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Always interesting reading to find out if your barking up the wrong tree. Read this and find out if you need to make a career change!

How To Know If You Are In The Right Career
By Kathleen Gage

Ever wonder if you are in the right career? If you are like most people you have. Did you know that 80% of people are currently misemployed? They are either underemployed, not happy with their current position or not fairly compensated for their skill and/or function set. If so many people are misemployed, why do they stay in their current situation? Why do they not take the necessary steps to move into something that will be fulfilling and something they can look forward to doing every day - a situation they can truly be proud of?

The following are some of the most common reasons:
• Complacency
• Fear of the unknown
• Fear of change
• Not knowing what their options are
• Don’t want to give up the familiar, no matter how uncomfortable the familiar is
• Staying within their comfort zone
• No time to search for something new
• They just don’t know how to make a change
• Fear of failure
• Fear of success (they may actually get what they dreamed of)
• They fear the job search is more frustrating than their current unsatisfactory job
• Not knowing where to begin

How often have we heard others give these reasons for not moving out of an unpleasant situation? How often have we said this to ourselves if we are actually misemployed? Imagine looking back over your life and saying, “I wish I would have done it differently.”

So often in life, it is not what we do that we regret, rather what we don’t do that we regret the most. Things like not making a change when we knew a change was in order, or not taking the appropriate steps to move into a situation that would lend itself to a more fulfilling life both personally and professionally.

If you or anyone you know are looking to make a career change, the following steps will help to make a smoother transition and find the courage to make that shift:

1. Evaluate your current situation
2. Decide you are ready to change
3. Give yourself a timeframe for making the change
4. Get excited about the change
5. Become enlightened about your own values and realize you are worth a great situation
6. Decide what kind of career would truly make you happy
7. Determine what would bring you fulfillment
8. Believe you deserve it
9. Be willing to put time and effort into you transition
10. Have a plan of action
11. Take action on a daily basis
12. Consult with people who have been successful in their own career shift
13. Be willing to invest in yourself
14. Work with a coach to keep you motivated
15. Go after what you want

Most of all - be willing to acknowledge that life is not a dress rehearsal, this is the real thing. When you look back over your life are you going to wish you had it to do all over and you had taken risks to move you into situation that would bring a deep level of satisfaction to you and your loved ones? The reality is that when we are in a career that brings us a deep sense of satisfaction, all those around us benefit from the fact that we are more fully present in life rather than constantly talking about wishing things would change. The truly successful people in life are the ones who are willing to create their happiness on a daily basis with the minute-by-minute actions they take and the thoughts they entertain.

About the Author: Kathleen Gage is a keynote speaker and business advisor based out of Draper, Utah. She is the author of several books including Street Smarts Marketing and Promotions. To sign up for Gage’s free Marketing and Promotions Ezine visit http://www.kathleengage.com

Source: www.isnare.com


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We all need a little help. The following article provides some clear examples of tactics you can use to help jumpstart your career. Sometimes formulizing your goals will help get you where you want to get quickly. I recommend that you check out Achieve-It


Top 10 Steps to Catapult Your Career Up the Corporate Ladder
By
Jill Frank

Every career success story is unique. While there isn’t a magic answer for taking your career to the top, following these ten steps will get you headed up the corporate ladder.

1. Reassess your career. Is your career path well aligned with your priorities and interest? Do you posses, or can you acquire, the experience and education to be successful? If not, consider a lateral move and work your way up from there.

2. Clearly define your career goals. Only when you know exactly where it is you want to go, will you be able to map out your plan to get there.

3. Create a development plan. Determine the steps you need to take for your next promotion. Include resources and due dates. Schedule these activities in your planner and follow through.

4. Communicate your career goals with management. If you work in an organization that promotes employee development, communicate your goals with your manager and ask for his or her support. If you are concerned about resistance, find a mentor within the organization that you can trust.

5. Volunteer to spearhead a new project. This shows initiative, puts you in a visible position, and builds new skills. It also gives you the opportunity to showcase your leadership skills.

6. Stay current in your field. Read industry publications and reports. Be aware of changing trends and position yourself accordingly.

7. Take classes or obtain a certification. Use your industry knowledge to your advantage. Take a course in an up and coming area or a specialty that will benefit your organization and give you an edge over the competition.

8. Assume a leadership role. Offer to mentor a junior associate in your organization, apply for a position on a local board, or chair a committee for a nonprofit organization.

9. Network, Network, Network. Within your organization and within the community. Increasing your visibility and gaining contacts are vital to your success when climbing the corporate ladder. No one ever got to the top alone.

10. Excel in your current position. Exceptional performance speaks for itself. You won’t get ahead with mediocre performance, regardless of how many other steps you implement.

Jill Frank is “The Promotion Coach.” Get her FREE report, “7 Unintentional Actions That Will Slow Your Climb Up the Corporate Ladder” and FREE advice on corporate advancement at http://www.corporateadvancementcoach.com

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