Think About What You Want in 2011

If you have been considering whether or not to make a job or career change, you may want to spend this winter preparing for a change for later this year or early next year. Think about whether or not you want to stay in your current line of work, with the same organization, or something different.

If you would like a different line of work, you should make sure you know about the qualifications for that work and whether or not you are ready for it or need to spend some time preparing. At some point, you will also need to update your resume, if you have not already done so. As you review your resume, think about the experiences you want to emphasize to demonstrate your qualifications. Although, in general, people only go back 15 to 18 years in listing their work experiences, if you have experiences from earlier than that which are relevant to your new direction, try to find a way to include some of that information in your resume or cover letter.

You may also need to update your references. At the very least, you need to contact the people who have been references for you and update them on your latest plan. That includes confirming that they are still willing to serve as a reference for you. Once you have updated your resume, they should receive a copy of that as well. With those pieces in place, you should be able to identify the organizations you plan to target. You can begin networking with the focus on your target organizations.

If you have read many of my blog entries, you probably know I recommend writing out a plan, with time lines, that you can follow and track your progress toward achieving your new goals. Keep in mind, these days, it may take 12 to 18 months to land a new position. So it would be good to allow sufficient lead time to get to where you want to be.


Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information on her services.

To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to mailto:YoOurCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.