How to Put a Pause in Your Career

Article Editor on September 6, 2022

How to Put a Pause in Your Career

In the haze of perpetual career advancement and ambition, it’s easy to forget the importance of understanding the needs of one’s physical self. This is especially true in today’s society, where many people operate on a 24/7 basis. At the same time, it may entail leaving one job and taking time to recover or allowing oneself to recuperate and restore needed energy. This can be done anytime, but when there is an impending sense of urgency for one’s livelihood. The following suggestions are offered to help one put a pause in their career.

1. Reassess one’s goals

If one takes time away from the workplace, they will have more time on their hands. Sometimes this allows for an opportunity to reassess one’s goals and direction in life. Once one has a firm grasp on the answers to these questions, it will help create a plan for what comes next.

2. Plan for the future

Once one has an idea of their future, the next step would be developing a plan. This could be as simple as seeing how many weeks of leave you have accrued or perhaps taking some medical break from work. According to pain management specialist Dr. Jordan Sudberg, taking a medical leave allows one to work out the problems, then return to work without dealing with them. In this way, you are forcing yourself to address the issues on time rather than postponing them until your career has ended.

3. Take time off before it’s needed

Taking time off before being forced into it can often be the difference between being able to return to normal activities or having to take leave due to health issues. Many people choose not to do this because they don’t think they will be able to resume their careers. Dr. Sudberg said that once one has taken some time off and things have returned to normal, they’ll feel better prepared and more confident.

4. Don’t be afraid to say no

Many people feel they are being taken advantage of when a boss asks for something not part of their job description. It is a common occurrence in our society where we feel obligated to do everything we can for our employers’ well-being, whether it be from the emotional or physical aspect. Understanding one’s limits and boundaries can make better decisions on things one can’t do. If it’s something you know you won’t be able to handle, then say no and move on to an area that can utilize your talents.

5. Take time to invest in relationships

Many people tend to take on extra work they don’t need to do, hoping they will get something out of it. This is a common occurrence as we live in a culture where we are continuously told that we must make money and pay our monthly bills. When this occurs, it can leave one feeling resentful or disappointed because it is almost as if our society has tricked us into believing that what we do for others matters less than just trying to survive each day. However, this can be a very healthy mindset and allows one to take time out of their day or week for other important things such as family and friends.

Dr. Jordan Sudberg believes that when people can relax and take some time for themselves, it can lead to better health. It’s also a great way to help develop one’s personality.

How to Change Your Career at 30

Article Editor on November 30, 2021

Are You 30 and Thinking about Changing Your Career?

Age should never limit anybody from doing what they love most in the career world. At times, people want to change their careers, but they feel that age 30 and above is too late. That has never been the case for the successful Jonathan Osler. He has been a communication strategist, a consultant, a fundraiser strategist, and an anti-racism instructor in his career. Has age confined him to one career path? No, it has not.

Think of it this way, an employee’s legal retirement age is 65. At 30, they have 35 more years to work before retirement. Even if they decide to change their careers, they have enough years to learn the skills and work. Anybody at 30 is still considered young. Most people do not have as many responsibilities at 30 as in the early and late 40s. So why not go for a career change?

A guide to Changing Careers at 30

1. Be sure on the next move

A career change is not anything that is thought and achieved overnight. People often want to change careers, but they do not understand why they want to do it or when to change. At 30, most employees have had several years in their career. Some are in their careers after making uninformed decisions when in college or due to peer pleasure. When an employee decides to change their career, they should be sure of what they want to do next and where to begin.

2. Manage expectations

Rome was not built in a day. It will therefore take months or years before an employee fully adapts to their new career. A person who changes their career should give themselves time to transition to the new career.

3. Be ready to learn

If the new career is completely different from the previous one, it might be challenging. The challenges can only be overcome through learning. A good example is Jonathan Osler. If he only relied on his Bachelor of Arts, he wouldn’t acquire today’s skillset. His willingness to learn, consult from experts, and volunteer work helped him gain the professional muscle he has today.

4. Consult a career coach

Not everything in career change is easy. For a person to prosper in their career change, a career coach can come in handy. When things are challenging, a career coach helps one to build on their confidence and self-esteem. They help a person create realistic goals and help them on the journey to achieving them.

5. Showcase your skills

As we all know, employers focus on the curriculum vitae and especially the experience part. It might not be easy for a person who has changed their career to a completely different path. That is because employers think that they do not have experience in that particular field. To overcome this, it is important that the person looking for work after they have changed their career focus on showcasing their skills and ability to produce the best. A skill-based CV will be the roadmap to success in the new career.

How to Determine Your Career Path

Article Editor on October 25, 2021

How to Determine Your Career Path

The easy answer to finding a career path is to follow passion. That is true, except there are some other considerations; salary, training, education and job availability. Do not forget personality.

A job that will require several years of experience, years of schooling, making a low salary for some time, long hours, and involving grunt work may destroy passion.

Research

Look at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. This lists jobs, salaries and education requirements. It is a place to start. Since the information in it comes from the census, it gives a thorough list of jobs with their salaries.

The newspaper classifieds lists jobs available in the area. It is a starting place. Circle and list jobs that are of interest whether qualified or they seem impossible. List them anyway. Google any job that is of interest.

Interests

My passion was writing. That takes years of training, and usually education, before finding any success or making a salary. I never questioned that. It was necessary to set the writing aside for a time.

There are many types of writing as there are many types of work in most careers. Look at the openings in an employment agency for availability and for finding a path to follow.

Personality

If a person does not like sitting in an office all day, he must find a job that allows for movement and social outlets. The wrong job will destroy that passion. Shalom Lamm certainly followed his dream and rose to the top of his career. It took years of education, some daring, some connections, and his own native drive. Lamm is not typical. Few of us have those qualities.

Education

Many jobs require a specialized education. Jobs have become technical. The computer and telephone world are complex and involved. The medical profession is changing and becoming more advanced. Many jobs have become extinct. Few employers give a person recognition or salary who do not have the education but now trains others who do have the degree.

Some jobs require a doctorate and a specialty, like a doctor who handles heart patients.

Salary

It is embarrassing to state that salary is important. If it is, check out the salary for that career. Education does not always indicate the salary expectation. Some people have special abilities and knowledge that set them apart. That’s where passions come in.

Do some checking. There are only a few people at the top salary, but how much do most people make?

Job Availability

After spending four to eight years earning a degree, a good salary and job should be available. That is not so. Shalom Lamm believes that careers have many facets in different areas. Jobs in any one area may be hard to find. A newly graduated student might find it hard to find a job with hours and salary agreeable. Look at this before getting into that position.

Conclusion

Most of all, have faith. Know it is possible.

The Pros and Cons of Having a Career in Law  

Article Editor on May 14, 2021

If one is considering law as a profession, one must be well aware of what being a lawyer entails. The profession is known to have great benefits but one must ponder both the benefits and the challenges of becoming an attorney at law, one can simply ask Diego Ruiz Duran. Duran, a defense attorney, can shed much light on the everyday benefits and the everyday challenges of practicing law. Simply using and sharing one’s knowledge of the law must be rewarding all of it’s own especially when providing quality legal counsel. This profession not only involves giving great advice and counsel but an attorney, often actually called counselor, interprets laws and regulations for their clients be it for businesses or individuals. In addition, this profession requires preparing necessary papers and documents, collecting evidence, analyzing possible end results and presentations; not to mention, appearing in court before judges, utilizing logical reasoning all the while having to be persuasive as their abilities to be analytical are of the utmost importance. Now, one can see there is much required in this profession. Therefore, it is rightfully rewarded but as mentioned before, it has its challenges. Let’s look a little further at a few of the pros and cons of this rewarding career.

Pro’s

First, there is a variety of career options as one can be selective from a long list of possibilities such as being a criminal prosecutor, defense attorney, tax attorney, real estate attorney or even a corporate attorney among many more positions that one can be fulfilled and passionate about. In addition, one can actually choose if starting their own business or working for a law firm would be their chosen path for some of the positions mentioned.

Second, this particular profession can result in a very lucrative career. The knowledge and skills make for the ability to gross very generous earnings. In addition, one may find satisfaction and the use of their intellectual abilities to be just as rewarding and lucrative along with having flexible schedules to meet one’s personal needs such as working from home and having a quality work-life balance. From the actual money to the non monetary benefits, all make for a very lucrative career.

Third, many more than most consider the profession to be prestigious. The prestige stems from the impressive education that is needed to get the notable degrees, honors and certifications.

Con’s

First, high-stressful cases and situations come with this career. It is easy to have constant high level demands and endless deadlines. The emotional toll can be devastating for some.

Second, long hours go hand in hand with the stress. Even with a flexible schedule, there will be times when sleep will be considered a luxury. It is easy to do 60 to 90 hours weekly when very important cases are on the table.
Third, that impressive education can be very expensive monetarily and time wise. Although typically worth it, it usually takes time to pay the debt of that education. Overall, Diego Ruiz Duran enjoys his profession, despite some of the hardships that come with it.