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Global Forums > General > Who can tell their successful career change? Can we have several professional lives?
 
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Who can tell their successful career change? Can we have several professional lives?

I am helping a friend writing a book about successful career change. We are looking for people who are willing to tell us their story. Send me a PM if you prefer, we'll preserve anonymity.


Previous generations would often work all their lives in the same environment eventually evolving in their position. Nowadays we find more and more people changing from one job to something completely different, sometimes reinventing themselves totally. What were the difficulties you had to face on your way to success? Did it imply a lot of sacrificies, change of lifestyle, adaptation in your private life as well? What would you do differently if you could do it again? What helped you achieving your goal?


I look forward to reading your stories! Thank you! Smile

The text you are quoting:

I am helping a friend writing a book about successful career change. We are looking for people who are willing to tell us their story. Send me a PM if you prefer, we'll preserve anonymity.


Previous generations would often work all their lives in the same environment eventually evolving in their position. Nowadays we find more and more people changing from one job to something completely different, sometimes reinventing themselves totally. What were the difficulties you had to face on your way to success? Did it imply a lot of sacrificies, change of lifestyle, adaptation in your private life as well? What would you do differently if you could do it again? What helped you achieving your goal?


I look forward to reading your stories! Thank you! Smile


IzzieMay 23, 2012 @ 17:18
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Re: Who can tell their successful career change? Can we have several professional lives?
Post 1

sent you a private message.


interested in your response.


 

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sent you a private message.


interested in your response.


 


sheila c, May 23, 2012 @ 21:08
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Post 2

Thank you Sheila! Smile

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Thank you Sheila! Smile


Izzie, May 23, 2012 @ 23:00
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Re: Who can tell their successful career change? Can we have several professional lives?
Post 3

I changed my career from engineering to marketing, but I did it through a full-time MBA program and couldn't have done it without the title to establish my credibility. I don't think I'll be able to switch again now, at least not if I need to rely on HR people to read my CV. 


Perhaps if you know the people who hire you, and they know you, or if you are part of a start-up team that would make things easier. 


But personally I believe that experience isn't as important for most job as people claim it is. If you have the right skills (communication, project management, creativity, analysis, negotiation) you can manage many different types of positions, and will perform better than someone who just has a few years of experience. And when your career progresses these 'general' skills get even more important.


So the problem is really that companies don't (or can't) look beyond years of specific experience when they hire new people, and that makes switching very difficult.

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I changed my career from engineering to marketing, but I did it through a full-time MBA program and couldn't have done it without the title to establish my credibility. I don't think I'll be able to switch again now, at least not if I need to rely on HR people to read my CV. 


Perhaps if you know the people who hire you, and they know you, or if you are part of a start-up team that would make things easier. 


But personally I believe that experience isn't as important for most job as people claim it is. If you have the right skills (communication, project management, creativity, analysis, negotiation) you can manage many different types of positions, and will perform better than someone who just has a few years of experience. And when your career progresses these 'general' skills get even more important.


So the problem is really that companies don't (or can't) look beyond years of specific experience when they hire new people, and that makes switching very difficult.


Edward B, May 23, 2012 @ 23:27
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Re: Who can tell their successful career change? Can we have several professional lives?
Post 4

Why even use the word "career" in todays world as it strikes me as a euphemism. !

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Why even use the word "career" in todays world as it strikes me as a euphemism. !


Maurice H, May 24, 2012 @ 10:33
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Re: Who can tell their successful career change? Can we have several professional lives?
Post 5

Why even use the word "career" in todays world as it strikes me as a euphemism. !


May 24, 12 10:33

Indeed, a career is a word more appropriate to describe the previous generations' work life patern. I don't think it's a euphemism though.

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Indeed, a career is a word more appropriate to describe the previous generations' work life patern. I don't think it's a euphemism though.


Izzie, May 24, 2012 @ 10:50
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Post 6

hyperbole.

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hyperbole.


Edward B, May 24, 2012 @ 12:28
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Post 7

hi,


i switched from finance to teaching. interesting enough? i'll be glad to share:)

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hi,


i switched from finance to teaching. interesting enough? i'll be glad to share:)


hay_, May 24, 2012 @ 12:38
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Re: Who can tell their successful career change? Can we have several professional lives?
Post 8

hi,

i switched from finance to teaching. interesting enough? i'll be glad to share:)


May 24, 12 12:38

Yes sure, I'd love to hear your story Smile

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Yes sure, I'd love to hear your story Smile


Izzie, May 24, 2012 @ 13:01
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