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Margo Hinson’s passion for pastries started with an Easy-Bake Oven 40 years ago. Though she held many jobs in the health care and insurance fields, she realized that feeding people’s souls was her true calling. Now at 48, the former insurance claims adjuster hasn’t looked back since she left her job two years ago and opened a pastry catering company in Las Vegas this past spring. “I just stayed away from negative thoughts and let my faith kick in,” says Hinson. She took a leave of absence and participated in a short apprenticeship to hone her cooking skills to make sure she could support herself with this new endeavor. Caring for her household of three children with just the catering income ($6,500 a month!), she knows she’s made the right move.
Do you have a dream that’s tugging at you but you’re scared to change careers? According to a recent careerbuilder.com survey you’re not alone: Many others have a dream, too—and they’re acting on it. Eleven percent of workers elected to change careers in 2007, and that number is likely to rise. If you’re contemplating a switch, Theresa Chu, a career adviser at careerbuilder.com, recommends these steps:
List your likes and dislikes about your current job, and your passions.
Discuss your interests with your friends, family, career mentors and even your colleagues; they can see things in you that you may not see in yourself. And evaluate your lifestyle to see if the demands of your prospective career are well-suited to your personal life.
Do your research.
After narrowing your list of potential careers, check the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) to find out educational requirements, job descriptions and salary ranges to help you decide if this is a realistic move.
Get an insider’s view.
Set up an informational interview, or shadow someone in the industry to test the waters. For those who want a real-life experience, a program called Vocation Vacations (vocationvacations.com) lets you experiment while working full-time. With a commitment of only one to three days, you get on-the-job face time with a professional in your field of interest. Select from a list of more than 75 careers, including pastry chef, talent agent, interior designer and choreographer. After your “vacation,” you’ll have an insider’s perspective on whether that career is for you.
Find a fellowship.
Consider internships, fellowships and special programs. Here are a few great opportunities:
The Language House (teflanguagehouse.com) This four-week course in the Mediterranean on teaching English offers internships, career coaching and job contacts.
American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows Program (aaas.org) Individuals with science, engineering and math backgrounds are placed at U.S. media organizations for ten weeks in the summer to learn how to translate their work for the public.
White House Fellows (whitehouse.gov) Work at the highest levels of government, meeting with top representatives from the worlds of business, the arts, science and technology, media and politics. Travel and community service projects are also a part of this yearlong program.
For more opportunities, check your local university or national trade organizations.
Have you given your dream job a test-drive? Share your experience below.
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