Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/weekend/morepay_1.html
Five Tips for Switching to a Higher Paying Career
CareerJournal.com, by Sarah E. Needleman
If you're eyeing a switch to a high-paying career, prepare for a challenge, says Lauren Herring, president of careerMogul.com, an online career-coaching firm. You'll need to persuade employers you're as committed and qualified as applicants with more relevant work experience, she explains.
Five ways to position yourself for a corporate job when you're making the switch at midcareer:
- Prepare to take a step back.
To achieve your financial goals, you may have to start lower down on the ladder and work your way up, says Ms. Herring. The good news is you'll likely rise more quickly than your younger counterparts because you have more life experience, she adds.
Mr. Bowden says accepting a low-level job was tough on his wallet and his ego, noting that his co-workers were several years younger.
- Show how your skills are a good fit.
"At first, an employer might not see a job's relevance to you," says Alexandra Levit, founder and president of Inspiration @Work, a corporate and university training business in Chicago. You have to prove that your skills are applicable to the business world, she explains.
- Focus your resume on your talents.
Ms. Herring recommends starting with a summary of your top skills, then listing them separately in bullet points. Include a description of your key accomplishments in each area, she says. Add your work and educational credentials at the end -- including those unrelated to the jobs you want -- to avoid raising any red flags, she says.
- Look the part.
Dress up for the interview, even if the company's culture is business casual, says Kathy Downs, division director in Orlando, Fla., for Robert Half International Inc., a staffing firm based in Menlo Park, Calif. Make sure your clothes fit and are in fashion, she says. Otherwise, interviewers "may get the impression that you haven't planned things out very well or you don't have a wardrobe that's appropriate for the position," she says.
- Be ready to discuss your career change.
Recruiters will likely ask what motivated you to switch careers and seek proof that you're truly committed, says Ms. Herring. "It's a really important to think things through in advance," she says, because you'll want to exude confidence. Answer honestly, but make sure your reason expresses how you can add value to an employer, Ms. Herring advises. If your goal is to earn more money, you might say you're seeking financial stability, she says. This will suggest you're looking to settle down in a long-term role. "Every company wants to believe you're coming on board to help it achieve its objectives," adds Ms. Levit. "You have to tell them what they want to hear."
