot), and maybe even marry one or two (or five) of those stars. (Just not all at the same time though, please!)

At other times you travel the world, and visit exotic locations to “work”, and stay in five star hotels each night. Then there’s the times you walk the red carpet on premiere night, applauded by an adoring public. Doesn’t leave much time to work on that acceptance speech should when you win that Oscar!

Well all of that may be true, but first you’ve got to get into drama school. (And sometimes that in itself is harder than landing a role in a movie!) Then you have to complete the course and graduate. Then you have to compete for the attention of a casting agent. That is compete with all the other acting graduates, not just from your acting school, but all the other schools as well!

To say nothing of the competition from the experienced actors! And while we’re on the subject, how many out-of-work actors are there again? Why do so many actors refer to that something called their “lucky break”? Even the best known ones? I thought lucky breaks were for other people, not actors!

Sure acting is fun, challenging, and glamourous. Finding acting work however, may not be.

But then again, what’s so glamorous about all those late night shoots? And the early morning shoots? As in 3-am early, shots? How about having to lose 20 kilos for a role? How about having to gain 20 kilos for a role?

And how about all those fans? How about the extra persistent ones, who seem to somehow get hold of your mobile phone number, your address, and your private photo collection, and try and auction the whole lot off over the internet? Ah, the price of fame!

How about having the paparazzi camped on your doorstep, day and night, waiting for that candid, and often less than flattering photo “op”?

So, no, I’m not saying discount acting as a career, (seriously!) if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be, but honestly winning millions in lotto just might be easier!

Of course a Hollywood talent scout may be working undercover at your workplace and has already informed his superiors of your hilarious antics at the water cooler.

Excuse me, have to go, I think that is the phone call I’ve been “waiting for”…

Maybe the first sign, or symptom, that you are fed up with your job, or career, is the fact you are reading this article.

What time is it? Is this your lunch or coffee break? Or are you desperately trying to “fill-in” time until the close of business? Or until lunchtime? Or, worse still, is your work day only ten minutes old, and reading this article is the first of many “distractions” you have planned for the rest of the (long) day?

In that case it could be you are just a little disenchanted with your work. So are you really in a career rut? Here are some more indications you could be.

This job is really boring

A lot of people are familiar with this feeling, but you have to determine exactly why you are bored. Just about every job, no matter how exciting, still has its dry or dull aspects.

For example a sales person may love going out on the road, meeting people, making sales, and also relish the challenge of reaching monthly sales targets. On the other hand, he or she may abhor the paperwork that each deal requires.

What exactly bores you? Is some of it great and some of it not so great? Does the good manage to outweigh the bad? Or is there absolutely nothing that excites or challenges you about your work?

Has anyone seen my MOJO?

Another important factor. How invigorating is the prospect of going to work? Do you literally charge out of the house each morning saying “let me at it!”?

Once at work, how engaged and energetic do you feel? Are you pleased to be there? Or does your heart sink as your daily commute brings you closer to the workplace?

Going slowly, very slowly…

We all experience times during the day when things are going slowly, and we’re not really doing much. The computer system is down, or there is simply a temporary lull in the work flow.

Or perhaps we are distracted by thoughts of a conversation with our partner before work, or an email that arrived from a friend.

But we’re not really talking about that sort of decreased productivity. Are you finding that work is piling up, and you are frequently missing deadlines? Do you look at your workload and have no idea where to start? Can you even be bothered trying to work out where to start?

Time out, and plenty of it

Are you taking increasing amounts of time off work?

Using up all that “sick leave” then? Are you the last person to arrive for work in the morning, and the first to leave each evening? Are you finding your lunch hours are becoming lunch two-hours?

In other words are you doing your level best to keep away from the workplace?

I am the hermit

Do you find yourself constantly making up excuses to avoid Friday night drinks, the monthly team lunch, or other work functions?

Does the thought of getting together socially with your colleagues outside of work hours, perhaps for a weekend sports match, fill you with dread? Is the prospect of having to see your colleagues during the week bad enough, to say nothing of evenings or weekends?

Wind me up

Are you having trouble sleeping? Are you no longer able to wind down, and relax, after work each day?

Are non work activities or hobbies, that you once enjoyed, no longer as fulfilling or satisfying as they used to be?

This makes me so irrate!

Are you aware of feelings of irritability, anger, and frustration? Are you experiencing these feelings away from work, even though you cannot find a reason outside the work environment for feeling so upset?

Time to sum up. How many of the above situations can you relate to? Do all, or most, of these signs and symptoms, seem familiar?

This list is by no means comprehensive, and different people will feel different things, but it’s a fair bet to say that if your work is causing you to experience all, or many of these feelings, then it is time to consider moving on.

And what’s the point in staying somewhere that patently makes you unhappy?

“Life’s too short” may be a cliche, but the words ring very true. And while “you spend a third of your life working” may be another cliche, the message is unmistakable, isn’t it?

What do you want to do?

To “Sea Change” is to do something uniquely Australian. It refers to a desire to leave the big city, the cluttered lifestyle and, in many cases, a high powered career, to find a simpler life most often in a small town somewhere along the coast, or near the sea. Hence the term, Sea Change.

By doing so, “Sea Changers” feel they can achieve greater “life balance” away from the congested and noisy city streets, and the endless hours demanded by their high paying jobs. So they quit their jobs, sell their houses, pack up the car, and effectively drive to a far away beach to start a new life. (And when put that way, no wonder so many people are talking about it!)

It is also referred to as “downshifting” since Sea Changers, on giving up their high powered careers and, more significantly, the accompanying high powered salary, are often living on a greatly reduced income doing whatever work they can find in their new environs.

For Sea Changers though, the end justifies the means. Not only are they finding what they consider a better place to be, they also have more time to spend with their families, and the pursuit of interests they didn’t previously have time for. And although the change has come at some cost, in the end it is all worthwhile.

In a way Career Changers are a little like Sea Changers. Walking away from a situation they don’t like, and looking for something more fulfilling. Perhaps we could coin a new phrase here, and give ourselves a name: “C Changers”!

But while Sea Changers only have to open an atlas to find somewhere new to go, Career Changers usually face more of a challenge when it comes to searching for direction.

And finding a new direction to go in, is undoubtedly, the single most important aspect of the career change process. Once we find that direction, let’s call it a will, finding a way to reach our destination becomes that much easier. And as well all know, where there’s a will there’s a way.

So like our Sea Change friends, we know we want a change. We want a new career. We want our our own “C Change”. But where do we want to go, and what do we want to do next?

Well let us follow the Sea Changers’ example. Just as they dream of a better life before making it happen, let us dream also. If Sea Changers can find direction in that way, so can we.

So imagine, or dream for a moment, that money is not a problem. In other words, picture a situation where you have an unlimited supply of cash, and don’t need to earn to a single cent to support you or your family.

In that ideal state, what would you do? What dream business, or enterprise, would you establish? What “perfect” job would you apply for?

And whatever answer you have there, is the beginning, or the first step, of the career change process.

And I stress beginning, because frankly some dreams are just a little unrealistic or next to impossible to achieve! But we’ll return to that point, and explore in more detail, at a later time. The most important step, however is finding that new direction.

So start, or keep, dreaming. After all nothing is worse than being stuck in a job that makes you unhappy. Change is possible, and as with the Sea Changers, it comes at cost, but in the end it is all worthwhile.