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Transcript of Brilliant Career Finder
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brilliantcareer
finder
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how to find the right career for you
Josephine Monroe
brilliantcareer
finder
An imprint of Pearson Education
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PEARSON EDUCATION LIMITED
Head Office:Edinburgh GateHarlow CM20 2JETel: +44 (0)1279 623623Fax: +44 (0)1279 431059
London Office:128 Long AcreLondon WC2E 9ANTel: +44 (0)20 7447 2000Fax: +44 (0)20 7447 2170
Website: www.business-minds.com
First published in Great Britain in 2003
Pearson Education Limited 2003
The right of Josephine Monroe to be identified as Authorof this Work has been asserted by her in accordancewith the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
ISBN 0 273 66360 7
British Library Cataloguing in Publication DataA CIP catalogue record for this book can be obtained from the British Library.
All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, storedin a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without either the priorwritten permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copyingin the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd,90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. This book may not be lent,resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any formof binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without theprior consent of the Publishers.
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The Publishers policy is to use paper manufactured from sustainable forests.
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Josephine Monroe is a freelance journalist and author who has
written about media, the workplace and business for the Observer,
the Guardian, Time Out and The Times. This is her sixth book.
About the author
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Contents
part 1 introduction 1
1 background to career changes 3
2 why people look for another career 11
3 and why they dont 15
part 2 seven steps to changing your career 19
4 step 1 working out what you want work to do
for you 21
5 step 2 getting to know yourself 35
6 step 3 working out what you want to do 53
7 step 4 working out what youre qualified to do 67
8 step 5 getting to know your destination 83
9 step 6 map making 93
10 step 7 getting that job 109
part 3 quick ways to change your career 123
11 the easiest ways to change career 125
12 the voluntary sector 131
13 the public sector 135
14 getting a trade 141
15 predicting the future 147
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part 4 sector-by-sector information for
career changers 151
G agriculture and environmental work 153
G banking and finance 155
G consultancy 156
G crafts and trades 158
G education 160
G engineering, surveying and architecture 161
G government and voluntary sector 163
G health, beauty and well-being 164
G information technology 166
G law 167
G marketing and sales 169
G media 171
G property, interiors and estate agency 172
G recruitment 174
G retail 175
G
social sciences 177G therapy 178
G training 180
G travel and leisure 181
G writing, art and the performing arts 183
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introduction
part one
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If you reach for the snooze button rather than head for the shower, if
Tuesdays feel like Thursdays, or if the only time you come alive at work
is when you get a chance to moan about your employer, the chances
are that youre in the wrong job. If its any consolation though, you are
not alone. In fact, a recent survey of graduates estimated that up to 75
per cent were misemployed ten years after graduation.
Its no wonder. A career for most of us is a chain of choices and
opportunities that we dont control, which is why most workers arent
where theyd imagined theyd be five
years ago. We head off happily in one
direction and get manoeuvred by circum-
stance onto other paths. This is assum-
ing, of course, that we set out on the right
path in the first place.
Many people fall into their first job without too much thought.
Whether its the need to start earning money straight away or uncer-
tainty about which field to enter, many workers take the first job
theyre offered and dont stop to examine the consequences for years.
Without noticing, some find theyre in a position theyre unsuited to,
unqualified for and unable to endure with grace. The truth is, very few
people have a clear idea where they want to be or what they want tobe doing there. Consequently, they land jobs by default.
This book aims to take the uncertainty out of career planning. By
following a clear seven-point plan it will give you the tools to uncover
your innate talents, your hearts desire and the right path to follow. It
1 Background to careerchanges
3
Many people fall into their
first job without too much
thought.
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will then hold up a few road signs to get your new career journey off
to the best possible start.
The career has changed
One of the reasons there is a need for this book is that many 21st-
century workers want more from their working lives than their
20th-century counterparts ever dreamed of. The generic career itself
has changed. No longer do we enter a corporation on graduation from
school or university with enticements of incremental promotions and
a pension to keep us loyal. Whoever we work for these days, most
workers understand that ultimately they are working for themselves.
Work, weve been encouraged to believe, should be rewarding, fulfill-
ing and possibly even fun.
Its still shocking to some people, but work should be fun. Work
should inspire and sustain you, challenge and reward you. Put simply,
work should bring out the best in you.
If you consider that many of todays
workers will remain in the office until
their seventies before theyll have built
up a pension big enough to provide for
their retirement, you can see why you
need to make the time now to engineer acareer that works for you.
Many books about career changes help
readers find jobs in new professions that is not the only aim of this
book. The tests, tips and tools in this book are designed to bring you
satisfaction in the work place. Its not about what you can do but what
you want to do and how you achieve those aims. Now that might
mean striking out on your own for a while, sacrificing a regular salary
for contract work, freelancing or study. Twenty-first-century careers
arent as straightforward as we might have hoped.
Weve been raised to see a career as a ladder a linear structure
heading ever upwards. Pension contributions are calculated on the
belief that you will earn more at 40 than you did at 20, that you will
4 introduction
Its still shocking to some
people, but work should
be fun. Work should
inspire and sustain you,
challenge and reward
you.
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stay in the workforce until youre 65, and the ideal that you want a
comfortable retirement. Well, work just isnt like that any more. Welive in the Age of Entitlement and we all feel that we have a right to
be happy and rich. While its certainly not a right happiness and
wealth almost always require endeavour and maintenance its never
been more achievable for ordinary workers who are prepared to create
their dream career.
The new structure for the 21st-century career looks a bit like a
childs drawing of a flower: it has you at the centre of it and each petalrepresents one of your skillsets, your ambitions, your abilities and your
desires. Its not about progress, its about happiness.
If you change the labels, each petal could represent the different
ways you earn money. Perhaps you will earn part of your income fromone employer and some from freelancing or moonlighting for several
employers.
It may also help if you start to see a career change as a gradual pro-
gression, not a 180-degree turn that will give you whiplash! As you
read this book and start to look around for new directions, keep in
background to career changes 5
YOU
AMBITIONS
SKILL
S
ATTRIBU
TES
EXPERIENCE
AB
ILITIE
S
APTITUDES
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mind that you might not just be looking for one job maybe there are
several little ones that would suit you better. The smaller the movesyou make for instance grafting on a bit of moonlighting to shift your
horizons slightly the easier it is to proceed with confidence.
The reason so many people now find themselves in careers that
dont excite them is that they chose a career based on the old ladder
model. Encouraged by old-school think-
ing into entry-level jobs in sectors that
employed people with their qualifica-tions, a high percentage of the work-
force finds itself wondering whether the
grass might be greener somewhere else.
People in linear careers tend to get con-
cerned with promotions, pay rises and
impressive job titles and sometimes these can seem more important
than their actual day-to-day work.
Career counselling
If you were lucky enough to have career counselling at school or uni-
versity, the chances are you were asked the kind of questions that lead
to poor career choices. If a career counsellor ever asked you What do
you want to do?, you can be fairly sure that you were given bad advice.For most people its simply unanswerable most of us just dont know
and asking an 18-year-old to commit to a path hes expected to
follow happily for the rest of his natural sounds like a particularly
chilling edition of the The X Files.
Sure, there are a few people who know for sure that they want to
be a footballer, a forensic scientist or a model, but most young people
dont know enough about the world of work to make a sensible deci-sion. If you think about it, the only professions todays teens really
understand are those their parents are in, those in teaching, those in
the entertainment industry and possibly those featured in TV dramas
such asER and The Bill. Its no wonder then that it takes most of us a
few more years to work out what we want from work.
6 introduction
People in linear careers
tend to get concerned
with promotions, pay
rises and impressive job
titles.
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This book aims to play the part of your personal career counsellor,
and from time to time will have to ask some prettypersonal questions.It will be worth your while not to answer immediately and to take your
time to work out your replies to questions such as What do you
enjoy?, How hard are you prepared to work? and How much risk can
you tolerate?
By answering different sorts of questions, you will build up a clearer
picture of the work you were born to do. And by using every one of
your talents and acknowledging everyone of your dreams, you will build a fully
rounded career, a life of satisfaction and
emotional gratification as well as finan-
cial reward just dont expect your next
job to be a logical step forward to a higher
salary because the career ladder got left
in the 20th century. Prepare yourself for
the possibility that you might end up taking on work that doesnt look
and feel like a proper job.
Dont worry, this isnt the hippy manifesto for Peace At Work. Of
course, one of the major if not the major reasons most people think
about changing career is the desire to earn more money. If thats the
reward youre most interested in getting from work then this book will
give you the information you need to climb aboard the Big Salary
Express. But be warned: one of the major
reasons there are so many career chang-
ers and potential career changers out
there is because they were lured into the
wrong profession in the first place by the
false promises of big salaries. A lot of
people quickly become demoralized and
disillusioned if theyre only in it for themoney.
Nevertheless, if thats all you want,
its within your power to attain it. The key to making your career work
for you is to uncover your hidden desires and secret ambitions, as this
enables you to unlock what you really, really want. This book will take
background to career changes 7
Prepare yourself for the
possibility that you might
end up taking on work
that doesnt look and feel
like a proper job.
The key to making your
career work for you is to
uncover your hidden
desires and secret
ambitions, as this enables
you to unlock what you
really, really want.
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you through a series of prompts and tests that are designed to uncover
your true desires and whether the thing you want most from work ismoney, a good time or a sense of purpose, the techniques are the same.
Good time to move
The good news for career changers is that there has never been a better
time to start over, do a career U-turn, lateral sashay or downshift. We
live in a time of virtually full employment: mostly, there is work out
there for those who want it. This means employers are having to
change the way they view their staff. No longer is a companys major
asset its products, its headquarters or its brand names its the talent
that walks out of the door every evening.
Recruiting and retaining staff is one of the biggest challenges facing
employers now, and that creates opportunities for workers to build jobs
for themselves outside of conventional job descriptions. Smart employ-
ers now actively seek to accommodate the needs of smart job seekers.
So whether youre looking to work part time, work flexitime or get day
release for training or moonlighting, things are looking good.
Another factor in career changers favour is that its no longer
unusual to change careers mothers returning to the workforce have
trailblazed the notion for decades and most employers are now will-
ing to look at candidates with a fewkinks in their CVs. It will be your ability
to demonstrate enthusiasm for the com-
pany and your role within it that is likely
to impress an employer most.
Another boost for job seekers of the
unconventional kind is that the concept
of transferable skills is now well under-
stood, and management, computer or
book-keeping skills learned in one sector are rarely any different from
those used in another sector. If an employer is looking for a good
people manager, they wont care too much where you learned to
manage people, just how well you do it.
8 introduction
It will be your ability to
demonstrate enthusiasm
for the company and your
role within it that is likely
to impress an employer
most.
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So although its daunting, you can see there are plenty of reasons to
be enthusiastic and expectant of a glittering new career opening up toyou over the next few months.
background to career changes 9
Career changer profile
Hilary, 44, teacher to fundraiser
I had only gone into teaching as the hours were convenient when my
kids were small. But as my children got older, getting home early and
having the summer holidays off was less important than it had been
and I realized I didnt want to be a teacher for the rest of my life.
I started to look around for something else, not having a clue about
what I wanted. So I went to a careers advice service where I was given
some psychometric tests to do they all suggested I had management
skills and leadership potential, but while that gave me confidence to
look for something else, they didnt show me where to look.
At the time, the only thing I could think to do was to get a qualifica-
tion in something else, but having three kids meant I didnt have the
financial option of going back to college. Nor did I have the time. My
only option was to do some courses at nightschool.
The first course I took was a GSCE in law. To this day Im not reallysure why, I had never wanted to be a lawyer but I guess I thought it
might be useful and interesting. The following year I did another GSCE,
this time in business studies, which I found absolutely fascinating.
During this time I also kept an eye on the job market to see what sorts
of opportunities came up for a single mum, approaching middle age,
with three kids. Funnily enough there werent that many and I really
couldnt see a way forward for a long time.
I had been the union rep at my school and this had brought me into
contact with some officials at the local council but I had no idea at the
time that this would be key to finding a new career. I was vaguely aware
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10 introduction
that the charitable sector was more accepting of people with less expe-rience and so I had started to look at recruitment ads in this sector. One
day I read an ad for a local charity for single mums that needed some-
one with business experience and knowledge of how the council
worked to get a new drop-in centre off the ground. Although I wasnt
perfectly qualified, I thought my status as a single mum, my council
contacts and GCSEs would give me a chance. As it turned out the low
salary meant very few people applied and, as I got on well with the
interview panel, I was offered the job.
I stayed there for two years, applying for grants and dealing with the
council, and finally got the centre up and running. I discovered the bit
of the job I enjoyed the most dealt with raising finance it was much
more interesting than general administration and when the time was
right to move on I looked for specialized fundraising jobs. I have now
been working in fundraising for ten years and have worked for three dif-
ferent charities. Its very challenging, very hard work but incredibly
rewarding. Im also quite good at it. There was no way I could have
known it would work out so well, but sometimes you have to put one
foot in front of the other and just see where you end up.
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Circumstances change
Weve already looked at why many workers fall into jobs and compa-
nies not ideally suited to them. While thats understandable, its
amazing that so many never look to make changes and end up staying
misemployed for longer than theyd care to remember. For some, the
motivation to look for a new line of work strikes only when the job
theyve been unhappy in for years is taken away from them. But
whether theyve been laid off or given the boot, luckily for them the
scrap heap often provides a good vantage point from which to spot
new opportunities.
Others dont need quite such a decisive kick up the backside to get
their careers on the right track. Increasingly workers are recognizing
that their grumpiness in the morning, in
the office and in the pub has a root in
their job. And instead of just moaning
about it, they are starting to look around.
Encouraged by entrepreneurs who
changed the British working culture so
much during the dotcom boom, and
intrigued by talk of free agents and MePlc, a greater number of workers than
ever are recognizing that work should sustain and fulfil them, and are
finding the correct outlet for their professional frustration a career
change.
2 Why people look foranother career
11
For some, the motivation
to look for a new line of
work strikes only when
the job theyve been
unhappy in for years is
taken away from them.
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While these background factors encourage some, they also make
others jealous. When the papers are full of self-made millionaires, bigCity bonuses and second homes in the country, its not surprising that
so many of us think we went into the wrong profession. If youve got
friends who always get sent to conferences in exotic places, get to
work from home or take home five times the salary you do, its only
human to feel a little envious.
Money, money, money
As the huge price rises in the UK property market in the past decade
have locked out more and more first-time buyers, the only way to get
on the property ladder has been to earn more money. While the need
to earn more each month is a major moti-
vation for changing career, its certainly
not the only factor. A 2002 survey of NHS
workers in the UK found that while the
low wages were a major reason that so
many were looking to leave the profes-
sion, the lack of opportunity for advance-
ment also came in the top five reasons, as
did feeling undervalued by their man-
agers and the public. Of course, these factors affect workers in all pro-fessions, not just the public sector.
There are some more practical reasons why many workers are
forced to look for something new. Like miners in a coal town where the
pit has been closed, there is often no option to remain in your old line
of work. For instance, in Britain the manufacturing sector has
declined rapidly (as have other sectors) and manufacturing workers
have had to acquire the communication and computer skills required
to work in the service sector, an area of the economy that now employs
almost three-quarters of British workers.
Even in buoyant areas of the economy, the constant march of tech-
nology continues to make some roles redundant. As an example, a sec-
retary who can only take dictation and type letters isnt very useful any
12 introduction
While the need to earnmore each month is a
major motivation for
changing career, its
certainly not the only
factor.
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more in a culture where bosses send memos by e-mail and synchro-
nize their diaries in Outlook. The secre-tary has become the PA and the skills of
the PA include sorting out technical
glitches and developing a good relation-
ship with the bosss childminder, while
in other professions the internet has cut
out middlemen and allowed workers all
over the world to share the same infor-mation, forcing several service suppliers into the ground.
why people look for another career 13
Even in buoyant areas of
the economy, the constant
march of technology
continues to make some
roles redundant.
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Its just your imagination
Despite the many and varied reasons why people might need to seek
out alternative employment, many of them dont. And thats because
for every reason to look for something new, theres a factor that con-
vinces them to stick with the devil they know.
The reason to stay put may be a simple case of lack of imagination
they just cant see themselves on any other path. Most probably,
though, its a case of an overactive imagination. Human beings have a
safety valve that generally stops them from doing anything reckless.
We have the ability to imagine the future and to protect us from
endangering ourselves our subconscious has a tendency to dwell on
the worst-case scenario in the hope that well stay safely where we are.
What our subconscious often overlooks, however, is that where we
are isnt always the safest place to be. If our sector is shrinking, or
technology is taking our jobs away from
us, that scary place in the future might
well end up being a safer haven than our
current rut. Nevertheless, fear of the
unknown is probably the biggest reason
why people stay in jobs that make themmiserable.
First they have to overcome the fear of
failure what happens if their career adventure backfires and they
have to return to their old profession with their tail between their legs?
3 and why theydont
15
Fear of the unknown is
probably the biggest
reason why people stay in
jobs that make them
miserable.
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Well, the chances are theyd get a lot of respect for having taken a risk
and sticking their necks out: employers are always looking to hold onto people with drive and imagination. But as their negative minds con-
spire against them, this isnt the reaction they choose to imagine.
Then they have to deal with the fear of poverty. Very often a change
in career means, in the short term, a drop in salary. Thats because
people leave sectors where they have several years experience (not to
mention the associated accrued pay rises) for entry-level jobs in their
new sector. For older workers with the trappings of age children,mortgages and a taste for the good life returning to the salary of a
20-year-old is either not feasible or not desirable. Thats one of the rea-
sons why this book will encourage you where possible to make your
career change in smaller steps, getting the experience that commands
a decent salary through freelancing and moonlighting.
Of course, a job doesnt just supply you with money. Leaving your
job requires leaving behind all the other things it gives you as well
friends, familiarity, status and contacts
as well as things such as pension contri-
butions and share option schemes.
Sometimes, common sense contrives to
keep us where we are.
The single biggest reason, however,
why people dont manoeuvre themselves out of jobs that fail to fulfil
them is that they just dont know what they want. Either they cant decide
between several exciting options Shall I run a pub or be a beauty
contest judge? or they have no way of knowing how their skills
would be valued in other professions. The aim of this book is to remove
all the barriers we put between ourselves and the work we were born
to do.
The seven steps
This book will give you the tools you need to assess your worth to
unfamiliar employers and aims to remove as much of the fear of
breaking out as possible. The path to a fear-free move is paved with
16 introduction
Sometimes, common
sense contrives to keep
us where we are.
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seven stepping stones and this book will explain all of them simply
and concisely.
1 When people rush into a career change they often overlook the first
step and thats working out what you want work to do for you.
Most career books start from the perspective of what work do you
want to do? and as weve already discussed, this rarely produces a
useful answer. By starting at an even more fundamental level, we
will build a better launch pad for your new career.
2 Before we get carried away, however, we need to make sure we
know ourselves, and a little psychometric profiling may reveal
hidden or latent talents that youve never offered to an employer
before. The better you know yourself, the better youll be able to sell
yourself to a new employer, client or customer.
3 The next step is to use a series of prompts and tests to divine what
you really want to do. Well then set about some practical tasks that
will prepare you for progress.
4 Unfortunately, what we want to do isnt always possible (sadly,
beer guts tend to get in the way of playing for England and a love
of music doesnt mean youve got the talent to make a career out of
it) so we need to assess what you are qualified to do. The results of
the CV exercises in Step 4 may surprise you you should end up
feeling qualified for almost anything!
5 Using all the information youve gathered in the first four steps,
youll identify the areas you want to work in and start investigat-
ing them.
6 When youre starting out on a journey, especially a tricky one, it
helps if you have a map and this step is all about drawing that map.
Youll establish a plan that marks out the route from where you are
to where you want to be.
7 In the final step, we will discover the best ways to approach new
employers and the best ways to impress them when you meet them
the vital finishing touches required to secure the future you want.
and why they dont 17
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seven steps
tochangingyour career
part two
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When people start thinking about changing career, the first thing most
want to decide on is which exciting sector to look for work in. Either
they have a clear idea of where they want
to go or they have the anywhere but
here attitude and believe any job would
be better than the one they currently
have.
But as Glinda, the good witch of the
North, said to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
as she started out on the Yellow Brick
Road: Its always best to start at the
beginning and thinking about your next job is not the beginning. To
lay good foundations for your career change (and hopefully to avoid
another one in the future) you have to start by looking at the job you
have now and work out why it isnt making you happy.
Begin by looking at this random list of good things people often say
their work gives them. (If youre wondering why there isnt a list of
the bad things a job offers, its because all jobs consist of inconve-
nience, annoyances and paperwork. Sorry.) Put them in order of
importance to you and discard the benefits and corollaries of work
that mean nothing to you:
n money
n status
n power
4 Step 1 working outwhat you want workto do for you
21
When people start
thinking about changing
career, the first thingmost want to decide on is
which exciting sector to
look for work in.
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n satisfaction
n a sense of purpose
n friends
n thrills
n challenges
n long-term security
n fun
n opportunity for growth
n creative freedom
n autonomy
n material rewards.
Your list should give you a snapshot of the benefits and rewards you
most want your next job to give you. Now, ask yourself how many of
these benefits your current job supplies you with. If it isnt very many,its easy to see why youve been feeling restless and unfulfilled.
But this short, incomplete list doesnt reveal what really motivates
and drives you at work. The next survey, however, has been designed
to uncover your unconscious ambitions for work.
Career motivation surveyThe following eight sections of questions will help you discover the
things you really want from work. Right now you might be thinking
that all you want is a big salary or to do
something meaningful in 20 minutes,
though, you might realize thats not
really what you want, or its only part of
the story.
The instructions for completing the
survey are relatively simple. Each section
consists of nine statements; your task is to allocate 15 points among
the nine statements. You could give all 15 points to one statement or
22 seven steps to changing your career
Right now you might be
thinking that all you want
is a big salary or to dosomething meaningful.
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spread them fairly evenly across the statements depending on how
strongly you agree with them. For the results to be accurate though,your total points for each section must be exactly 15. No more, no less.
When you have completed all eight sections, fill in the category
column (categories run from A to I) from the data in the results sec-
tion at the end. Finally add up the points you have awarded to each
category.
step 1 working out what you want work to do for you 23
Section 1
i Wherever I work I always have a prestigious
position
ii Friendships at work would make it hard for me to
move on
iii Work should enrich my personal development
iv I dislike being a small cog in a big machine
v I want all the symbols of wealth
vi I want to do something distinctive
vii I want my colleagues to look to me for leadership
viii I get worried when I cant see where my job is
heading
ix The ability to make meaningful contributions atwork gives me a great deal of satisfaction
Section 2
i Id like a relationship outside work with my
colleagues
ii Doing meaningful work is more important than a bigsalary
iii I want to be wealthy
iv Deciding how to spend my time gives me
satisfaction
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24 seven steps to changing your career
v I want to create things that people will associatewith me
vi Recognition as part of The Establishment would
thrill me
vii I want to feel I have worked for my expertise
viii I want to be a leader
ix Job security is important to me
Section 3
i I want my work to carry my name
ii I wont feel a sense of achievement unless I have
material possessions
iii I prefer being my own boss
iv I want public recognition for my work
v Work is part of a search to find meaning in life
vi I want to feel I will always be all right in the
future
vii Id like a role that gives me influence over my
co-workers
viii Professionally, I want an opportunity to
demonstrate that I really know my stuff
ix Friendship with people at my work is importantto me
Section 4
i Id like to be seen as a specialist in my field
ii I see my career as part of a search for greater
meaning in my lifeiii I want to use my personal creativity in my
work
iv I know I like to take responsibility for my
decisions
Points Category
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step 1 working out what you want work to do for you 25
v I want to be able to buy anything I wantvi I get satisfaction from working closely with other
people
vii Id only ever relax if I was in a secure career
viii Telling colleagues what to do is important to
me
ix Status is an important motivator for me
Section 5
i I would find great comfort in knowing how well off
I will be when I retire
ii Being close to colleagues is important to me
iii If I believed my job was worthwhile I would devote
myself to it
iv I want to innovate at work
v Its important that I have the ability to choose my
own tasks
vi Id like to be known as an expert
vii I want to be able to spend money easily
viii I like jobs that give me power over how co-workers
perform
ix Id like formal recognition from others for myachievements
Section 6
i Having a status job would give me satisfaction
ii I want to do things no one has done before
iii Usually, I take the safe optioniv I dont want to be watched over too closely by my
boss
v I want to be in charge of people and money
vi I want to get to know people through work
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26 seven steps to changing your career
vii I want to be one of those people with valuablespecialist knowledge
viii Theres not much I wouldnt do for money and
status
ix More often than not, I do what I believe is right
rather than the things that would further my
career
Section 7
i I want to be creative at work
ii Its important that I like the people I work with
iii Id like to influence the people I work with
iv Choosing my work myself would bring
satisfaction
v I want financial security
vi It feels good when people look up to me
vii Only a high standard of living will give me
satisfaction
viii I want to be the best in my field
ix I will only be satisfied if my job delivers real
value
Section 8
i It would please me if I didnt have to answer to
others
ii Im happier in charge
iii I want the things I produce to bear my name
iv Work without meaning is not worth doingv A secure future is attractive to me
vi I would enjoy the status that comes with a senior
position
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step 1 working out what you want work to do for you 27
vii High standards of living attract meviii I want to be an expert in my field
ix If Im lucky enough to work with friends, nothing
else matters
Results
Match the number of each statement (iix) to a category (AI) as follows:
Section 1
i=D, ii=G, iii=B, iv=F, v=E vi=A, vii=F, viii=H, ix= I
Section 2
i=G, ii=B, iii=E, iv=F, v=A, vi=D, vii=I, viii=C, ix=H
Section 3
i=A, ii=E, iii=F, iv=D, v=B, vi=H, vii=C, viii=I, ix=G
Section 4
i=I, ii=B, iii=A, iv=F, v=E, vi=G, vii=H, viii=C, ix=D
Section 5
i=H, ii=G, iii=B, iv=A, v=F, vi=I, vii=E, viii=C, ix=D
Section 6
i=D, ii=A, iii=H, iv=F, v=C, vi=G, vii=I, viii=E, ix=B
Section 7
i=A, ii=G, iii=C, iv=F, v=H, vi=D, vii=E, viii=I, ix=B
Section 8
i=F, ii=C, iii=A, iv=B, v=H, vi=D, vii=E, viii=I, ix=G
Now fill in your totals for each category below. To check your results are
accurate, make sure the total adds up to exactly 120.
A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H + I = 120
Then turn over to find out what motivates you.
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How to use the information
The benefits of your results from this survey might not be immediatelyapparent after all, what good is knowing that youre motivated by
status when youre looking to take an entry-level position somewhere?
Well, the information youve just gleaned should help you start to
identify moves that would be right for you and at the very least stop
you choosing the wrong career. For instance, theres no point hanker-
ing after a City salary if youve just realized that youre intolerant of
insecurity: in the City your job is only as safe as market performances
allow. The survey results might also guide you into the rightkind of job
you know you want to have a bit of power, but now maybe you know
youd rather have power over creative output rather than people.
Looking for a new career is a bit like looking for a new partner. But
instead of wondering what you have to offer the way most people
28 seven steps to changing your career
A If you scored highly in this category you are motivated by theopportunity to be creative.
B If you scored highly in this category you are motivated by work that
gives you a sense of purpose and offers meaning.
C If you scored highly in this category you are motivated by the chance
to exert power and influence.
D If you scored highly in this category you are motivated by status.
E If you scored highly in this category you are motivated by material
rewards.
F If you scored highly in this category you are motivated by work where
you can be independent.
G If you scored highly in this category you are motivated in jobs where
you have a good working relationship with your colleagues.
H If you scored highly in this category you are motivated by the need for
security.
I If you scored highly in this category you are motivated by opportunities
to use your expertise and specialist knowledge.
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write a lonelyheart ad looking for work starts with working out
which career offers you your hearts desire. For your change of careerto be a success, you want to make sure your ambitions for work dove-
tail perfectly with your ambitions for life (see the next exercise).
Once youve looked at what a career can offer you, you need to look
as you would at a potential partner at how it will treat you over the
years. If you have just discovered auton-
omy is a major driver for you, then head-
ing into a job where youre likely to getpushed around will clearly not make you
happy. Now is the time to work out what
you needyour job to give you is it status,
camaraderie or an easy commute? Perhaps you are one of those work-
ers who could do a number of jobs but would thrive in, say, a small
company or a corporate atmosphere. Environment is often as impor-
tant as salary and duties. Considering these sorts of factors before you
start looking for a new career will guide you onto the right path.
Before we move on to discuss your ideal job, take a few minutes to
fill in the ambitions chart overleaf. It asks you to fill in your ambitions
for every part of your life because satisfaction rarely comes from work
alone. For each column, write your goals and aspirations and include
everything from your desire for a season ticket at Highbury to a large
family or a happy retirement.
step 1 working out what you want work to do for you 29
Looking for a new career
is a bit like looking for anew partner.
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30 seven steps to changing your career
Home Family Leisure/Travel Money Work
Ambitions chart
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step 1 working out what you want work to do for you 31
Community Retirement Status Health
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32 seven steps to changing your career
Analyzing your chart will give you more information about the kind
of career youre best suited to. If, for example, under home you
described a rural idyll far from civilization, perhaps you might want to
reconsider your ambitions to work in
city-centred professions like the media or
finance. The point of this chart is to high-
light the must-haves your new career
has to offer you. Each one is a brick in the
well-laid foundations of your new life.Building up a profile of a new career
brick by brick is a much more organic
way of getting the job you want and is far
more likely to produce the right result than the I think Ill have a go
at law today approach. Focusing on the small essentials is also much
less daunting than creating a whole new life for yourself out of little
more than thin air.
While this book is about finding work, its also about finding hap-
piness. To ensure you get both you need to be certain about the com-
mitment youre prepared to make to work before you begin your career
search. A good career isnt one that pays well or impresses your mates,
its one that makes you happy.
A good career isnt one
that pays well or
impresses your mates, its
one that makes youhappy.
Career changer profile
Jerry, 32, housing officer to web designer
I had only ever gone into housing benefits by chance it was certainly
never an ambition of mine. My dream had always been to work in the
music industry so I took any job that allowed me to work part time so I
could pursue my music. But, you know how it is, the music hadnt pro-
gressed, I was still in housing after ten years, and I realized if I didnt
actively make changes I was going to be a housing benefits officer for
the rest of my career.
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step 1 working out what you want work to do for you 33
At about this time it was 1997 I read an article in the music pressabout the impact the internet would have on the music industry. This
was in the very early days of the web and the music industry was
scared about artists selling music directly to the public. The article
pretty much concluded that the music industry was about to be
replaced by the internet industry. I thought that if I could get myself pro-
ficient at using internet technology I might be able to negotiate myself
a new career.
There werent many courses available outside universities in 1997,
so I had to cobble together as much training as I could. I found a course
on HTML at one college and a design course at another, both of which
I did part time for a year. But the internet was moving much faster than
any college course could cope with, so most of my time was spent
reading specialist magazines and trawling newsgroups and chat rooms
for ideas, tips and experimental bits of software. It didnt take long for
me to realize that with most people still unaware of the internet and
those who did use it connecting at slow speeds, it would be years
before anyone would access my music online.
By 1998, the internet boom was just getting off the ground and more
people were planning and starting dotcoms than knew how to codeHTML. It dawned on me that, almost by chance, I was one of the most
knowledgeable people in the city when it came to the web and it was
likely I could land myself a really good job.
I got in touch with my local web networking organization a monthly
function where web entrepreneurs met with venture capitalists and
went along to see whether there were any opportunities. I went home
that night with four job offers!
I resigned immediately and started with a new dotcom straight away
as their chief technical officer, a position I felt unqualified for even
though I recognized my technical knowledge was as good as most
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34 seven steps to changing your career
peoples at that time. It was a baptism of fire I was thrown into man-agement, decision making, hiring and spending huge sums of money
on PCs and software.
As the dotcom bubble grew, so did my salary as I changed jobs three
times in a year and by the time the bubble burst I was one of the most
qualified people in my sector and was able to withstand the crash. Im
now on my seventh web job and still learning and loving it.
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There is a concept every sales rep understands implicitly: you have to
know your product inside out to sell it effectively. As you are about to
start selling yourself, you need to get to know your strengths and your
weaknesses so you know a) which roles suit you best, and b) which
attributes you most want to tell your new employer about.
When you combine the information you collated in the first step
what you want work to do for you and the information youll pull
together in this chapter what you have to offer you will have the
best possible starting point from which to find a new career.
The object is to find your perfect
career, something ideally suited to you.
To do that we need to work through some
more exercises to find out what the foun-
dation stones of your career will be the
unshakable qualities you offer and your
non-negotiable desires for work.
Some career advisors call this establishing your palette, ie working
out your personal colours from which you can paint your own personal
career picture. You might be eager to move straight to the chapters
concerning getting a new job, but rest assured your patience with
these early, crucial steps will bear juicy fruit when you get there.
5 Step 2 getting toknow yourself
35
The object is to find your
perfect career, something
ideally suited to you.
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What kind of worker are you?
No matter which field you end up entering, most jobs, roles and tasks
will be the same. Whether youre in law, nursing or town planning
youll still work with managers, researchers, specialists, assistants, etc,
not to mention eccentrics, Luddites, motivators or misery guts. Practi-
cally every work place in the world is made up of the same types of
people doing the same types of job. This next section will help you
uncover which job types best suit you.
Most of us have worked for a bad manager at some point, or with
an over-ambitious junior member of staff. Generally, when we have a
problem with people at work its not
because they are bad people, its because
they are in the wrong role. When we
work in positions were not naturally tal-
ented at we make mistakes, we get
demoralized and it affects our relation-
ships with our co-workers. So its impor-
tant to work out where your natural
talents and abilities lie as this will help
you understand what kind of roles you will flourish in and therefore
be happy in.
Knowing your strengths and aptitudes will help you seek new roles
with greater confidence, and that confidence will help you win overnew employers.
Discovering the true you
This next exercise has its roots in a couple of well-known and well-
used team role and personality tests developed by Dr Meredith Belbin,
and Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine C. Briggs. Detailed and per-
sonalized tests are widely available online, and for a small fee and five
minutes in the company of your favourite search engine you can easily
get yourself psychometrically tested.
36 seven steps to changing your career
Generally, when we have
a problem with people at
work its not because they
are bad people, itsbecause they are in the
wrong role.
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Many tests come to black-and-white conclusions and run the risk
of labelling participants as capable of working well only in a narrowfield. This one has been structured to give broader results, as most
workers are capable of performing many roles in the work place.
Completing the survey is relatively straightforward. There are 28
pairs of statements and you must allocate three points to each pair
you can give all three points to one statement and none to the other,
or split them 2:1 between the statements depending on how strongly
you agree with them. When youve finished, add up the points youveawarded to each letter.
step 2 getting to know yourself 37
1
When plans change, I am good at spotting the opportunities
and benefits the new situation offers. A
Im good at knowing when people have something to offer
and can encourage them to join in. B
2
I can work well with anyone. C
The success of the project is more important than my
co-workers liking me. D
3
I am capable of seeing projects through to the very end. E
I produce ideas effortlessly. F
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38 seven steps to changing your career
4
I have the ability to sense what will work in most situations. G
I am fair-minded and suggest proposals without bias if I think
they will work. H
5I come alive in meetings when new ideas are being discussed. A
I find it difficult to take the lead. C
6
In a meeting, I like to feel every viewpoint has been expressed.B
Often Im too objective about all the options to be enthusiastic
about any one in particular. G
7
People sometimes think Im pushy when Im just trying to get
the job done. D
Sometimes I lose concentration when I get excited about my
latest plan. F
8
Colleagues often tell me Im thinking too much about the
detail and not about the big picture. E
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step 2 getting to know yourself 39
I like meetings to be well structured and to stick to the
agenda. H
9
I am reliable and can be trusted to see all tasks are attended
to. H
Im happier working towards a common goal. C
10
Im good to have on a project because I spot mistakes that
would otherwise cause trouble. E
I think my colleagues trust my judgement I have a reputation
for being fair. G
11
I get frustrated when meetings lose direction and I try to bring
them back on track. D
I seem to be good at influencing people. B
12
I like being first with new developments and information. A
I liven up meetings by contributing something unexpected andoriginal. F
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40 seven steps to changing your career
13
I hate leaving loose ends at the end of projects my
colleagues say I am a perfectionist. E
Im comfortable holding unpopular views and will challenge
colleagues when I think they are wrong. D
14
Although I like to hear what people have to say, I find it easy
to make up my own mind. B
Getting to know my colleagues gives me pleasure. C
15
Im capable of seeing how ideas might benefit other
departments and companies. A
I have a talent for sticking to the brief and getting the job
done. H
16
Im good at dousing down outrageous and unworkable
suggestions from others. G
Im happiest at work when Im using my imagination. F
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step 2 getting to know yourself 41
17
I find weighing up all the options and possibilities satisfying. G
Meeting new people with something to offer should be one of
the perks of any job I do. A
18Im good at finding consensus and a way forward. B
Im attracted to the unusual option rather than the safe one. F
19
Sometimes I hold up proceedings while I make sure everything
has been done properly. E
It feels good to know Im building friendships with clients and
colleagues. C
20
Im open to meetings going off at tangents just to see what
ideas get thrown up. A
My integrity and need to do a job well means I usually
complete projects on time. E
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42 seven steps to changing your career
21
I make good decisions under pressure. B
Being able to devote myself to a project gives me satisfaction. E
22When meetings become difficult, I like to go to the toilet or the
watercooler to work out solutions to problems. F
Sometimes I find it hard to get complex points across. H
23I am able to influence decisions and outcomes. D
I am pleased when I solve practical problems. H
24
If a project loses direction I am able to take control and bring
it to fruition. D
I can keep my cool and think straight in difficult situations. G
25
Unless I have a clear goal or task I find it difficult to get
started. H
I am comfortable asking people to do things that I cannot do
myself. B
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step 2 getting to know yourself 43
26
Others may think I lack intuition or imagination. G
I find it exciting to work with brilliant people, even if they are
a bit difficult. C
27I bore easily and need sparky colleagues to bounce off. A
Sometimes I must seem impatient when progress is slow or
disrupted. D
28When everyones talking in meetings I find it difficult to get my
point across. C
Explaining and clarifying detail is not one of my strong points. F
Write your totals for each letter below, making sure the grand
total comes to 84.
A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H = 84
Then turn over to see what type of worker you are.
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44 seven steps to changing your career
Category A = INDUSTRIALIST
You are the kind of worker who can get on with tasks
unsupervised with just the sketchiest of briefs. You are a fantastic
researcher and can uncover solutions through inspired
investigation and diligence. Your tendency for hard work
compensates for shortcomings in imagination and you keep
projects moving.
Category B = TEAM CAPTAIN
You are by nature both a collaborator and a decision maker. You
understand the benefits of teamwork and are good at recognizing
other peoples strengths. You see the big picture and
communicate well with all types of people. You have the ability to
encourage your co-workers and gain their respect. Your weakness
is that you do not work well on your own as you lack flair.
Category C = MIDFIELDER
You are great at following the plan. You are practical and have a
systematic approach to work. You are known for your common
sense and discipline and generally find a place for yourself in
most teams. However, you do not cope well with change and can
become flustered and demoralized when plans change or the
goalposts are moved.
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step 2 getting to know yourself 45
Category D = GARDENER
Your speciality is taking someone elses idea and bringing it to
fruition. You grasp concepts easily and also have the intelligence
to improve ideas. Although you may not be vocal in meetings,
when projects are finished they clearly bear your stamp as you
have a talent for influencing the people around you. Your natural
drive and self-confidence are often responsible for getting
complex projects off the ground. While you are invaluable, you
are not necessarily well liked as you can be snappy with slower
colleagues if you think they are being obstructive.
Category E = PERFECTIONIST
It is your attention to detail that often saves colleagues and
projects from ending up in the mire. You are fastidious your
perfectionism often bores colleagues who think you are holding
them back and well suited to detailed work and ensuring
deadlines arent forgotten. You are the sweeper and you make
sure nothing gets past you. Even though you are incredibly
valuable to any team, you do not make friends easily as you are
seen as self-controlled and intolerant of flamboyant co-workers.
Category F = INVENTOR
You are the kind of worker who is almost useless for most of your
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46 seven steps to changing your career
working day. However, you are responsible for the ideas that drive
companies forward and your moments of inspiration transform
projects, teams and results. You are happier working on big,
headline projects and enjoy problem solving. You are
independent, imaginative and intelligent but have a tendency to
think all your ideas are fantastic and you need co-workers tocalculate their true merits. You can be impractical and co-
workers may think you are a dreamer.
Category G = ANALYST
You can process and evaluate data, situations and problems andhave the ability to weigh up several options. You bring balance
and a level head to most situations. Your colleagues may see you
as a bit of a pessimist as you can spot where projects will go
awry. While they may also see you as critical, it is just your
critical thinking that ensures success. You may find it difficult tohave many social relationships with co-workers.
Category H = PRAGMATIST
You are the doubting Thomas of any team. You need proof that
something will work before you are confident about movingforward, but once you have that confidence you are good at
implementation and sticking to the brief. You prefer
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How to use the resultsMost respondents find that they score highly in one category while
three or four tie in second place, with just a few points between the
remaining categories. Fairly obviously, your leading category is the one
you are most naturally suited to. But as we might already be working
with a Team Captain we sometimes seek out another role for ourselves
within the work environment to avoid conflict and this is when we
work well in any of our second-place categories.On the surface, some of the categories such as Team Captain, for
example seem more glamorous than others. However, every category
is equally valid and companies cannot be successful unless they
employ people in every category. In this instance though, you are not
looking to create the perfect team (the
reason why most employers submit their
staff to similar tests) but to find outwhere your natural talents lie. Happiness
comes from playing to your strengths
and the information you now have will
help you identify roles you would thrive
in. Of course, job ads never read Perfectionist required to balance out
Inventor-heavy team and the purpose of the survey is not so you can
say Right, Im going to be a Gardener but to learn more about your
strengths. If, for example, it is becoming clear that you dont have
great communication skills but you still crave a senior position, per-
haps youd be happier in a role where you manage data rather than
people. Or if your natural talent is for creativity, you should start look-
ing for work that will let you express it.
step 2 getting to know yourself 47
communication to be in black and white rather than proceed on a
nod and a wink. You have self-control and buckets of common
sense, but you can come across as unenthusiastic and inflexible.
If your natural talent is for
creativity, you should startlooking for work that will
let you express it.
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Hopefully the results of your survey will have confirmed things that
you kind of knew about yourself and will give you the confidence totell prospective employers that you are excellent at idea generation,
paying attention to detail or being trusted to follow the brief. Any can-
didate who can be sure of what they have to offer is attractive to
employers even though someone else might have more relevant
work experience, you will have the edge if you can convince an
employer of your worth. If youre not worth anything, you wont be
valued. Therefore knowing and communicating your worth puts youin a strong position.
Your weaknesses
Your survey results might also have revealed something about your
weaknesses perhaps your tendency to overlook details or unwilling-
ness to embrace new ideas. This is still information you can use to
guide you away from unsuitable positions. Simply knowing that you
have a tendency to be dogmatic or flamboyant might help you recog-
nize that there are times when enthusiasm and caution are called for.
This knowledge will help you perform better and get more job satis-
faction.
If youve just learned that youre a born leader but you have no
leadership experience, then you have just discovered a weaknessundermining a strength. If you want to seek a leadership role in the
future, you need to address the hole in
your work experience. Its not enough to
believe you should be in control youre
going to have to prove your aptitude and
ability to cope with the associated pres-
sure. In Step 4 well cover this in much
more detail, but for the time being you
should be examining your career so far to
find examples of times when you have
taken the lead. Maybe it was just in one meeting, or when you volun-
teered to organize the Christmas party, but start looking for ways of
48 seven steps to changing your career
Its not enough to believe
you should be in control
youre going to have to
prove your aptitude and
ability to cope with theassociated pressure.
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illustrating your innate talents. No matter what strengths youve just
uncovered, HR departments and employers will disregard them if youcant back them up with a few facts.
This survey wont have uncovered all your shortcomings of course,
but part of knowing yourself well is coming to terms with the things
that are just beyond you. Your preparations for a new career involve
eliminating the weaknesses that will keep you and your dream career
apart. Your next task involves assessing your shortcomings and then
addressing them.If you already know what field you want to work in, or what kind
of job youd like to do, then this exercise examining recruitment ads
will be a little easier. But if you dont, dont worry as most recruitment
ads ask for the same thing anyway.
Recruitment adsFor job hunters, looking at recruitment ads can be dispiriting no one
ever seems to be offering a job theyre interested in or one that requires
their skills. Weve known for a long time that looking for a job in the
Situations Vacant column can be frustrating as employers seek amaz-
ingly well-qualified candidates for remarkably small salaries.
However, recruitment ads can be very valuable to career changers as
they act as signposts down unfamiliar paths. By analyzing their con-tent, you can identify what employers are
looking for. The idea of this exercise is to
compare what employers seek with what
you offer to enable you to identify the
holes in your professional repertoire. The
aim is to address as many of your profes-
sional weaknesses as possible before you
head too far down an unsuitable road.
Gather together all the publications you have lying around your
home or your office that carry recruitment advertising. If youre des-
perate to enter a particular field, go out and buy the trade publication
for your desired profession and include the recruitment advertising
step 2 getting to know yourself 49
If youre desperate to
enter a particular field, go
out and buy the trade
publication for your
desired profession.
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from that. If youre open-minded about what path youll take next,
choose from a broad spectrum of publications.Find between ten and twenty adverts for jobs that you would con-
sider doing these do not have to be jobs you are qualified for or are
in your field or have any bearing on what youve done so far. In a sense
you are creating a beauty pageant of desirable jobs. Some of them
might even be roles you dont hope to apply for until much further
down the line.
Examine them closely to see whether there is a particular qualifica-tion they want candidates to have, or whether they are looking for a
certain type of work experience or desirable qualities ideal candidates
should be able to demonstrate. Now, ask yourself which of their
demands you cannot meet. These are the weaknesses that might stop
you getting your dream job.
Dont be disheartened though if you are honest with yourself you
have given yourself the best opportunity to address your weaknesses,
deal with them and eliminate them. While you might be several years
away from applying for some of the positions youve just scrutinized,
you now know what skills, qualifications and experience you need to
acquire to be able to reach your desired goal. In the meantime, know-
ing your desires, your strengths and your weaknesses will lead you in
the right direction.
50 seven steps to changing your career
Career changer profile
Steve, 27, electrician to journalist
I left school at 15 with no qualifications to work with my dad who was
an electrician. I dont remember ever talking to anyone about what
career I wanted, nor do I remember that it was expected that I would
automatically follow in my fathers footsteps. I ended up working with
him through lack of imagination and effort: I think its fair to say I never
gave careers a first thought, let alone a second, until I was 22.
The thing about being an electrician is theres nowhere to go. Youre
either self-employed and get paid a lot or you get regular work for a
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step 2 getting to know yourself 51
construction firm and get paid less. But thats it. Theres no senior elec-trician, no promotion and you know as much as youre going to know
after a couple of years in the business. So after seven years I was really,
really bored and fancied trying something a bit more glamorous.
I remember thinking that journalism seemed very exotic, like a cross
between being a detective and an artist, and I decided fairly quickly that
it was the career for me. I approached several local newspapers for
work but I never even got a letter acknowledging receipt of my CV. I also
applied for a couple of journalism courses but didnt get anywhere with
those either I hadnt realized what a competitive field journalism was.
It was pretty clear that no newspaper or magazine was going to take
a chance on an electrician with no qualifications, so I tried a change of
tack. I started submitting reviews of gigs to the entertainment editor of
my local newspaper and he occasionally printed one. I didnt get paid
for it, but I was starting to get my name in print.
When a new local paper launched I approached the publisher and
persuaded him that I could run the entertainment section. He actually
thought he was getting one over on his rival by poaching one of their
entertainment reporters! I never told him that Id never even been inside
The Heraldsoffice, but then he never asked.Working on a launch was a fantastic chance to learn about news-
papers we were understaffed and underfunded so we all mucked in
and I found out about advertising, marketing and publishing. After a
couple of years I moved to London and freelanced for some magazines
there and slowly established myself as someone reliable. I got regular
work and eventually that led to a full-time job working on a trade
magazine for the TV industry.
Its interesting being in a profession where few people have done
anything else almost all my colleagues did media studies at univer-
sity and went straight into journalism, all they know about is the media.
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52 seven steps to changing your career
I think my background gives me an edge because not everyone weinterview works in the media and I get the impression some inter-
viewees find most journalists a bit precious and they like being
interviewed by someone a bit more down to earth.
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Career clarity
As weve already discussed, most of us dont have a smart answer to
the question What do you want to do? If you do happen to know
what kind of work you want, congratulations, you are very rare and
very lucky. Very few people ever have a clear idea of what career theyd
like to follow and their lack of clarity often stops them from moving
forward. The purpose of this chapter is to turn hunches, dreams and
possibilities into career reality. Because if you find a career you really,
really want, you will look four times as hard for your next job. And the
harder you look, the more you increase your chances of finding the
work you were born to do.
One of the dangers with the What do you want to do? question is
that it implies you have to stick to some-
thing for the rest of your life. Thats one
reason why so many people find it so
hard to answer. Another danger is that it
forces you to choose one option over
another few of us are so driven that we
have only one thing that really matters to
us. The question can produce betterresults if we take some of the implied pressure out of it and rephrase
it as What do you want to do today? Or for the next few years? You
might also find its easier to work out what you want to do if you
broaden the question to What are some of the things you really want
to do with your life? By breaking down the big questions into fath-
6 Step 3 working outwhat you want to do
53
The harder you look, the
more you increase your
chances of finding the
work you were born to do.
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omable sizes, this chapter hopes to elicit some genuine answers from
your subconscious.If youve ever had any career counselling its possible youve filled
in questionnaires about your abilities and aptitudes which have
enabled profiling software to probe your subconscious to suggest a
career as a pottery glazer or a livestock auctioneer. It never fails to
amuse just how specific these programs are they dont just suggest
you look for work as a designer but seem to know youd really enjoy
designing costume jewellery! As they never ring true and book print-ing technology doesnt allow for such interactivity, there are no tests
of that ilk here. If you want to try one, however, there are plenty
online, some you have to pay for, some you dont. Try www.cascaid.co.uk
for a potted version of a software program favoured by UK career
counsellors. Another good free one is at schoolfinder.com its been
designed for Canadians looking for colleges, but its still relevant to the
UK career market and its good fun. You have to register your details
first but it doesnt take long.
Part of the problem with the results of such career profiling tests is
that its very difficult to feel that you would enjoy jewellery design
unless you have some experience or knowledge of it. The software
could throw up 20 suggestions, but unless you understand what a
career in that area involves, its impossible to be enthusiastic. Its a bit
like shopping for clothes with your mother: she keeps on holding up
jumpers you cant see yourself wearing while saying Whats wrong
with this one?
A far more effective way of uncovering the field and position thats
right for you is to let the certainties you know about yourself and what
you want from work to guide you to a natural conclusion. The exer-
cises and devices in this chapter are designed to propel you to that con-
clusion a little faster.
A vine-ripened career
If youre wondering why were taking such a basic approach, talk to
any gardener you know. They will tell you the fruits and vegetables
54 seven steps to changing your career
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they grow themselves taste better than anything you can buy in the
supermarket. It may not be because they actually do taste better butbecause the gardener gets pleasure from reaping what he sows any-
thing youve tended with care and worked hard for always tastes good
because it tastes of satisfaction.
By taking control of your career, by making decisions that will make
you happy, by accepting responsibility, you will be tending to your
career like a gardener does his produce.
And the fruits of your labour will be evensweeter if you dont harvest your deci-
sion too soon some things taste better
when theyve been left to ripen on the
vine. So rest assured, this methodical
approach to career finding will pay better
dividends in the long run as great careers
can only follow on from great decisions.
Over the next few pages, were going to put all your potential
careers in the greenhouse, germinate the seeds, weed out the seedlings
that dont feel right and tend to those that have a future. Were then
going to hothouse them until were left with career options that excite
and satisfy you.
Asking the right questionsSo if asking What do you want to do? doesnt work, what questions
are the right kind to ask? Generally, theyre the ones that make you
analyze how you feel about specific options, that force you to answer
in concrete terms rather than vaguely, and that make you consider the
same problem from a slightly different angle. This chapter has several
sections of questions all designed to prompt slightly different
responses to myriad employment options. As you work through each
section you should start to build up a list of things youre good at,
things you want and things you enjoy. Keeping all this information in
mind, youll then move on to a series of questions designed to help you
discover career paths you might not have considered before.
step 3 working out what you want to do 55
This methodical approach
to career finding will pay
better dividends in the
long run as great careers
can only follow on from
great decisions.
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This book cant tell you what career is right for you there isnt a
magic formula so its up to you to look carefully at your answers tospot the patterns and clues that will lead you to a natural conclusion.
There are no prizes for answering these questions quickly and expe-
rience tells us that your first answer is not always your best its gen-
erally the one youre used to giving. So take your time to break habits
and consider unconventional responses there are no wrong answers.
Lets start with a series of questions that, in a roundabout way, replace
the dreaded What do you want to do?
If you need to, take your time to think about your answers as they
might provide clues to your new career. They might also help you put
your new career into perspective: while you fathom out what your newcareer might be you are giving it a disproportionate amount of atten-
tion and its easy to lose sight of what really matters. If your answers
indicate that work isnt the be-all and end-all of your life, you might
want to consider looking for a career or working pattern that allows
56 seven steps to changing your career
1 What comes naturally to me?
2 How hard am I prepared to work?
3 What do I enjoy doing?
4 What aspects of work have I enjoyed the most?
5 What do I find most meaningful about the world?
6 How much risk can I tolerate?
7 What kind of work place best suits my talents, personality, values,
passions and lifestyle?
8 Whats important to me?
9 What do I most value?
10 What gives me satisfaction?
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you to concentrate on the activities that bring you pleasure and satis-
faction.The next set of questions is designed to get you dreaming. Whether
or not we ever achieve our dreams, they are important as they inspire
us and inform our choices. They act as a marker on the horizon and are
something to walk towards you make much faster progress if youre
aiming for a specific destination. And who knows what youll discover
on the way? As you read these questions, let your imagination run
wild this is not the time to dismiss outlandish ideas or half-bakedfantasies, this is the moment to imagine yourself attaining your
hearts desire.
What do you enjoy?While your answer to the above question should be a massive clue to a
career that would give you pleasure, its incredibly hard to answer. Its
one of those nightmare interview or dinner party questions, isnt it?
step 3 working out what you want to do 57
1 When I was a child, what did I think I would grow up to do?
2 What did other people think I would grow up to do?
3 What work do the people I most admire do?
4 In the movies, which jobs seem the most exciting to me?
5 If all jobs paid the same, which area would I choose to work in?
6 What kind of people would I like to work with?
7 What would I wear to my ideal place of work?
8 If I could get up tomorrow and do any job I chose, what would thatbe?
9 How do I see work fitting into my life in a years time? Five years
time? Twenty years time?
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So, what do you enjoy doing then? Should you mention your love of
newts and Stoke City or should you lie and mention opera and volun-tary work with disadvantaged kids? A bit like the What do you want
to do? question we encountered earlier, as its one of those posers for
which few us have a neat answer. Most people um and er and answer
vaguely. The truth is most of us enjoy doing pretty ordinary things like
spending time with our families and shopping for new clothes/gad-
gets/toys not the kind of information that indicates a future career
option.The way to get meaningful information is by asking the question in
ways that demand specific responses. See how you get on with these.
58 seven steps to changing your career
1 I was happiest at work when . . .
2 Do I prefer spending my free time reading the paper and doing the
crossword or am I happier outdoors playing sport or doing exer-
cise?
3 Do I prefer my own company or big crowds, seeing friends one to
one or in a gang?
4 I notice I start talking quickly and loudly whenever the conversation
gets on to which subject/s?
5 Do I enjoy arguing the toss or am I happier just to listen?
6 Am I happier going to see a show or putting it on?
7 Do l enjoy being the centre of attention?
8 What events in my diary help me leap out of bed?
9 What makes me so excited I cant get to sleep?
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Another way of uncovering what you enjoy doing the most is to look
at the choices you make in your day-to-day life. For instance . . .
By taking your time to answer these questions thoughtfully and fully,
you should be starting to build up a list of areas that interest and excite
you as well as the kind of activities and encounters that bring out the
best in you. The aim is for you to discover:
n what you like
n what you want
n what environment youre suited to
n what roles you are happiest playing.
step 3 working out what you want to do 59
1 When you are buying a newspaper, what stories or special offers
persuade you to buy a particular paper?
2 When you read a newspaper, which sections do you enjoy reading
the most?3 When youre looking through the TV listings, what sort of pro-
grammes attract you?
4 Which subjects make the most interesting documentaries?
5 If you were in a doctors surgery, what sort of magazine would you
choose to read while you were waiting?
6 What would be an ideal way to spend a holiday?
7 If the weekend was three days long, what would you do with the
third day?
8 If you were to study at night school for pleasure, what would you
like to learn?
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Getting specific
Hopefully these questions are helping you to understand yourself
better and to reconnect you with the attributes and desires that are
unique to you. They are also designed to widen the scope of what you
consider work to be as well as put your search for work into a wider
context. What they dont do, however, is suggest possible career routes
to you that arent already paths leading off the one youre on. By con-
trast these next questions are designed to prompt specific responses so
you can work out how you feel about specific careers.
60 seven steps to changing your career
1 Scroll through your phone book and answer the question: What do
your friends do for a living?
2 Which of those friends enjoys their work?3 Would you like any of your friends jobs? If yes, then think about
why.
4 Who seems to get the mostout of their job? Why is that?
5 What makes you envious about other peoples jobs? (Salary, con-
ditions, co-workers, room for growth, etc.)
6 Looking at all the departments in your company, which would you
most like to work in?
7 Who has the best job in your current place of work? Why is that?
8 Flick through a newspaper and see who is featured (consider
everyone from the man in the street asked for his opinion to pro-
fessiona