A New York investment banker becomes a small-town chef. A techie turns acupuncturist. An entrenched corporate exec accepts an early retirement package and converts to the ministry. Longer life spans, concerns about outliving retirement savings, and a desire to stay productive are inducing more and more workers nearing or in retirement to launch second careers. Read more...

Things aren’t going as well on your current job as you’d hoped. But with bills to pay and the economy as it is, should you even be thinking about looking for something new? After all, you have a job, even if it’s not the job you dream about. According to business communications and etiquette expert Barbara Pachter, you shouldn’t let a disheartening job market discourage you from finding the right job. Read more...

Are you considering changing your career? Are you bored, fed-up, lost, or otherwise unhappy in your current career? Are you facing a crossroads at which you need to decide between staying in your current field and moving to a new one? Do you have skills that you are not using in your current career? Have you been promoted to a point where you are no longer doing what you love? Read more...

How does it happen? Perhaps you just begin to lose interest. Perhaps you find something that interests you more. Perhaps your company is downsizing. These are just some of the numerous reasons people find themselves on that precipitous cliff looking back on their career just as the dirt begins to crumble beneath them. Read more...

Question:
I've been working with the same company for years, and I just know it's time to make a change. I have a feeling that it's time to do something different with my life. The problem is that I'm not sure what that other thing is! Further complicating matters is the fact that there's nothing really wrong with my current position. I have a great working environment, I like my co-workers and actually feel fairly satisfied. Read more...

One of the biggest lies people who are unhappy with their careers tell themselves is, "I want to change careers, but I can't." It's a great excuse to sit and wallow in misery without actually having to do anything about it. It's also a flawed perspective. Read more...

Making a career change is more than just changing jobs. For instance, if you don't like your boss or the co-workers in your accounting firm, you can get another accounting job with people you like better. But if you're tired of the numbers game, you may need to find a whole new career in a different industry.

Check out the following signs that you might need a career change. You may want to think about parlaying one of your interests into a new career sooner rather than later.

1. Dead End Career.
You've come about as far as you can. You can't move up the ranks anymore. You're locked into the same thing for the next decade or so, and quite frankly, you're getting a little tired of the rat race anyway. It's time to move on.

2. No Passion.
If your heart just isn't in your work, those 40 or 50 hours of work each week start to feel like pure torture as you watch the clock on the wall tick towards 5pm. Or perhaps stress and not boredom has run the passion out of you. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that 40% of workers find their jobs to be very stressful. If you fall into that group, you may want to look into a career with a little less pressure and a lot more fun.

3. Need More Money.
Sure, your job treats you well. But the kids will be going to college, and that roof won't stop leaking by itself. Maybe you love being a dance choreographer, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that median annual earnings are only $34,660. Compare that to a career as a computer scientist, who earns $93,950 a year, and you get the picture. While a career change may result in an initial pay cut, if you've chosen well, you'll be in a position to earn more money over the long haul and meet the financial demands in your life.

If you fall into one or more of these categories, it's probably time to consider moving on. If you're looking for a place to start, begin with yourself. Think about what you like to do. Then start networking and talking to friends. You may be surprised by the new career opportunities that are out there.

Conventional wisdom among professional recruiters holds that a typical American changes jobs between seven and ten times during his or her lifetime. However, a growing number of professionals have started to change their careers entirely, not just their employers. In fact, with career lines blurred by technology and market demands, some working adults have even discovered happiness by pursuing two different careers at the same time. Read more...

As you move through life, your needs, goals, and interests can change. If you've lost your spark for your current career, you may decide that it's time for a major change in occupation. While this can be a scary process, following these tips and guidelines can help you make a career change successfully and more easily. Read more...

According to a nationwide survey conducted in 2005, only 45 percent of the 8,000 workers polled said they were satisfied with their jobs. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are unhappy with the way they spend the majority of their waking hours. Are you one of them? Whether your current career is a mismatch with your personality type, lifestyle, or personal aspirations and interests, a change in career might be the answer. Although it may be some consolation to know that you're not alone, in the case of job satisfaction, wouldn't you rather be in the minority? Read more...

Are you tired of the same old job? Would you like to enjoy your career and not just do a job? If the answer to these questions is yes, then let's explore how to successfully search for a new career. Read more...

Baby boomers. They're the generation born between 1946 and 1964. They came of age in the early 70s and early 80s. They're the generation that made changes and waves, worked harder and longer, put off marriage and children, did things differently than previous generations. Whether because of financial necessity or because they have something to offer, baby boomers are staying in the workforce longer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and projections indicate that by 2010 there should be 18.5 million boomers ages 45 to 49 in the labor force, as compared to 14.7 in 1995, and 16.8 million versus 10.6 million in the 50- to 54-years-old range. Read more...

As Bob Dylan once said, the times they are a-changin'. According to a March 2008 poll conducted by CNN, nearly three-quarters of Americans agree that the United States currently faces a financial recession. Times of economic upheaval may seem scary: industries can shrivel, company layoffs can increase, and job opportunities might be shaky. Read more...

Are you unhappy with your current lot in your professional life? If you're less than satisfied with your job, you're not alone. According to a recent online jobsite survey, 86% of employees are not happy with their current position. The number one reason cited--management. Managers should take note: An even higher number of employees said they plan to look for new jobs within the next six months. Whether employees will decide to act on their impulses, or decide to take a sit-and-wait approach has yet to be determined. Read more...

With all the options open to future careers for students, it takes parents, teachers, counselors and administrators to be organized and be able to communicate together to find the right career for each individual. Read more...