First, have a plan.  Probably the biggest mistake you can make is attempting to change careers without a plan. A successful career change can often take months to accomplish when you have a strategy, so without one, you could end up adrift for an even longer period.

Having a detailed action plan (including items such as strategies, finances, research, and education/training) is essential to your success. Without a plan, you might take the first job offer that comes along, whether it is a good fit for you or not.

Don’t make the mistake of confusing hating your current job with hating your current career. Take the time to analyze whether it’s just the job, another employee, or your boss that you hate, or whether it’s the career, the skills necessary to do the job, or the work that you dislike.

The same goes with if you are feeling bored or lost with your job; review whether it’s the job, the employer, or the career. Whatever you determine, it’s best not to leave your job — if possible — until you have a plan for finding a new career.

Many people make career changes based solely on the prospect of making more money or because of better benefits.  This, too, can be a mistake.  Certain career fields are very alluring because of the salary and other benefits they offer, but be very careful of switching careers because of all the dollar signs.

Keep repeating to yourself, “Money won’t buy me happiness.” Remember that you may make more money, but if you hate your new career, you’ll probably be spending that money on stress- and health-related expenses. A career that’s hot today could be gone tomorrow, so dig deeper if this is the only reason you want a new career.

If you have people in your life who are pressuring you to switch jobs, it can be very stressful, and you might be tempted to change careers just to “shut them up”.  Don’t let your parents, significant others or anyone else influence your career choice. They don’t have to live that career every day; you do.

If you love what you do and earn a reasonable living, why is it anyone’s business but yours? If you switch careers because of outside pressure to have a “better career,” and then hate your new career, you’ll end up resenting whoever pressured you to make the switch.

It can be very helpful and even necessary for you to seek out the help of someone when making a career change.  Having a mentor when you start this new career can be very valuable.  As soon as you have identified the career field you want to switch into, begin developing new network contacts. Conduct informational interviews. Join industry associations.

People in your network can provide inside information about job-openings and can even champion you to hiring managers. Networking is essential for all job-seekers, but even more so for career-changers. And use a current or new mentor as a sounding board to help guide you in the transition.

Examine all possibilities before “diving in”.  Don’t jump career fields without first conducting thorough research into all the possibilities, including career fields you may never have considered. By conducting research into careers you have never considered or been exposed to, you may find the career of your dreams.

Talk to people in your network, read career and job profiles; meet with a career management professional. The more information you have about various career choices, the more successful you’ll be in making a career change.

Although we’ll talk about this a little later, you really need to do some self-reflecting and really thinking about what you and what you don’t like.  Self-assessment of your skills, values, and interests is a critical component to career-change success. Make a list of the skills you love doing:  in your job, in your hobbies, in all aspects of your life.  Then list those things that you never want to do again.

You may want to consider taking one or more assessment tests, especially those with a career component. Preparing a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) Analysis is also a useful activity. All these activities are designed so that you better understand yourself — your product — so that you can find the best career for you and then sell yourself to employers in that new career.

DO NOT change your career just because you’ve seen others succeed in that field.  It’s human nature to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Just because your best friend or neighbor is successful in a certain career does not mean that you will be — or that you will be happy doing it — so certainly consider the career field, but make sure you do the research before jumping into it.

Finally, just to add yet another cliché, too many job-seekers switch careers on the assumption that the grass is always greener — and often times find out that is not the case.

You have to have some experience or education for almost all career fields.  If you have neither for the field you want to get into, you’ll most certainly fail.  As a career-changer, you must find a way to bridge the experience, skills, and education gap between your old career and your new one.

While transferable skills – those that are applicable in multiple career fields, such as communications skills – are an important part of career change, it is often necessary to gain additional training and experience before you can find a good job in a new career field.

Research whether you need additional training, education, or certifications. And try to find time to volunteer, temp, intern, or consult in your new career field — what some experts refer to as developing a parallel career — before quitting your current job and searching for a full-time position in your new career field.

If you’ve been in your current position for quite some time, chances are good that a lot of things have changed in the job market since you were last out there.  If you don’t take the initiative to update your job skills – such as computer skills – then you won’t enjoy as much success as you might want.

Review your resume-writing techniques, master networking, and polish your interviewing skills. What’s the sense of doing all this research and preparation in attempting to change careers if you are not current with your job-search skills?

1. Take a few minutes to think about the activities you enjoy.
   The activities you like to do can help you find careers you might enjoy. What kinds of activities do you enjoy? Most activities can be grouped into one or two basic categories. Which of the following categories do your favorite activities typically fall in?
   • People: For example, do you like to help friends with their problems; take care of people; sell an idea, product or service; or teach others how to play a game or sport?
   • Data (facts, numbers, files, business procedures): For example, do you like to keep track of monthly expenses; gather information from websites; sort, count and store supplies; or make charts and graphs?
   • Things (machines, tools, and materials such as food or wood): For example, do you like to use tools to build or fix furniture, install computer hardware, bake bread, change oil in a car, or plant and trim trees?
   • Ideas (knowledge, insights, and new ways of expressing something): For example, do you like to learn about biology, write stories, measure chemicals, or play a musical instrument?

1. Explore and think about careers that might fit you.
   Most occupations involve work activities that fall into one or two of these basic categories. Use our career explorer to learn about careers that involve the kinds of basic activities that you like best.
   Build a list of possible careers!
   • How well does a career fit with what you want?
   • Will a career let you do things you’re good at?
   • What skills would a career let you use?
   • Will a career let you make the money you would like?
   • Will a career let you work inside, outside, or in a certain setting?

   You can also check out people who work in jobs similar to the ones you’ve listed. Ask them about the work they do. If you can, spend some time with them at work to get a better idea what it’s like.

1. Choose a career direction, and make it happen.
   Are you ready to set a career goal and make a plan to reach it? If not, you might need more information or help from a career professional. If yes, consider the following:
   • What training/education do I need?
   • What do I need to study?
   • What schools offer the training I need?
   • How will I pay for school?
   • How will I balance work and going to school if I do both?
   • What do I need to do now to get a job in my field when I’m ready?

Whether you’re choosing a first career or changing careers, spend time thinking about your strengths and weaknesses, exploring your options, and considering your current circumstances so you can make choices that will work for you. Good luck!

A producer will have to be a jack-of-all-trades to help craft an artist’s performance and, helping them with their vocals. They also will run the console, editing in the computer and, do the recording and mixing.

Hours: Musicians typically perform at night and on weekends. They spend much additional time practicing or in rehearsal. Full-time musicians with long-term employment contracts, such as those with symphony orchestras or television and film production companies, enjoy steady work and less travel. Nightclub, solo, or recital musicians frequently travel to perform in a variety of local settings and may tour nationally or internationally. Because many musicians find only part-time or intermittent work, experiencing unemployment between engagements, they often supplement their income with other types of jobs. The stress of constantly looking for work leads many musicians to accept permanent, full-time jobs in other occupations, while working part time as musicians.

Opportunities: Musicians, singers, and related workers are employed in a variety of settings. Of those who earn a wage or salary, 35 percent were employed by religious organizations and 11 percent by performing arts companies such as professional orchestras, small chamber music groups, opera companies, musical theater companies, and ballet troupes. Musicians and singers also perform in nightclubs and restaurants and for weddings and other events. Well-known musicians and groups may perform in concerts, appear on radio and television broadcasts, and make recordings and music videos. The U.S. Armed Forces also offer careers in their bands and smaller musical groups.

Pay: Median annual earnings of salaried music directors and composers were $39,750 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,660 and $60,350. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $110,850.

Training: Long-term on-the-job training is the most common way people learn to become musicians or singers. Aspiring musicians begin studying an instrument at an early age. They may gain valuable experience playing in a school or community band or an orchestra or with a group of friends. Singers usually start training when their voices mature. Participation in school musicals or choirs often provides good early training and experience. Composers and music directors usually require a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Citation: Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition , Musicians, Singers, and Related Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos095.htm (visited July 22, 2009 ).

Learn about college requirements and explore careers.

* Know which high school courses satisfy college requirements.
* Create a four-year high school curriculum plan.

September–March of junior year

Think about reasons for going to college.

* Talk with parents and a school counselor about career goals and college plans.
* Try talking with an adult who has an interesting job.
* Get involved at school and in the community.

January–March of junior year

Identify important factors in choosing a college; prepare for a college admission tests.

* Think about college preferences such as two-year or four-year, location, cost, kind of atmosphere, the variety of study programs available, and entrance test requirements.
* Locate and consult college guidebooks.
* Explore colleges on the Internet.

March–August of junior year

* List possible college choices and collect information about each one; take the appropriate college admission test(s).
* Attend college fairs and college night programs.
* Visit colleges.

August–December of senior year

Compare college choices.

* Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each college carefully.
* Determine which colleges meet your needs.
* Continue visiting colleges.
* Organize information into detailed, useful comparisons.

September–December of senior year

Apply for admission to “choice” colleges.

* Obtain application forms.
* Observe deadlines.
* Submit high school records and test scores (retest if necessary).

January–February of senior year

Apply for financial aid.

* Consult financial aid office.
* Secure forms and note deadlines.
* Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1.

November–May of senior year

Make some final decisions.

* Confer with parents and counselors about final decision.
* Confirm your decision, and decline other admission offers.

In his brilliant life research, Psychologist Abraham Maslow decided to explore these highly developed people and he labeled them “self-actualized”. Maslow defines self-actualization to be “the drive for self-fulfillment, namely the tendency for the individual to become actualized in their potential. This is the progressive realization of being everything that one is capable of being.”

Everyone has a vision or dream they are here to fulfill. Not everyone realizes it!

Self-actualized people are happier, more fulfilled, more ambitious, tend to have better relationships and live life with more “peak experiences”: love, joy, bliss, spiritual connection, creativity. They handle life with more confidence and capability. Every human being has this innate drive and capacity within them to attain greatness, to become more of themselves and realize their unique potential and purpose.

Historically people who have had an advantage over others, such as being born to a wealthy or powerful family, or having strong genetic influences, etc. were better prepared to become self-actualized. Maslow stated that only about 1% of humanity ever attained this level of fulfillment. More recently the human potential movement has occurred and more and more people from all walks of life are learning to empower themselves to become “self-actualized”. It is no longer just for an elite few!

Everyone wants to make a difference – to live a life of valuable contribution, and many are beginning to realize that human potential has no limits!

In the past few years a revolutionary strategy to realize human potential has been created. The Self Discovery Techniques and Life Mastery Process have taken self-empowerment to whole new heights – we have created an “Evolution Revolution”! No matter what walk of life you come from or what it is you desire to attain in life, this strategy will greatly accelerate your success. Everyone has huge amounts of creative power “trapped” inside of them and they can sense this. Applying these simple techniques “unlocks” that power trapped within us!

Drawing on ancient, little-known practices that have been evolved, perfected and refined, these techniques are more direct and effective for a modern lifestyle. Anyone can apply this work, begin realizing their true power and create amazing results in all areas of their life right away. Many people are already. We are so confident of this fact that we guarantee your satisfaction or you pay nothing!

Why settle for a life of mediocrity or for being partially fulfilled when you can realize your potential, live your dreams and express your greatness!

Don’t make excuses or put off your ideal life for later, later never comes. Undertake this exciting challenge and find out how you can begin RIGHT NOW.

When you’re young, you have a myriad of choices ahead of you, but really do at any age. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, you can still make a career choice that can make you happy and enhance your life even if it’s a drastic one!

With all the different occupations to choose from, where do you even begin to find something that you will be good at doing and love doing as well?  The truth is, all you have to do is look at yourself and inside yourself to see where you should be.  Plenty of people have made career changes late in life.

Grandma Moses began her painting career well into her 80’s and because one of the most well-respected painters in the art world.  Many professional athletes HAVE to make career choices once they are no longer able to play sports at a level they always have been able to.  Stay-at-home moms with children in school suddenly find themselves wanting to do something worthwhile instead of staying home all day.  Some of them have even built hobbies into multi-millionaire businesses!

It happens all the time and for a variety of different reasons.  The world’s business economy is volatile at the very least and many companies have to lay off workers or close the business entirely.  That leaves displaced worked facing career moves they hadn’t anticipated.  In fact, the reality is that the average person will make 2 to 5 career changes between the time they enter the work force to the time when they retire.

Many colleges have displaced workers programs and adult education programs that can ease people into a career change.  Sometimes, however, the best way to make a career change is just to jump in and do it.  But how do you know what career to choose?  That’s why you’re reading this book.  We can help guide you toward the perfect career for you.  We’ll provide guidelines for you to consider and questions that you need to ask.

The career of your dreams could be right around the corner and it’s time you went after it!