Recession Survival Tips

Decisions, decisions...

Traditionally, there are many reasons why people shift careers.  Considering the tumultuous times in which we are living, we can expect a tremendous realignment of the economic landscape.  As the economy adjusts to the coming changes, some careers are going to become obsolete, while others will rise in prominence.  Depending upon your station in life, you may have already lost your job, you are anticipating cuts in your particular industry, or you want a change of pace.  Regardless of your reasons for desiring a career transition, it is important to understand some fundamental principles so that you can approach your new journey thoroughly prepared.

What’s My Motivation

What are your motives for wanting a career transition?  Are you looking to make more money?  Are you attempting to transition from a stagnating industry into a dynamic one?  Do want to follow your dreams of finding that perfect job?  Maybe you want a job that affords you more free time?  It is important to identify your primary and secondary motives for shifting careers.  This provides you with realistic expectations and narrows the focus of your search.  In addition to saving you precious time and resources, you will avoid the mistake of trading one form of unhappiness for another.  If you believe that now is the right time for you to pursue your goals as a writer, you do not want to waste time looking for green-collar jobs.  Although, it is very important that you maintain an open mind.  With new technologies, emerging markets, and a convergence of industries, new and diverse opportunities can appear anywhere and anytime.

What Am I Good At?

Discover Your Hidden Talents

The next step in a successful career transition is identifying talents and aptitude.  Think about what activities bring you joy, those things that have usually come easy to you.  Take some personality and IQ tests in order to narrow down your talents and skills.  If you have a specific job or industry in mind, study that industry and its requirements.  Talk to people in that field and find out how they obtained their positions and the skills that make them successful at what they do.  Have reasonable expectations, but also be confident.  Career transitions can be intimidating.  However, these are real opportunities for you to create meaningful transformative changes in your life.  In turbulent times, identifying and taking advantage of opportunities is critical to surviving the recession.

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