Staying Focused During the Holidays

"What if Christmas doesn't come from a store.What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"~Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

The end-of-year  holidays, that magical time of the year… But if you have been out of work and looking for a job for months, the holidays can also be that most hopeless time of the year. There don’t seem to be as many job opportunities, or people aren't available to interview or take calls. 

Must your life go on hold? And then there’s the gifts, the entertaining, the decorating.

You do not have to go down that road. Energize yourself with the spirit of the season -  joy,  gratitude, good friends, and family. 

Here are some things you can do to participate and keep up your momentum into 2017:

•   Continue your job search. Do not give up. The resume that you submit in December may not get read until January, but it WILL get there. Create you own Personal-Job-Search.

•  Take advantage of down time for self-improvement, resume revisions - take online webinars!  Register HERE for our most popular webinar which will take place on "5 Tips to Battle Ageism." Enjoy these Free Job Search Webinars.

•  Go to parties and get-togethers. They are great for networking, meeting new people, keeping your spirits up. 

• Worried about gifts – DIY! People don’t expect lavish gifts and what’s better than something made with love. Do you bake, knit, paint or like photography?

• Consider having a potluck. Have everyone bring a dish and have your own party! BYOB!

• Take a stroll downtown or in your neighborhood with friends and family to look at the beautiful lights and/or window displays.

• Remember to exercise to keep your mind clear and your energy high.

 Make the last weeks of 2016 count and look forward to 2017. These are YOUR holidays, too - ENJOY!

NYT: Lessons on Aging Well From a 105-year Old

Joel Saget/Agence-France Press-Getty Images

Editor's Note: On January 4, 2017, Robert Marchand set a new World's Record by cycling more than 14 miles around a track in an hour - in the 105 year-plus category! This was not Mr. Marchand's first record. He had already set a world's record for the 100+ category 3 years prior when he came to the attention of a French professor of exercise science. She had a theory (untested) that if older athletes actually exercised more, they could increase their levels of fitness. Mr. Marchand agreed to participate in the study which is discussed in a recent article in The New York Times.

Mr. Marchand followed this program for two years. Then he attempted to best his own one-hour track record.
First, however, Dr. Billat and her colleagues remeasured all of the physiological markers they had tested two years before.
Mr. Marchand's VO2 Max (an accepted scientific indicator of fitness) was now about 13 percent higher than it had been before, she found, and comparable to the aerobic capacity of a healthy, average 50-year-old. He also had added to his pedaling power, increasing that measure by nearly 40 percent.
Unsurprisingly, his cycling performance subsequently also improved considerably. During his ensuing world record attempt, he pedaled for almost 17 miles, about three miles farther than he had covered during his first record-setting ride.

Read the complete article here.

Learn the "49 Benefits of Hiring an Older Worker" Here

The Weight of Unemployment

Lose Your Job...Get Fat 

(Editor's notes) Alicia Adamczyk's article in MONEY discusses the findings of a Health and Retirement Study of full and part-time workers ages 50-60. The participants were of average weight and lost their jobs before they became eligible for Social Security. The research revealed a weight gain during unemployment that was not incurred by their employed counterparts.

So now, in addition to the loss of income, less in retirement savings, and increased stress and anxiety, this paper indicates that not working before retirement can also make you fat.

The paper points specifically to the stress as a reason for the weight gain. “The stress of displacement from a business closure may be further compounded if individuals have a harder time finding reemployment and/or are not yet eligible for retirement benefits,” it reads. And those without spouses or much in the way of discretionary funds are more likely to feel the stress.

Read entire article here

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Your Personal Branding as an Older Worker

What Sets You Apart?

Personal branding is the act of letting your identity be known and showing the qualities that set you apart from others in your area of discipline. It comprises a combination of skills and talents alongside style and personality. In other words, it requires having a clear message of who you are, what direction you are going in, as well as the experience you have. You are letting the hiring manager be aware of your identity so that you are not just part of the faceless crowd.

Personal branding comes with lots of advantages. Besides highlighting your personal strengths, personal branding can help pull your resume from the bottom to the top of the pile and make you an outstanding interviewer.

Here are some tips to help prepare yourself for a new job:

• Brainstorm: Take some time to think about what to include in your personal brand. You can do this by going over your resume, understanding the leadership qualities you possess and your work ethic. Determine the path or direction you want to take your career in and also figure out the type of projects you are mostly drawn to. Then, develop a big plan on how to express this to the hiring managers and recruiters.

• New Market, New Skill: You have to accept the fact that you are competing in a marketplace which is entirely different from what you had in the past. Consequently, you have to learn about the new workplace, accept and leverage it to your advantage. You can do this by trying to understand the generational differences. For example, there is a myth that older workers are not usually energetic or tech savvy. However, they are generally taken to be reliable, honest, hardworking and loyal. Take the positive assumptions, and use them to your advantage. Efforts should be made at addressing the negative ones.

• Technology and social media: Brush up your knowledge about the latest technologies and get yourself engaged in the use of social media. Show your prospective employer your willingness to learn new things. Social media is a great platform to start your personal branding. Therefore, you have to build a social media friendly resume and ensure its done the right way by not making blind submissions to different websites. The idea is to create a resume that would be so dynamic that it becomes readily accessible through searching, distributing and sharing. The resume should be able to:

• Accurately portray who you are as a brand.

• Attract hiring managers, recruiters and job opportunities to you, instead of going about making blind submissions.

• Showcase your abilities, talents as well as what you look for in a job. You can create a personalized resume by clicking here.

• You can also make use of a cover letter. A cover letter represents a better place to make your personality known. Be unique and discuss why you would be a better choice over your younger colleagues. Start creating cover letters that get interviews by clicking here.

• Posting your information on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, Tumblr and others is a good way to get started.

• Make Yourself Stand Out: This involves convincing the hiring managers that you are a very rare talent. Start by expanding your thinking about your own particular capabilities, then tell it to the world. And make sure you describe your unique personal brand value in everything you do. You can do this by creating an online profile and identity, building your network, connecting with local groups and associations, and seeking out volunteer opportunities.

Studies have shown that most workers who seek job opportunities at mature ages usually find the new job more appealing when compared to the old job. Therefore, ask yourself how you could combine your vast knowledge, experience, and personality to produce something that a younger counterpart cannot. In other words, regardless of your age, you can always brand yourself and stand out.

CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of online workshops and resources to prepare you for your new career.

20 Years Younger. What Career Would You Choose? Recareering At Midlife:Dr. Helen Harkness (Video) , Part1

Dr. Helen Harkness asks: What would you do if you were 20 years younger?
Learn from a professional what it takes during a midlife career change to move from an old identity to a new identity. She started her new career at age 50. The race is not over. You can hit a new stride with the right midlife career change. The Starting line is here. (note: give it about 10 seconds to start) (Editors Note)

View Part 2 of Re-careering at Midlife Here.

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49 Benefits of Hiring an Older Worker

Thank You for Your Support - Here is a Gift for You!

It has been said, “the older you get the wiser you are." It has also been said, “that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks." These adages are nice to repeat, but do any of them really hold true when it comes to older skilled workers who are looking for a new career?

Over the last few years, I have read thousands of comments, questions, and expletives from older workers. Some of you are clearly professing your superior attributes, while others are complaining of their unfair treatment by job recruiters.

Can both be right in their assessments? Perhaps. But one guiding principle at Interns Over 40 has been to help older skilled workers achieve their own career greatness.

In doing so it is necessary to dispel myths while reinforcing the benefits that make older workers a great catch in a sometimes difficult job market.

I want to thank all of our faithful audience of Job Seekers, Career Coaches, and Recruiters who live this experience every day and prepare yourself, or others, for the next career assignment. 

I hope this list of “49 Benefits To Hiring An Older Skilled Worker” becomes a valuable part of your toolbox as you continue to pursue your ideal career. Share it, Print it and Keep it nearby as a refresher.

With our working lives expanding into our 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, perhaps this list will, in a small way help you feel confident about the depth and value of your work and life experience. Remember “soon or later everyone will get older or …..”.  "Wild in the Streets".

Start Using The "49 Benefits Of Hiring An Older Worker" Now.

Staying Motivated in this "Bad News World"

(Editor's note) We've recently been deluged with abhorrent news reports in rapid succession. There have been hundreds of innocent lives senselessly lost in the United States and all over the world. Political debates and elections are in progress which could have a profound effect on our future. We feel powerless and don't know where we stand globally. And In the midst of this turmoil, you may be in a career change or a job search. How is it even possible to focus or stay motivated with all of this chaos around you? Life Coach Shawn Doyle shares four tips to help you stay motivated during these tumultuous times:

1. Set a bad news budget — If you want to get and stay motivated, I strongly recommend limiting the time spent reading or watching negative stories. Look I’m not an ostrich, and I’m not burying my head in the sand — I know that there is violence and terrorism in the world. If a horrific story comes up I will find out what happened, but once I get the gist of it, I move on. I do not dwell on the sad horrific details and read all of the eyewitness reports on the horror that happened. The result of doing that is just depressing and it brings you down. So I strongly recommend that you create a bad news budget and spend a very short amount of time each day on reviewing the news then move on to something positive.
Read complete article here.

Opportunity has knocked - It's time to open the door.

Whether or not you are re-careering or re-positioning, why wait for "opportunity to knock?" Do your research, and you can walk through the door. 

 Here are some ideas to get  started: 

~What industries are experiencing rapid growth and where do you fit in?

~What specific jobs are highly in demand that you might be qualified to do?

Top 10 Fastest Growing Areas for Executive Hiring in 2014
By Function	By Level
1. Business Development	1. Technology
2. Sales	2. Healthcare
3. Operations Management	3. Manufacturing
4. MIS/IT	4. Pharma/Medical/Biotech
5. Engineering	5. Financial Services
6. Marketing	6. Software
7. General Management	7. Energy/Utilities
8. Finance	8. Consumer Products
9. Research & Development	9. Business & Professional Services
10. Human Resources	10. Internet/e-Commerce

Source Execunet.

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CLICK HERE for all the educational tools and career advice you need to make your career transition easier.

6 Unconventional Career Change Tips for Older Skilled Workers

	Career Changer: Do You Focus On Money ($$$) Issues or "Do What You Love (♥)?" The following is six unconventional mid-life career change tips based on the premise that the key to a successful career change transition is the integration of work, life and financial goals.

Unconventional Tip #1:
Each day you remain at a job because it is not fulfilling your financial goals is another day you postpone your financial freedom.


If you're over 40 you probably already recognize that making a career change when you're young is a lot easier than making a career change when you're older. Typically, the older you are the more you've invested in your current career and the more you potentially have to lose. Many mid-life career professionals remained in careers that were not fulfilling because they felt that their job was “satisfactory.”


If this sounds like you, don't let the fears cause you to stay in a job that isn't satisfying your long term financial objectives. The risks of staying in a career that is not meeting your financial goals are often greater than the financial risks of making a strategic move to a career that you enjoy more and that has the long-term potential you desire.


Unconventional Tip #2:
Tip number two is not to believe that if you love what you're doing you're bound to make money.
While there is quite a bit of wisdom in the maxim "Do What You Love", there is not a direct correlation between loving your job and meeting your financial goals. If money is an important consideration in your career change make sure that you thoroughly research your new career to make sure that if you become the best at what you do that the money will follow.


Unconventional Tip #3:
The third unconventional mid-life career change tip is to focus on money issues -- not work issues.

When making a mid-life career change it is important to thoroughly explore your new career to ensure that it's going to be professional and that you're qualified for the job. However, no matter how much you feel you're going to enjoy a career change and no matter how qualified you feel for a new position don't hand in your resignation at your current job until you've solidified your financial future. No matter how much planning you do you can't anticipate everything that is going to occur down the road. If you're taking a large financial risk by making a career change you may just find yourself in the exact same position in the future -- just 10 years older without the financial resources to make another career change.

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Reinvent Yourself In The Second Half Of Your Life

American President, Theodore Roosevelt, once said: "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."

There is an increasing trend among midlifers and beyond, particularly women, to reinvent themselves in the second half of their life. If finding meaningful work is tempting to you, there is nothing stopping you from following your passion and doing what you love.  
According to research conducted by the MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures, more and more men and women in midlife and beyond are looking to change careers and do meaningful work. They want to be able to earn income as well as do good work beyond themselves.
Here are some of the main findings from the survey that was conducted in 2008:


1. Areas of work: Between five and eight million Americans are already engaged in encore careers. Interestingly, there are more women than men (56% vs. 44%, respectively) doing it. The most popular areas of work include education, health care, government, other non-profit organizations, and for-profit businesses that serve the public good. 

2. Loving the experience: People in encore careers have very high job satisfaction. They feel good about the work they are doing and see positive results. They also feel that they are making a difference and that they are appreciated. In addition, they get to use their skills and experience and they are learning new things.

3. Motivation: Midlifers and beyond have many reasons for wanting to engage in encore careers. They want to stay active, productive, and challenged. They are also looking for continued income and health benefits. It is also important to have flexibility in the work they do.
You should not worry about whether you are too old.  You should ask yourself what do you need to do and know now. 
Other hot areas where boomers can make a difference include:
 
• social services (medical assistant or nursing),
• the legal profession (mediation),
• green careers (energy efficiency),


I myself returned to university in midlife and completed a Ph.D. in education when I was 48. It was one of the highlights of my life and opened many doors for me.For more about reinventing yourself in the second half of life, check out the interview that Dr. Fred Horowitz and I did with Brian Kurth, innovative career expert, available at www.happiness-after-midlife.com/midlife-career-change.html.

About the author:
Dr. Frank Bonkowski writes about midlife issues, such as being happy, career change, goal setting, education, self-discovery, and spirituality to leverage your midlife transition into lifelong happiness at Happiness-After-Midlife.com. Look for his e book Take Charge of Midlife and Beyond: 52 Ideas and Activities for Dealing with Life's Challenges - Aging, Change, Financial Matters, and More! He is also co-author of a two-hour Audio program, Breaking Free at Midlife: Building Wealth through Your Small Business, aimed at those focused on building wealth.


Job Interview Guide: Do You Need To Improve Your Interview Skills? Start Here?

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Simple Advice To Midlife Career Changer (Video)

Maggie Mistal, a well know career coach, gives older skilled workers some sound advice that not only applies to those about to be downsized but also those already immersed in a job search. How can you effectively make the transition from employed to an unemployed job seeker. Can you negotiate with your current employer? What resources should you check out? Even some suggestions on key websites to visit.(Editor's Note)

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Miserable? Is It Time To Make A Mid-Life Career Change? (Video)

Editors Note: Warning:This video start out slow but if you view the whole video you should find a few valuable pieces of career transition suggestions.   Be sure to evaluate if your company is offering a early retirement or buyout package before you accept. Do you know Federal and State governments offer career transition help? Do you feel ageism had a role in a particular job interview?


Source:How to plan a midlife career change


Need A Simply Step By Step "Guide to Finding a New Career


"How to Answer Any Question A Interviewer Could Possibly Throw At You!"

Changing Your Vocation After 50 Gets Easier? (Today Show)

Changing careers should get easier as you get older. You have the Experience, Confidence and Connections. So then why does it not feel that way?  Do you agree or perhaps life is not so peachy. Your reaction below.(Editor's Note)

Create Brilliantly Crafted Cover Letters.

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Changing Your Career Path During the Recession

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Are you thinking of choosing or changing your career? Maybe you have been dreaming about a career change but don’t know where to start. Perhaps you’re getting increasingly bored at work or realizing that opportunities for growth are limited. Or, like many in this economy, you may be unemployed or facing unemployment. Regardless of your reasons, the right career is out there for everyone. Discover how to find the best career path for you, including finding the courage to make a change, researching options, realizing your strengths, and learning new skills.

Finding meaningful work in today’s world

You may have fallen into the trap of thinking the sole point of work is to bring home enough money to live comfortably. While adequate compensation is important in any job, it’s not the whole story. If you are unsatisfied with what you do every day, it takes a toll on your physical and mental health. You may feel burned out and frustrated, anxious, depressed, or unable to enjoy time at home knowing another workday is ahead. What’s more, if you don’t find your work meaningful and rewarding, it’s hard to keep the momentum going to advance in your career. You are more likely to be successful in a career that you feel passionate about. Whether you’re looking to enter the work force for the first time or contemplating a career change, the first step to choosing a fulfilling career is to uncover the activities that get you excited and bring you joy.

Discovering new possibilities

The first step in considering a career change is to think carefully about what really drives you. You might find it hard to get past thinking about “what pays the most” or “what is most secure,” especially in today’s economy. However, it’s important to first discover your primary interests and passions. This can open doors to careers that you might not have considered. Once you have that foundation, you can start fine tuning your search to the right career. You may be surprised at how you can fit your passions into a certain career!

Exploring your career opportunities

Focus on the things you love to do. What have you dreamed of doing in the past? What do you naturally enjoy doing? Jot down what comes to mind, no matter how improbable it seems.

Look for clues everywhere. Take note of projects or topics that stir your compassion or excite your imagination. Reflect on stories of people you admire. Ask yourself why certain activities make you happy, and pay attention to times when you are really enjoying yourself.

Be patient. Remember that your search may take some time and you might have to go down a few different roads before finding the right career path. Time and introspection will help you identify the activities you most enjoy and that bring you true satisfaction.

Click here to read part 2 of this article

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6 Activities To Help You Re-enter the Work Force or Change Careers?

Editors notes: Diana's simple List of 6 Activities for re-entry should be a quick guide for those who are getting ready to change careers or start a new job:

"If you've been unemployed for months and have finally found a job, you're likely thrilled at first. But anxiety often follows that excitement. Starting any new job is hard, and coming back to work after a long layoff can be even harder. You have to re-establish a routine, refresh your skills and rebuild your confidence. Here's how to make a successful re-entry:"


"Strengthen your skills and knowledge. Read industry blogs and trade publications to get current on news and trends. Pay attention to what skills seem most in demand -- if your expertise is out of date, look for ways to bone up.
Get back into a routine. If you've grown accustomed to calling the couch your office and pajamas your work attire, shift into a work routine a couple of weeks before your first day.
Be prepared for emotional volatility. It's hard to be the new kid on the block, especially if your self-confidence took a hit during unemployment, says Barbara LaRock, a Reston, Va., career coach.
Decide how to handle questions about your layoff. Your new co-workers may ask about your work history, so your layoff will probably come up. "You don't want to bare your soul or sound too bitter," says Linda Dominguez, a Los Angeles executive coach.
Start rebuilding your office network. Find out who the most influential people are in the office, and who can help get things done.
Don't make the same mistakes twice. Your layoff may not have been your fault, but it is worth assessing whether your own behavior made you vulnerable. "
Read full article at WSJSource: By DIANA MIDDLETON


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Moving for a job? Be prepared to pay the price

Fewer companies offering relocation assistance to potential hires

If you’re thinking about relocating for a new job, there’s a good chance you may have to cover your own moving costs, even if you’ve got a job offer.

When you search for openings on the major job boards lately, lots of the ads say: “No relocation assistance is provided.” For those positions that do offer to pay moving costs, the payments are often capped, sometimes below $10,000. With the typical corporate relocation costing about $60,000 for homeowners and $18,000 for renters, according to Worldwide ERC, such an expense can cause economic hardship for job seekers. That is, if you’re lucky enough to even get a job offer when applying for jobs in other towns, states or countries.

Some employers aren’t even looking at out-of-town applicants these days because there are so many great candidates right in their own backyards, recruitment experts said. Others don’t want to have to deal with an employee who might not be able to sell their hometo move, thanks to the dismal housing market.

That’s bad news for job seekers looking to relocate to a region with more job opportunities.




“A lot of people are landlocked because companies want to pay less, not more, to bring in new talent,” said Nancy Keene, director at recruiting firm Stanton Chase. If two candidates have similar credentials, she added, the local guy or gal is likely to get the gig.

When the economy is strong, employers sometimes go to great lengths to find the best talent no matter where they live. Before the recession, that meant lucrative relocation packages that covered moving expenses, house-hunting trips, and even money toward selling a house or buying a new one, especially for executive-level employees.

But now, such perks are being cut just like so many other employee benefits.

Don’t expect any help
An October poll conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 19 percent of companies had cut employee benefits in the last six months because of the economy. Among those:

* 17 percent eliminated corporate-relocation programs entirely.

* 25 percent froze corporate-relocation programs.

* 58 percent reduced corporate-relocation programs.


And that means more job seekers who want to move to accept a new position are on their own.


“We see a huge trend of people moving for jobs but paying for their own relocation,” said Kimberly Smith, founder of CorporateHousingByOwner.com and owner of corporate housing company AvenueWest Corporate Housing. Many of those individuals who are also homeowners are becoming “accidental landlords,” she said, because they are forced to rent out their home.


Another problem is employers who choose not to hire job applicants or relocate existing workers to other company locations due to the decline in home values, Smith said.


She gave the example of one woman who worked for a major bank in Atlanta who was up for a prime transfer to the company’s London office but didn’t get the job because she was underwater on her mortgage. The bank didn’t want to deal with the financial issues related to the employee’s house, Smith said.


“There are lots of things employers can’t discriminate against you for, but the value of your home they can,” she said.


Industries that have tightened their belts on relocation costs include publishing, manufacturing, some consumer products, banking and finance, said Bill Humphrey with Xonex Relocation, a corporate relocation company.


Midlevel managers and rank-and-file workers are most likely to have to pay moving costs out of their own pocket. Workers hired to fill highly specialized and skilled jobs are still seeing most of their moving costs covered, he said.


Humphrey also has seen some companies offer assistance with underwater mortgages for key executive relocations, but the amount is usually capped at $10,000 to $20,000.

For the Rest Of MSNBC Article

By Eve Tahmincioglu
msnbc.com contributor

Moving Beyond the Lone Ranger Syndrome during a Career Transition

Ever notice how some people faced with a problem will "argue for the problem" and shoot down possible solutions when they are presented without giving the ideas any real consideration?

You may also notice that this individual during a career transition (and Job Search) will often stay separate from people and resources which can be pivotal factors for creating the very breakthrough they want. For reasons which are rarely examined, they seem determined to do it all themselves.

I call this pattern The Lone Ranger Syndrome.

Does this possibly describe what is happening for you now?

Are you attempting to solve your most challenging career problems on your own because you believe that asking for assistance is an admission of defeat and proves you are inadequate for a job? Believe it or not, this is a commonly held belief.

Can you see how these beliefs are tremendously limiting?

If this is happening for you, don't despair. There is a solution available. It is possible for you to move beyond the lone ranger syndrome. Stay with me.

Unconscious Factors
If you have been tenaciously yet unknowingly keeping yourself separate from sources of empowerment like career coaching, while continuing to persist with the same strategies and thinking that aren't working, you can be pretty sure that there is a big part of you committed to the status quo.

Please understand that this is not logical. You may wholeheartedly believe you are committed to creating career change but there are other, unconscious forces which have some different ideas and agendas.

While you may feel that you really want change, you may in fact have a greater need for things to remain the same. This may be shocking but once embraced, it can be emancipating.

Key Principle
When your desire for something is greater than your resistance or fear, your desires are going to be realized. It may take a while, but it will happen.

When your fear, resistance or limiting beliefs are stronger than your desire, you will likely remain stuck and oftentimes you will not know why. Your conscious mind will make up a story about it, like it is the economy, your resume, etc.

You may in fact be like the proverbial hamster, spinning on his wheel but not getting anywhere. You may point to the fact of how hard you are working. Sound familiar?

The Solution
The solution to the Lone Ranger Syndrome can be summed up by the phrase Empowering Partnership.

I'm not talking about partnering with just anybody. I am referring to partnership with those people who are already accessible to you (by virtue of the fact that you are reading this) with whom genuine empowerment and breakthroughs are possible. This is the kind of person who will tell you the truth that may be hard to hear yet emancipating at the same time.

Related TOOL:
How to ace your next interview

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Job/Career Change: 10 Easy Steps

Are you looking for a new career at mid life? No doubt, a midlife career change is for you. Changing career at 30, 40, or even 50, is possible. In fact, the average person will change career somewhere between four to six times in their lifetime. And the reward of the right career is long term joy and job satisfaction — it fulfills your professional, financial and personal needs.

Whether you’re facing a fading occupation or just tired of your current job, you are no different than others who are experiencing similar midlife crisis. If money was not an issue you are starting to build a more meaningful second half of your life. The pressure of social status and meeting the expectations of significant others are no longer your highest concern.

Unfortunately, because you have already achieved some success you might have made some excuses for staying in a job you did not like. What’s more, some people in your life may tell you to stay with the job. You may hear that you shouldn’t be changing careers “at your age” and that “it’s a job, you aren’t supposed to like it.” But both of these are very false.

If you want to get a second chance but you don’t want your situation to become worse, thoroughly assess your situation and find a career that is right for you. Think it through and take things one step at a time. When you do that, not only will you have all the ammunition that you need to combat that naysayer who wants you to stay where you are but be on the path to a brand new career and loving every minute of it.

My midlife career change advice consists of 10 steps:

1. Current Position

Take a look at your current position, both professionally and personally. Is your current job satisfying? Do you actually like your job? Do you have to drag yourself to the office or store or whatever each day? Do you dread returning to work after a day off? Those are the most basic questions to ask and ones that are often overlooked.

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you feel stifled or held back? Do you feel as if you are going nowhere? The need for a job change can be due to many things such as poor management, boredom, or lack of motivation. If you feel that you just can’t get any more out of your job after utilizing your existing skills or that you may have hit a professional plateau, it may be time to think about a new career plan.

Keep a log of how you react to various job issues. Jot down various thoughts that you have about your job throughout the day — those that are positive as well as negative. Don’t just focus on the tasks; also think about the company culture, your co workers and other factors. For instance, do you work for a corporation but you are more idealistic in nature?

However, make sure that you are in a new career for the right reasons. A career change is not an effective way of fixing a problem that you may be having at work. As a matter of fact, that is a pretty good way to go about possibly messing up your life even more. If you can deal with the fact that you can’t run away from your problems even with a career change, your life will be much better for it.

Once you analyze your situation remember to set up your personal goals. These should be your first career planning step to a new, perfect career. You do deserve to enjoy a career success as well as a meaningful life. By setting life and career goals you’ll enhance your career plan to the next level since your career has an undivided relationship with each area of your life.

2. Skills, Interests and Values

Have you found your ideal career? If you haven’t, take some career tests and make a self assessment. Your values, personality, interests and aptitudes as well as your overall qualifications are useful for two reasons. Not only will these help discover your perfect career, these also uncover your true reasons for switching to a new career.

Take a hard look at your skills and values. Is your current career addressing them? There are lots of free skills assessments and interest assessments that you can take on the internet. Think about things you have done in the past that you enjoyed including volunteer work, activities you did in college or school and jobs that you really liked.

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