Week 12. MKTG 3347 - Career Changes

 

                                                                                  Ch. 4

    Many individuals are feeling stuck and do not enjoy their current jobs; some may believe that they do not have any options or fear of doing a career change. According to an article by the Pew Research Center, it states that 1 in 5 workers will be looking for new jobs, and 60% of those that did switch found an increase in their pay (Kochhar). It is known that wages are one of the main reasons why individuals leave jobs and another reason would be that they are unhappy. By increasing wages, employers will be able to provide more stability for employees; this will make the individuals more happy if they are being paid fairly. While this can be great for some individuals others may find themselves still in a cycle of unhappiness. Staying in a job that causes these emotions can create negative habits and lead to depression and or anxiety. 

    Richard Bolles gives a great number of tips for individuals who are seeking career changes or are choosing a career for the first time. He states that instead of diving into job searching individuals should learn about themselves by using the flower exercise. The flower exercise is broken down into the dislikes, likes, strengths, weaknesses, interests, and career needs of individuals giving them a better understanding of what they should do. It is also suggested that individuals take courses of their interest in college this will give them a preview into what their workplace can look like. During my first year of college, I was a biology major, and when I took the required science courses I found myself dreading the class as well as falling asleep during lectures. I then realized that I was not truly passionate about biology and that I was just pursuing a career I thought was safe. (Bolles)

    Although pursuing a job after a career change can be difficult; job-seeking individuals should stay persistent and continue applying. These individuals can do the following: complete different certificate programs that would be beneficial, alter their resume to fit the industry, and take things slow. 

Kochhar, Rakesh. “Majority of U.S. Workers Changing Jobs Are Seeing Real Wage Gains.” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project, Pew Research Center, 28 July 2022, www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2022/07/28/majority-of-u-s-workers-changing-jobs-are-seeing-real-wage-gains/. 
Bolles, R. N. (2022). What Color Is Your Parachute? Ten Speed Press.