Seeking A New Job While Currently Employed : Tiptoeing Through the Minefield

So, you currently have a job but you are looking for something a little better. You are getting tired, uptight, and maybe just a little stressed out. This is a dangerous time - the time when job seekers can turn into wing nuts and make key mistakes. So, how do you avoid tripping over those pesky landmines, you know - your current boss, workmates, and customers - and still carry out an effective job search?

Here are some of the risky situations you are going to want to tip toe around so as to not have your job search blow up in your face:

Landmine #1: Oops, I did it again! Ready, fire, THEN aim that email

You've done all the right things: Tailored a cover letter, crafted a killer resume, and found the right contact, Bill Smithers at "The Best Company In The World, Inc." Now all you have to do is hit Send. So you do, hit send that is. So far so good. OK, next target. Ms. Jane Topboss at "Dream Company Corporation." Let's see...type in email address...browse...attach file...and...send. Oops! I think I sent the Bill Smithers cover letter and resume to Jane Topboss.

Avoid this landmine by taking the necessary time and making sure you have reviewed and attached the correct file(s) to the correct email. One sure way to blow up your job search is to get in a hurry and mistakenly send the right email to the wrong person or the wrong email to the right person. Do not send ANY job search-related emails from your current place of work. Send all such email outside of work. Take the necessary time to make sure the right email is going to the right person, THEN hit the send button.

Landmine #2: Having potential employers call you at your current workplace

Jennifer Jobseeker had it all figured out. Since she was at work during work hours, it only made sense to list her work number as her contact number for potential employers. "Why burn my cell minutes and have to keep checking my home machine," she thought. Ah, poor innocent Jennifer, totally unaware of the dangerous trip wire she was about to trigger with the brand new patent leather Woodberry loafers she had just purchased as part of her job interviewing outfit. "After all, I can just grab all incoming calls, screen them and if it's an interview call just cross that bridge when I come to it." Then something went terribly wrong. Jennifer took a 15 minute break and that's when Mr. Murphy the hiring manager called. A coworker took the call, asked if he could take a message, and was surprised to learn that Jennifer had an interview scheduled for 11:00 am the following day. Take a guess at what the coworker did with this info...you've got it: The news spread around the office faster than Simon humiliating someone on American Idol and Jane was knocked completely out of her brand new loafers (metaphorically) and her current job (literally.)

Use common sense when giving out your contact info to potential employers. Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER use your current work phone number as the point of contact. Pass your cell or home number along to potential hiring folks and just let them know that if they get your voice mail, you will call them back as soon as you are able - they will understand. Two other things to keep in mind here: 1) Make sure your voice mail message is professional and not too cutesy, rude, or profane; 2) Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER call them back from your office number - if you do you will suffer Jennifer's fate.

Landmine #3: Using your current company's intranet or internet access for job seeking and interviewing

This should be a no-brainer. In most companies, every key stroke you make on your company computer is recorded and can potentially be tracked. Many IT departments now flag certain key words and phrases and automatically create reports detailing who is doing what with their laptops and desktops. These reports are then passed to management for review. Odds are you probably signed a computer use policy when you joined the company. And guess what? In addition to mandating that you can't play games, view any inappropriate sites, or conduct business outside of what your company is doing, there is likely a clause about using company property for private purposes or gain. And unless you are going to include your current company in the job search with you, you definitely do not want to violate this clause.

Landmine #4: Don't slack off at your current job

Even though you might have S.T.A (short timer's attitude) it's a good idea to not let it show. Keep doing the best job you can. Yes, it will be hard. Yes, it will seem pointless; after all you are searching for a new place to work. And yes, you will need to continue to support what you may think are mundane tasks and soon-to-be former coworkers and customers. But be aware that you are being watched. Cubicles and hard walls alike have both ears and eyes and they see and hear everything. If you change your behavior even slightly, your coworkers and your boss will likely notice. It's important to remember something here. Most bosses don't get to be bosses because they are dumb. Most bosses get to be bosses because they are continually observing events around them and seeking ways to keep things running smoothly. Your boss will know something is up if you are slacking off. Whether you like and respect your current boss or not, you are obligated to serve him or her, the company, your coworkers and your customers as long as you are on the payroll. And it's the right thing to do. You will feel better in the long run if you do the right thing.

Commit to yourself to keep putting in the necessary time and effort that you are getting paid for. Remember, you are the one looking for work so it's up to you to figure out how to balance your current work situation with your job search efforts.

Landmine #5: Attending a job or career fair that includes a booth for your current company

Let's face it, you can often find excellent job leads through a job or career fair. These events attract a large and diverse group of employers who are looking for qualified candidates just like you. So, being the go-getter that you are, you schedule a vacation day in advance (very classy) so that you can attend the job/career fair guilt free. You polish up your shoes, dust off that business suit, brush your teeth, comb your hair, go over a few interview questions in your mind, print up a dozen or so resumes and head to the event. You are prepared, you are confident, and you are going to find that next best job! After all, you don't call yourself Cory the Career Conqueror for nothing.

Imagine your surprise, accompanied by that "I've-just-been-punched-in-the-gut" feeling, when the first booth inside the door is YOUR company's booth staffed by a couple of well known coworkers and a person or two from your Human Resources department. "Why Cory, what are you doing here?" the admin assistant from HR asks, as four pairs of eyes bore into to you like some evil demon guarding the secret passage in the latest Play Station game.

Career and job fairs are great, just make sure to learn what companies are going to be represented there, and if yours is, you may want to rethink attending.

Landmine #6: Listing your current boss or coworkers as references while conducting a stealth job seeking campaign

Consider the following from the movie script "Nightmare on Just Lost My Job Street":

Scene 1: Christina is having a terrible nightmare (dissolve...fade to dream sequence...phone rings...)

"Hi Mr. Jones. My name is Megan Hiringpro at XYZ, Inc. Just a quick question if you don't mind. Do you have a Christina CareerChanger working for you?"

"Why yes I do Ms. Hiringpro. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, you don't know? Christina has listed you as one of her references and we are thinking of bringing her in for an interview but would like to get some feedback from you first."

Christina wakens in a cold sweat and realizes she has dozed off at her desk. "Whew, thank goodness it was only a dream" she thinks with relief. (Fade out...)

Scene 2: As Christina slips a Cool Mint Thin Strip into her mouth, her boss, Mr. Jones, stops by her cube (close up of Christina as Mr. Jones asks)

"Christina, may I see you in my office for a moment."

Christina, now realizing it was not a dream after all, resigns herself to her fate and trudges slowly towards Mr. Jones' office.

"What was I thinking?!" she screams silently to herself.

Scene Ends (and so does Christina's current job.)

This is a tough one. On the one hand, the people you are currently working for and with are in the best position to speak about your qualifications. On the other hand, if you are conducting a stealth job seeking campaign, you can't really let on that you are doing so.

There are only 2 ways to handle this situation and each carries its own degree of risk:

1. Reveal to your current boss that you are looking for other job opportunities

2. Keep your job seeking under wraps and find other references you can use

As Christina learned, you really can't have it both ways. It is just a matter of time before your references will be contacted. It is important to have your strategy in place and all the bases covered so that you are not taken by surprise.

Conducting a stealth job seeking campaign carries risk. If it is not possible or appropriate for you to discuss your job seeking with your current employer, you owe it to yourself to take the necessary time and effort to avoid landmines you know exist on the path to your new job.

The best way to avoid landmines is to plan your job search strategically, continually scan the path ahead, and use as much patience and persistence necessary to arrive safely and intact in your new job.

Dr. Dan Strakal

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Resume Wizards - Resume Software Reviews to Create Perfect Job Resumes

Many people find writing their resume to be a time consuming task that is often confusing and stressful. There are many methods you can use to ease this frustrating task. One of the easiest and most efficient ways of creating the perfect resume is by using resume software. Using a resume software package can help you to generate a resume that help you to rise to the top of the list and outshine your competitors. With resume software you are free to focus on the content of your resume since the resume software will take care of the presentation for you. Trying to uncover the perfect job is already an uphill battle, whether you are experienced in your field and looking to change careers, a recent college graduate looking for your first big break, or unemployed and seeking to find much needed work. Your time is in short supply and is a resource you can't afford to waste. Using resume software will allow you to get the best results, in the fastest time-frame, with the least amount of effort.

There are many different options to consider when looking at resume software packages. Your first option is to purchase a resume template and input your own information using a regular word document. While templates can be a cheaper avenue to take, your options will be severely limited due to lack of features that will prevent you from being able to check for errors and properly edit your information. You will be confined to only adding your information into a specific format. Your second option is to go with a software package that is specifically designed to edit your resume, check for errors, provide you with various formatting options, and recommend eye-catching phrases for you to use. Many resume programs have enhanced features that include online job resources, interview tips and salary advice. If you are serious about finding the perfect job then it is worth the effort to utilize a resume software package to give you the competitive advantage that is critical in today's job market.

MyResumes

MyResumes is the first software package in our line-up. This resume software has limited capabilities. It includes a spell checker, graphics feature and has the ability to create a PDF version of your resume. Most of these features are already present in your typical word processor. The lack of enhanced features prevent MyResumes from being a very useful tool. It is financially advisable to stick with your current word processor rather than use this software package.

The Resume Maker Pro

The Resume Maker Pro is the next resume program in our software line-up. It consists of basic resume formatting features, minus all the extra bells and whistles you may find in other programs. Resume Maker Pro allows you to import previously written resumes into the software where you can edit and format your resume, which can save you some typing time if you have already prepared a resume. The have an online support system, FAQ feature, a user's manual for installation and questions about using the software. If you run into problems you will have a great chance of finding the answer you need. The down-side to the Resume Maker Pro software program is that it doesn't offer much in the way of job interviewing tips and job resources. It doesn't have the capability of creating a PDF version of your resume, which may not be an issue for many users. It also will not run on NT systems, which may be an issue for some users. This program is recommended if you are looking for a basic, cost-effective program for formatting your resume in a timely manner.

WinWay Resume Deluxe 12

The third program in our resume software review line-up is WinWay Resume Deluxe 12. This program offers many advanced options and features that you will not find in competing programs. WinWay is simple to install, has great, reliable customer service, enhanced editing tools and offers an abundance of job resource information. With WinWay you have the ability to format your resume to fit on one page, you can create a PDF version of your resume, and it also takes advantage of the new video trend by allowing you to simulate video interviews. WinWay is not compatible with NT or Macintosh systems. It also does not have the ability to import your current resume, but with so many enhanced features you will want to start out fresh and create a winning resume using all the enhanced features offered in the WinWay resume software program. If you are looking for a competitive edge in the market place then this program is a must in your arsenal of tools!

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The Teen Dilemma - Which Careers Are Right For Me?

My heart goes out to Teens these days, because of the greater complexities and challenges Modern day life brings. My sympathies also go out to Middle Age Career Changers, because some of them may be as Confused as Teens about which Careers to Choose Next.

This may be because Midlife Career Changers have limited Career exposure working at only one Career their entire working life. If a Teen has had one Job or none, in my estimation, there is not much difference between the Average Teen and someone in his Midlife contemplating Changing Careers - Both may be Confused when it comes to Choosing New Job Choices.

There are so many more choices, pressures and distractions to contend with, compared to when I was a Teen. The hard question is - If you do not know what you want as a Teen, how do you sift through all the Confusion and decide which Career, or Teen Jobs to choose?

How do you even decide what Temporary Job you Want?

This is probably the Million Dollar Question. So, What do you do if you are Totally Confused about Who you are, and do not KNOW what you want to do for a Living for the next twenty, thirty or forty years?

Number one rule, and advice is - If you are feeling this way, for the time being, do not make any hasty decisions, nor big lengthy commitments with your future - Stand back, let things crystallize a bit, and take another look at your whole Career Enchilada Dilemma. Do not put yourself in a Pinch to make any life changing major decisions, when you do not know for sure they are the right choices. Anyway, you have a lot of time on your hands, because you are Young - So what is the hurry?

When I was a Teen, there was a Path laid in front of me through DEFAULT. This was the easy way - For me to follow within a Family Tradition. It made me a living, and I have since retired from it. But, There was this HUGE drawback - I never found myself through my Profession.

There are the fortunate others who discover their Passion through their Careers. I always wanted to be among these LUCKY ONES.

I chose to travel the KNOWN path instead of the UNKNOWN UNCHARTED PATH, because it was time proven and safe. I chose the conservative choice. If I would have Loved what I was doing, my choice would have been the right one. But, I did not - The Job was just there for me to take. I chose the short term easy way out solution. Unfortunately, The Profession brought forth neither joy, nor passion. All it did was make me a consistent living.

Yes, I survived Physically, paid my bills, bought what I wanted and all that, but psychically and spiritually I paid a Hefty Price in the long run Quality of Living My Life.

This is the PART of life I do not want you to miss out on. It is the Career Part, where you match your natural born talents to the Career that Matches who you are.

I do not want you to miss doing for a Living what you are PASSIONATE about doing.

Of course, to learn what you want, it is important to learn what you do not want. This may take a little trial and error on your behalf - And a little Discomfort. Being that you are young, and relatively new at the Career Game, you may have to test the waters a bit. This means that there may be a series of jobs you will have to try out, so that you learn what Job Conditions and Duties you MUST have in Your Ideal Career Choice.

You need to know what YOUR own Career Requirements are...Ask yourself, What do I want in a Career?

If you DO the Career you love, the Quality of your Life will immediately Skyrocket. And where there is Job Happiness, your Personal Life will Profit Greatly from it.

The Passion for your Job will spill over and Flood your personal life.

To be honest, finding your True Passion as it relates to a Career is not necessarily the easiest way to go in the short run.

I am living proof, because it was so easy to choose the Wrong Career, rather than get to know myself well and search for a Career that Matched who I was.

The Path to where you find your Ultimate Dream Job may be a path whereby you walk alone. On this Career Search Path, it is very narrow, and there is room only for ONE - ONLY ROOM ENOUGH FOR YOU. Often, the only way you can get to know your inner core personality is through being alone. Do not worry, Life will test what you are made of and force your Personal Growth upon you.

It is Only you that can know what Career is a best fit for your personality, interests and values.

In other words, No one can decide this for you - Not family, friends, Career Counselors. Not even Career Tests can.

Pursuit of that illusive quality called CAREER PASSION and what it really is can only be defined by what it means for you.

Furthermore, What you define your passion to be now, may change tomorrow, or in Middle Age.

People Normally change careers a few times or more during their working lives. This is a common phenomenon.

Changing your mind is probably inevitable when it comes to choosing Careers, or even being within one. But, this is OK. Life is full of change, and Teens seem to weather change better than older people do. Usually, the younger one is, the easier change becomes, and the more welcome it is.

I know that I can never reclaim my Youth again. But, I know that I can start from where I am at any given moment, utilize what personal tools I have at my disposal at the time, and direct my Career in any direction I want.

This is true no matter how old, or how young you are.

Remember that you can take a break, look around, and re-evaluate your life, and judge if you are living it the way you want.

Call This taking a self inventory and general appraisal of self, and asking relevant questions about whether you are happy with your life and career direction.

It is the way to evaluate whether what you value and are interested in is still valid, or if you need to modify something about you, your wants, needs, or your life direction.

I know that As a Teen, there will be Questions without Answers within your life, such as...

* Why am I here, how did I get here, and what is my purpose?

* Where is my life heading? What am I going to do with the rest of my life?

* You are young and may not know what you want to do as a Career. But, this is OK, you have a lot of time to research and decide later.

* You may simply lack enough experience in life in general to know yourself well, what you want, and your Ideal Career Choice.

* But, You learn something NEW about you every day.

* And, You may not even have had your first Job yet.

* So, If your first job is, or was flipping Burgers, it may not tell you what your Dream Career is, but it may tell you the type of Job Duties you do not want to do in your next job.

* Furthermore, even if you do not know what you want to do, because you have not done much yet, you can know what things you do not want to do, because you may have done at least some of them already. Therefore, next time you will Avoid those Jobs with Duties you do not like to do.

* You may have this feeling inside at a gut level that you belong somewhere, but can not figure out where it is you belong.

* Believe in this feeling in your gut, and allow it to guide you, but temper it with reason, logic and common sense along the way.

* You can take a Career Aptitude Test to find out what you have the career aptitude for doing.

* You can also take a Personality Test to see which career clusters blend in with your personality.

* If you weigh what you Subjectively believe about yourself and your abilities against what those Validated, Researched Career and Personality Tests suggest to you for Career Choices, this combination approach can make some Career Choices start Ringing True for you.

* What you keep hearing inside and outside yourself, can be a sounding board for verifying the validity of those things you KNOW to be true about YOU.

* Until you find your True Calling in Life, there will be a restfulness inside you that will not go away until you finally connect to a Career that evokes your Passion for it.

* A good paying job may be a short run solution for the pocket book, but it could turn out to be a SOUL DESTROYING job in the long run.

Oftentimes, one finds his way through life through a series of steps he makes - One foot after another with no planned direction. In other words, experience usually becomes your Ultimate Teacher and Master, but not necessarily your Best Friend.

Taking the plunge and trying out a job part time, because you think you might like it, could be the KEY that will lead you closer to knowing what your Dream Career choice is.

One step at a time, one job at a time, and even one FAILURE at a time, will lead you closer to that Occupation which you will have the Aptitude and Passion for doing Successfully.

You will discover what things you like and do not like in a job through the light of experience. Hopefully, and most important, you will Discover those duties you love to perform daily over and above all others.

Once you know more about what kind of Career Personality you actually have through knowing yourself better, then the various Career Tests or Teen Quizzes may become more helpful to you. You will learn to RECOGNIZE which career suggestions (That They recommend to you) are the ones you should research, and possibly consider choosing.

Finally, To Discover ones Dream Job, One has to Know Himself well.

Family, friends, Career Guidance Counselors, taking Career Tests and the experience of Life Lessons through the passage of time, can offer useful, but essential insights about YOU.

These INSIGHTS serve as REFLECTIONS of what you already know about YOU.

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The Right Career Choice - Starting Or Changing Careers!

Choosing the Right Career: And how to make a smooth career change!

Choosing a career or changing from one career to another can be a daunting task. However, with some well thought out career planning you can start in the right job field or make the transition into another career field with a minimum of fuss.

Why do so many end up choosing a career that is less than satisfying and some find themselves in careers where they are downright miserable? The short answer is many think they know the correct way about picking a career, yet there are a number of myths associated with choosing a career that you need to know about.

The number one myth about choosing a career is that the process is simple, takes little time and

once the career choice is make the book is closed. Actually, selecting the right career for you should be an ongoing process that involves career and employer research, learning about yourself and effectively using all the available career and job hunting resources available to you.

Career Planning for Great Future Results

Once you recognize career planning and selection is an involved process you need to spend the appropriate amount of time to get the best results.

Career ideas can come from many sources. Don't let a career counselor or a friend tell you what career is best for you. They can give you a level of guidance on new career ideas but it's never wise to rely entirely on their advice.

For example, many times you'll get advice from professionals and friends that you can't make a living from your hobby. In reality, this is the one area to start looking how you can take your skills learned from the hobby to a profitable career. Either, self-employed or working in the field for another employer can be an excellent career choice.

In addition, a part-time hobby that can be turned into a small money making business, while working full-time, can provide you with an additional level of financial security.

Learn about a Career without working in it

Many think the only way you can really learn about a career is to work in it. Not true. If you find a career that interests you, do the research to find others working in the field. Contact them to see if you can arrange a short interview. Or have questions ready for a short phone interview. Many times these discussions will lead to other valuable resources regarding the career. All will assist you in making the right career decision.

Another area where many go wrong is to only look at careers on the latest "hot careers" list. These are top ten lists of the hottest current and projected future jobs. Although interesting and a possible source for further research you need to focus on your skills, what are your top interests and what excites you about a particular career and not what someone predicts will be the outlook for a specific occupation.

Career Change is in your Future

In the course of a lifetime, if you are typical, you will change jobs and careers several times. The secret of making a successful career change is to spend time every week and month is career planning. A well though out plan researching jobs and employers will keep you attuned to changes in the economy, new careers in which you may qualify and other income opportunities.

Developing career related skills through training and self-study will make you more valuable in your current career and prepare you to open future doors of yet undiscovered career ideas.

John Groth

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Career Planning - Are You Following a Planned Career Path or Simply a Series of Jobs?

Successfully managing your own career is critical for your financial and personal well being. Yet it is rarely pursued on a strategic or informed basis. Career planning, particularly in the technology field, is more and more the responsibility of the individual. Particularly, since most people today end up working for many employers. The overall basis for more successful career management includes developing career plans that are applicable at different stages in your career.

Although living in the information age, there is few comprehensive career information and planning resources available online. Exploring career versus job information is more readily available once you have focused on a career path, such as technology or even further, within a specific industry. Career training in college consists largely on how to interview and write a resume. There seems to be limited formal training programs available about career choices.

When employed the employer generally provides training, successive jobs, and a defined career ladder to the degree that it unites with the organization's needs and objectives. Career coaches mainly work via large employers and focus on building leadership skills, not generally on developing career plans. Outplacement counselors generally help people focus on job searches rather than career plans. Recruiters are looking to fill job positions with top candidates for employers who are their clients and normally do not provide career planning services for individuals.

We can generally fit career planning as having three major phases: early stage from ages 16 to 33; middle, from 34 to 52; and later, beyond 53. Many times, early career choices are highly influenced by parents, relatives, teachers or close friends. The choices of technical schools, colleges or graduate schools, as well as majors, begin to focus interests for career paths.

It is important, in the early stages of a career planning, to carefully make choices, as initial decisions can have a major impact on longer term career success and ultimately, happiness.

Mid-stage career planning and effort usually reflects the initial experiences and jobs one has had with his or her early career. It generally is an extension of that experience. At this stage, there may be a thread of a career track, but job moves and knowledge growth during this phase that are not well planned or executed can result in important limits to career-growth.

Late-stage career planning frequently results from the need to find the right position in one's career after an early retirement or a reduction in force. Career choices at this stage generally reflect more entrepreneurial, part time, or flexible working arrangements. This is when traditional employment limitations as well as long developed interests come more into focus.

Career planning at each stage of a person's working career can best be analyzed by considering the following: (1) Take stock of your career. Define your career and objectives at regular intervals preferably at least once a year. Do it in writing. (2) Research and identify possible career options that could meet those career objectives. (3) Evaluate your skills, personality, training and experience. Develop a plan so you can pursue your career objectives. (4) Make a decision as to which career options are the best. Build a plan in the near, medium and long term to reach your career objectives. (5) Be flexible as you monitor your progress. Refine the plan, challenge yourself.

It's critical for you to invest in career planning during each stage of a successful career for short-, medium-and long-term achievement. Ask yourself, are you following a well defined career roadmap or simply working a succession of jobs? If you said yes to the latter, it's never to late to get started.

John Groth

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What Is Your Career?

What is your career? Forget about how you define this to others for now, and just think for a bit about how you define your career to yourself. What does it mean to you to have a career? Is it just your job? Is it something you do to make a living? Is it what you do for money? Is it your work?

Most people would define a career as more than a job. Above and beyond a job, a career is a long-term pattern of work, usually across multiple jobs. A career implies professional development to build skill over a period of time, where one moves from novice to expert within a particular field. And lastly, I would argue that a career must be consciously chosen; even if others exert influence over you, you must still ultimately choose to become a doctor or a lawyer or an accountant. If you didn't make a conscious choice at some point, I would then say you have a job but not a career.

One of the difficulties I see a lot of people experiencing lately is that they spend the bulk of their days working at a job that isn't part of a consciously chosen career. Once you graduate from school and enter the work force, you don't suddenly gain the knowledge of what kind of career to build. Most likely you just focus on getting a job as your first step after school. And you probably have to make this choice in your early 20s. After a decade or two, you've established a pattern of work and built up some expertise. But at what point did you stop and say, what is my career going to be?

Sometimes when you ask people what their career is (instead of asking what their job is), the question makes them uncomfortable. Why? Because they think of a career as something intentionally chosen, purposeful, and meaningful, and they don't see those qualities in their job. Another possibility is that they feel deep down that their real career lies elsewhere.

Just because you've been working in a field for many years doesn't mean you have to turn that pattern of work into your career. The past is the past. You can continue to run the same pattern and follow that same path into the future, but at any time you're also free to make a total break with the past and turn yourself onto an entirely new career path in the future. Ask yourself if you were starting over from scratch today, fresh out of school, would you still choose the same line of work? If the answer is no, then you only have a job right now, not a career. Your career lies elsewhere.

I went through this process myself last year when I asked myself, "What is my career?" I've been developing and publishing computer games since 1994. And that was exactly what I wanted to do when I was 22 years old. Game development was the career I had consciously chosen; I didn't just fall into it. It took a lot of work to start my own company and build it into a successful business. But at age 33, I had to stop and say that I no longer wanted game development to be my career. I still enjoy it, and I may continue doing a little on the side as a hobby for many years, but I no longer think of it as my career.

And yet, when I looked around for what else I might define as my new career, I was in a quandary. I saw all the assets I'd built in my game development career... and a long list of goals yet to be accomplished. Of course, the real problem was that I was looking to the past and projecting it onto the future. So all I could see on the road ahead was a continuation of the road behind. My solution was to use zero-based thinking... imagining I was starting from scratch again, forgetting the past for a moment, seeing the present moment as something fresh and new that didn't already have a directional vector assigned to it -- it could point in any new direction I gave it.

At the same time I started thinking like this, I also decided to broaden my definition of career. While running my games business, I had been operating with a very 3rd-dimensional view of a career. It was about success, achievement, accomplishment, making a good living, sales, serving customers, etc. At different times my career was that I was a game programmer, a game developer, or a game publisher. Those were the labels I used.

But whereas these kinds of objectives were very motivating to me when I was in my 20s, years later I found them to be far less motivating. Achieving more and succeeding more just wasn't enough of a motivator by itself. And I've seen others fall into the same situation too -- the things that motivated them greatly at one point no longer seem all that motivating years later. The motivational strategies that work in your 20s don't necessarily keep working in your 30s.

The solution I found was to look behind the labels and discover the core of my career. When I looked behind the labels of game programmer, game developer, and game publisher, I saw that the core of my career was entertaining people. That was the real purpose behind what I was doing. And that's when it made sense to me that this was a very motivating purpose for me in my 20s, but that in my 30s it lost its edge because I had grown to the point in my own life where I felt that entertaining people was no longer the BEST way for me to contribute.

Think about this for a moment. What is the core of your career? What do you contribute? What is the big picture of what you do? If you work for a large company, then how do your actions contribute to some larger purpose? Be honest with yourself. And don't ignore the role your company plays in your career; your career depends heavily on what you're contributing down the line. If you truly assign a noble purpose to what you do, that's great. For example, if you work at a grocery store, you might be inspired by the fact that you help feed people. But don't force it if you don't actually believe it. If you feel your contribution is weak or even negative, then admit that to yourself, even if you don't immediately plan to do anything about it.

Go behind the labels. Don't stop at definining your career as computer programmer or lawyer or doctor. What are you contributing as a computer programmer? How does your career make a difference in other people's lives? Is it nothing more than a way for you to make money? As a lawyer do you resolve disputes and spread peace, or do you milk conflict for money? As a doctor do you heal people, or are you just a legal drug pusher? What is the essence of your career right now?

Now when you have your answer, you next have to ask yourself, is this you? Is this truly a career that reflects the best of who you are as a person?

For example, if you see the real purpose behind your current line of work as making a handful of investors wealthier... nothing more noble than that... then is that an accurate reflection of your best contribution? Is that you?

If you already have a career that accurately reflects the best of who you are, that's wonderful. But if you don't, then realize that you're free to change it. If your career as a regional distributor for a major soda manufacturer basically boils down to pushing sugar water to make people fatter, you don't have to keep it that way.

I think if you realize that your current work doesn't fit who you are, then you have to make a choice. You have to decide if you deserve having a career that truly suits you. If you don't feel you deserve it, then you will settle for defining your career in such narrow terms as job, money, paycheck, promotion, boss, coworkers, etc. No one is forcing you to accept that as your definition of career.

On the other hand, you can choose to embrace another definition of career that uses terms like purpose, calling, contribution, meaning, abundance, happiness, fulfillment, etc. This requires a top-down approach. You first think hard about what your purpose here is... what kind of contribution do you want to make with your life? Once you figure that out, then you work down to the level of how to manifest that in terms of the work you do.

And for many people, the seeming impossibility of that manifesting part is paralyzing. This is especially true for men, who usually take their responsibility as breadwinners very seriously. You see yourself logically having two choices: I could stay in my current job, which pays the bills and earns me a good living, or I could go jump into something that fits me better, but I just can't see how to make money at it. I have a mortgage to pay and a family who depends on me; I can't do that to them.

The problem though is thinking that these are the only alternatives... thinking that you have to make a choice between money and happiness. That assumption is what causes the paralysis against action. You can also envision the third alternative of having money and happiness together. In fact, that's actually the most likely outcome. If you don't currently have a career that is deeply fulfilling to you in the sense that you know you're contributing in a way that matters, then deep down, you will sabotage yourself from going too far with it. You will always know that you're on the wrong path for you, and this is going to slap a demotivating slump over everything you try to do in that line of work. You'll do your job, but you'll never feel that you're really living up to your potential. You'll always have problems with procrastination and weak motivation, and they'll never be resolved no matter how many time management strategies you attempt. Your job will never feel like a truly satisfying career -- it just can't grow into that because you've planted your career tree in bad soil. You'll always be stuck with a bonsai.

But when you get your career aligned from top to bottom, such that what you're ultimately contributing is an expression of the best of yourself, the money will come too. You'll be enjoying what you do so much, and you'll find your work so fulfilling, that turning it into an income stream won't be that hard. You'll find a way to do it. Making money is not at odds with your greater purpose; they can lie on the same path. The more money you make, the greater your ability to contribute.

But most importantly you'll feel you really deserve all the money you earn. When your career is aligned with the best of who you are, you won't secretly feel that your continued career success means going farther down the wrong path. You won't hold back anymore. You'll want to take your career as far as you can because it's an expression of who you are. And this will make you far more receptive to all the opportunities that are all around you, financial or otherwise.

But how do you make this transition? Is a leap of faith required? Not really. I don't think of it as a leap of faith. It's more of a leap of courage, and it's a logical kind of courage, not an emotional one. It comes down to making a decision about how important your own happiness and fulfillment are to you. Really, how important is it for you to have meaningful, fulfilling work? Is it OK for you to continue working at a job that doesn't allow you to contribute the very best of who you are? If you find yourself in such a situation, then your answer is yes -- you've made it OK for you to tolerate this situation.

But you see... self-actualizing people who successfully make this leap will at some point conclude that it's definitely not OK. In fact, it's intolerable. They wake up and say, "Wait a minute here. This is absolutely, totally unacceptable for me to be spending the bulk of my time at a job that isn't a deeply fulfilling career. I can't keep doing this. This ends now."

These people "wake up" by realizing that what's most important about a career is the high-level view that includes happiness, fulfillment, and living on purpose. Things like money, success, and achievement are a very distant second. But when you work from within the first category, the second category takes care of itself.

Before you've had this awakening, you most likely don't see how that last sentence is possible. And that's because you don't understand that it is nothing more than a choice. You have probably chosen to put money above fulfillment in your current line of work. That choice means that you won't have fulfillment. But it's not that you can't have fulfillment -- you can choose to change your priorities and act on them at any time. The real choice you made was not to be fulfilled in your current line of work. You bought into the illusion that money is at odds with fulfillment, and that money is the more important of the two, so that is all you see. No matter what job you take, you find this assumption proves true for you.

But once you go through the "waking up" experience and firmly decide to put fulfillment first, you suddenly realize that being fulfilled AND having plenty of money is also a choice that's available to you. There are countless ways for you to do both; you simply have to permit yourself to see them. You realize that you were the one who chose EITHER-OR instead of AND, while all the time you were totally free to choose AND whenever you wanted.

You set the standards for your career choices. Most likely your current standard ranks fulfillment and meaningful contribution very low in comparison to working on interesting tasks and making sufficient money. But those standards are yours to set. At any point you're free to say, "Having a deeply meaningful and fulfilling career is an absolute MUST for me. Working for money alone is simply not an option." And once you make this conscious choice, you WILL begin seeing the opportunities that fit this new standard. But you'll never even recognize those opportunities as long as it remains OK for you to spend all your work time being unfulfilled.

I want to drive home this point. Having a fulfilling career that earns you plenty of money doesn't require a leap of faith. It only requires a choice. You just have to wake up one day and tell yourself that you deserve both, and that you won't settle for anything less. It's not about finding the right job. A career isn't something you find; it doesn't require someone to give you something. You aren't at the mercy of circumstances. A career is something you create, something you build. It means that the work you do each day is aligned with what you feel to be your purpose. Once you start doing this kind of work, even if for no pay initially, your self-esteem will grow to the point where you'll become so resourceful and open to new opportunities that you'll have no trouble making plenty of money from it. However, when you do so, the money won't be that important. It will just be a resource for you to do more of what you love.

Your life is too precious to waste working only for money or for a purpose that doesn't inspire you. No one can hold you back from making this decision but you. Especially don't hide behind your family's needs. If your family truly loves you, then they need you to be fulfilled and living on purpose far more than anything else. And if you love them, then isn't your greatest role to serve as a model to them of how to be happy? What would you want for your own children for their careers? And do you want the same for yourself?

Copyright © Steve Pavlina

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Top Career Advice - More Choices and A Better Way of Life

Why Career Advice Is So Important

Choosing a career presents a nerve-racking decision, as it can have a life-long impact on you. Do not fret, as you can gain a clearer outlook into your future by thorough career planning.

Having a clear vision of the future can guide you by helping you set career goals and helping you on your way towards attaining them. Whether you are starting out on a new career or looking to change your current career, you will benefit enormously from taking sound advice.

Don't Spend Most of Your Life Doing ...

Chances are that you will be spending a great deal of time at your job, about 40 hours a week. Career advice and career profiling can guide you to a job that is enjoyable for you and matches your interests.

There are many reasons people change their careers and career advice can help them along the way. Some frequently cited reasons are:

· Stuck in a dead end job.

· Lost interest in current line of work.

· Gained a new interest in a different career option.

A Job For Life ... Not Anymore

In today's world, there is increased job rotation ... also with the down turns in the economy, many people can be laid-off.

Good career advice for unemployed persons would be to consider a career change. Some of the fastest growing occupations are Medical Assistant, Network Systems Analyst, Physician Assistant, etc. Occupations that are struggling to gain workers can be a suitable option for currently unemployed individuals.

People often back off from changing careers if they are unsure of the effort it might take to start a new career and learn a new trade. If you are one of these people, career advice from professionals can help you make a knowledgeable decision.

How To Identify Your Career Choices

When choosing a new career field, career advice and career planning can help you figure out your career choices. When embarking on a new career, you need to take into account your previous education and work experience.

You should start thinking about the skills you currently possess and how they can be beneficial in each of the new career options available to you.

Have You Considered a Career Test?

Valuable career advice can come from career tests as they can help in identifying suitable job options. Career tests include tests such as personality profiling, leadership skills, motivation, management style, etc.

The results of such tests can give you the career advice that can direct you to a suitable career, by matching your interests with career options.

Many career tests are offered online. They may be free or available for a small fee. Many experts provide the career advice to employment seekers to take some time to plan their career and set their goals. Knowing your career goals can provide you with valuable guidance.

Remember that career planning and goal setting is an on-going process, changing as you continue on your career.

The web can be a great source to find valuable career advice. It can provide you with many resources to research new career choices and find out information on a particular career field such as average salary, work environment, job responsibilities, etc.

Use Resumes That Give You an Advantage

Whether you are starting a career, changing careers or looking for a different job in your present career, the best career advice is to have a great, eye-catching resume.

You may be thinking about using your old resume, maybe the one you made after graduating from college. However, you will have to make changes to that resume to make it relevant to your present situation.

Upgrade your resume with the additional skills and experiences you have acquired. People going through a career change, need to present the skills they have acquired through the years in a way that makes it relevant to the new career jobs for which they are applying.

You may not have all the standard education for that career, so you need to convince potential employers that your previous education and work experience have given you the skills that make you a suitable candidate to transition into that job.

Career planning involves gaining information that can ease your transition to a new career. This information can help get you out of your current dreary jobs and into a dynamic and interesting career.

Act Now... and Take Control of Your Career

It's never too late to think of making a career change... seek professional career advice and give yourself the best chance of achieving your career goals.

Roger Clark has an excellent selection of articles providing details on writing resume letters posted on his blog and if you want to find out where to get free resume writing software [http://www.studentsforasecurefuture.org/write-your-own-resume-and-save-money], then this is an article you should not miss.

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